The Midland

Good for a drink, and a bit of a chill out. I do feel The Midland suffers a bit from its own reputation, it was once the best in Manchester, but what with new places popping up all the time in Manchester it will always be hard to stay ahead. Some of my friends had the afternoon tea here and said it was excellent, but I am not sure I can really give them credit for that as the two times I have been here they have managed to mess up simple things like drinks orders. I do like the inside of the turkish tea/​bar area it is very pretty but that can’t make up for the things they have not quite got right on my visits.

Went to the spa day here. Treatments were great and staff attentive. The lunch was shocking — absolutely tiny, not what we ordered and even though I sent the soup back twice it was freezing everytime. The lunch area was cramped and if you were late from a treatment you still had to stick to your allotted time.
The chill out area very nice but the water stations were untidy and often empty.
Swimming was nice but a little cool.
Massage was lovely as was the rasul treatment.
The showers were lovely and the products in them but my boyfriend said all the shampoo was gone in the men’s.
We were promised champagne but didn’t get any and charged for coffee.
My advice — don’t pay for a spa day that includes lunch, go for the treatments and pay for lunch upstairs at me coopers — it’ll
Cost you the same.

Came for a spa day, has to be one of the nicest spas I’ve been to. Located in the basement of the hotel, you can get down by lift or stairs.
On arrival we were given a gown and a towel. They asked us to fill in a treatment form and gave us headphones to select the music we would listen to during our treatment, they could have explained this part a little better. They then asked us to select what we would like for lunch, we opted for the unhealthy option of afternoon tea.
The spa had good facilities with a jacuzzi, waterfall feature, Himalayan salt sauna, steam room and a rasul as wel as a relaxation room with tea and water. I food that the tea was a bit over brewed and heated by candles underneath.
My treatment was amazing, very relaxing and enjoyable. I’m not 100% sure if it was the same music as there seemed to be a lot of clashing. We then went on to have our tea, which was well presented with a huge pot of tea that they refilled for us.
We had to ask for our free gift and smoothie. But the smoothie was pretty horrible it wasn’t cold and made the mistake of having it after our tea.
I would recommend this spa and would come back again.

Ever the lucky one, the other half decided to surprise me with a spa day and afternoon tea at The Midland for my birthday. With the entrance tucked away down the side of the hotel, it instantly felt secluded and quiet compared to the main Manchester streets.
We were warmly greeted by the front of house staff and quickly checked in, taking a seat in the small welcome area and completing our consultation documents. You also choose the music which is to be played during your treatment later on — what a nice touch.
The changing rooms were well equipped, with large lockers capable of taking small suitcases, and plenty of private changing available. There’s something about that moment when you put on a fluffy spa or hotel robe — almost like instant relaxation.
There’s a small swimming pool with hot tub, plus sauna, steam room and shower in one area, with treatment rooms down the corridors. When it came to our treatment time, we were greeted in the reception area then taken through. Everything was very calm and relaxing, with a personalised treatment in terms of the fragrances used and pressure applied. We had our afternoon tea soon after, though we were good for nothing! It was nicely presented in a dark wooden box and, although many of the cakes provided were impressive to look at, they were overall too sweet for our personal tastes. The scones, however, were delicious.
The real highlight of our visit? The relaxation room. Dark, warm, calm. It was honestly like being back in the womb. There are beds to sleep on, large central hammocks, and chairs scattered throughout. Herbal tea is also provided at one side of the room so you can stay hydrated. If I could design my bedroom like this, it would be heaven.
Everything from the beautifully tiled staircase to the quality of the products used was excellent and I’d count myself lucky to have this experience again.

I stayed here overnight with work for a conference and I have to say it’s a fantastic hotel. It is a very old but beautiful building located not far from Manchester Oxford Road station with all the shopping, bars and restaurants only a short walk away. The foyer as you enter is quite spectacular with beautiful high ceilings and old features. Check in was very quick and efficient although we were made to feel obliged to pay up front as opposed to on check out.
The rooms are super spacious! I shared a twin room with a work colleague and we ended up with a double bed each with ample room still to walk around each side and more than enough wardrobe space. My only criticisms would be that the décor is slightly outdated but more importantly there is a definite lack of plug points! We had 2 for the whole room located near the door so we were unable to charge our phone at our bedside and were not able to blow dry our hair in front of the mirror which was a tad frustrating.
Breakfast was included in our stay and this was wonderful! Quite a quaint and charming room and the buffet selection was more than sufficient. The chocolate croissants were a particular hit amongst me and my work colleagues and we were given ample coffee to fuel us for the day! The staff were all very friendly and accommodating so couldn’t be faulted.
I also used the gym facilities and these were average. The temperature was not very well regulated the first time so it was like a sauna which is perhaps not the safest when people are working out with risks of dehydration. There are a few treadmills but only one of most other equipment which meant you were often waiting or hovering to use them. The spa on entry though looked amazing and I would be very keen to try this at my next stay at the hotel. I would definitely return and recommend this hotel!

I’d actually been to the Midland last time I was in Manchester for dinner at The French, so I’d only checked out the foyer area (which is pretty damn swanky, I’ve got to admit). This time I was staying here for one night while in town for work and it’s a very handy hotel for getting off at Manchester Oxford Station — just a few minutes walk along the road.
Check-​in was fine. Nothing overly exceptional, but did the job. I got up to my room to quickly get changed before heading out again. This place is a little bit of a maze to get to your room but I managed to find it easily enough (even after I’d had a few beers, what an achievement!). My room was pretty big with a king size bed, desk and some comfy chairs. The bathroom was nice as well, but generally I’d say once you get up to the rooms level, you might think this place looks a little bit tired and worn. When I got back at night I checked out the mini bar as I was starving, there wasn’t much food to be honest. I was surprised to see there was a risotto in my fridge (wtf?!) and after some investigation, I’m pretty sure it was the person who stayed in the room before me, rather than a fresh one ready to microwave. Why was it still there?!! Not impressed by that, to be honest.
The bed was comfy to sleep in, and the temperature was fine (taking into account a drunken haze). Perfectly acceptable shower and facilities, nice heated towel rail. Check-​out was fine and they happily looked after my bag while I went about my day in Manchester. I wouldn’t rush to stay here again I’ve got to say, for £160 it was perfectly fine but breakfast was extra on top of that (nearly £20!) so it just comes in at a 3 for me.

I attended a meeting with work here so cannot comment on the Hotel rooms but the conference room which we were in was great. It was a gigantic room with a decent sized stage up front. Acoustics were also pretty decent which can sometimes cause an issue at some venues. The coffee served was very average hence me dropping a star but the flap jacks were amazing! Definitely reccomended if you need a large room for an event…

This is a grand old hotel in Manchester’s City Center. The rooms were large enough and the staff very helpful. We arrived after the lunch rush, and yet were taken care of very well in the otherwise empty dining room.
We only spent one night here, but enjoyed it very much.

Overall, I liked my stay at The Midland. It’s a great location in the city centre, not far from the trendy Northern Quarter. The hotel is a lovely brick building, but beware there is no parking without valet. If you need to park, you’ll do best at a local NCP car park. Google it before you come. Valet staff (and staff at the welcome desk too) were friendly and lighthearted.
Beds here are HUGE, and the rooms are nice. Good hairdryers, ladies! Most hotels have the worst hairdryers, so I appreciate that. There is a jacuzzi and pool but unfortunately it closes at 6pm (too damn early!!) so we didn’t make it there.
Breakfast at this hotel was a bit of a sham. We had a continental breakfast included in our package, but were offered a «hot breakfast» upgrade for 15 quid. That seemed like a lot, but the colleagues I was with were starving so they took it. It was really mediocre for the price and there was a huge kerfuffle trying to sort out payment. I found the waitress who served us both days to be a bit rude, but I think maybe she was just young and new on the job. All that said, the breakfast room itself is stunning and the continental breakfast I had was adequate. So basically, don’t bother to upgrade if offered the hot option.

I don’t spend a lot of time at luxury hotels but I think the Midland is probably a notch below.
I’ve been here twice for Northern Circuit dinners and have been impressed with the food both times. It’s not mega cheap — 3 course meal with wine and port is £30 but considering they are cooking for so many people it was far above-​average for a catered event. Last time I particularly enjoyed the main lamb course which everyone said was perfectly cooked. I also liked the smoked salmon/​salmon mousse starter although it was just one piece where two smaller circles would have been a better quantity and ratio of smoked salmon to mousse. The only thing that was disappointing was the Eton Mess. One of the greatest ever desserts, this wasn’t even a pale imitation, it was basically just cream.
Service is good and efficient and the room itself is quite nice although doesn’t blow you away. Overall if you want somewhere reliable for a fancy dinner/​event, I would say the Midland is a good bet.

We loved our room at the Midlands. We had flown into Manchester as we had a party to attend in Leicester and wanted to see some of non-​London England, where we had never been before. Manchester is really not that much and you don’t get much sense of place there. You could just as easily be in Vancouver i suppose. We ended up eating twice in Chinese restaurants and at night the place closed up like a zipper bag– excpt for the two casinos where I managed to win nearly 400 pounds in two late night sessions at Genting and Manchester 235. That said, the two nights at the Midlands was a highlight. The room was very comfortable and had old country grandeur– it was better inside than Manchester was outside. We escaped to Liverpool for one of our two afternoons and that was a bit more fun-​went to the Cavern where the Beatles started and it had people in the streets. I point this out because no one suggested we go to Manchester or Liverpool, but we did anyway, and don’t really regret the Liverpool day.

Came here for a conference. The entrance is very grand, and that’s where the 4* starts and ends. The rooms are quite ordinary in comparison, although clean, functional and somewhat dated. The food was absolutely appalling: breakfast, lunch and dinner. I had to go hungry or eat out and I’m really not that fussy. Considering that they cater for numerous conferences a year, you would think they would have their staffing and catering down pat. Sadly not. We were queuing for ages to check in. They only had two staff at the desks. As to breakfast, I concur with another reviewer that it was horribly greasy. Also they only had one toaster for everyone which was not working. The staff were clueless about it so I just went without. Lunch consisted of little bowls of tasteless noodles, overlooked pasta or sludgey shepherds pie. I asked for a drink and it took 20 mins to come, so I had to gulp it down before the next session began. As to the black tie dinner, with the exception of the quite acceptable salmon starter, the other courses were inedible. They even managed to mess up the pudding.
So was there any good stuff? The valet parking was reasonably efficient. The staff running the bag check knew what they were doing.
Overall experience: All mouth and no trousers.

The Midland is very stylish and has the air of a first class hotel, but unfortunately my stay was marred by a springy, lumpy mattress and a buzzing noise that kept going through the night. Complimentary drinks, personalised greeting card and sweet box are all great, but I take a comfortable bed and quiet room anytime.

Room is excellent and generally a good hotel. But the breakfast is awful. Seriously bad English breakfast super greasy and the cleanliness around the «continental» is surprising in a 4* hotel. So many staff looking busy and so little attention to detail. Not great food to start the day unfortunately.

I have been here on several occasions but have never been lucky enough to experience the rooms (I need a wedding invitation for that I guess) but my god this place is Posh and how! It screams out sophistication and grandeur from every corner, right from the chandeliers to the grand piano everything is lush here!
The first time I came here was for our Annual University Ball, what a nice occasion to come for! Yes I could dress up and make myself look as sophisticated and classy as possible (considering the hipster that I am). I was impressed from the minute I entered with the red carpet, photographers and finally once we entered the main ball room it was like a scene out of a Hollywood film! We had a 3 course Christmas meal with unlimited wine on the table, followed by comedy, raffle and dance! I had a true BALL here (pun intended) and the best bit was I didn’t have to pay a single penny for it (The university did).
The second time I went here was when my mum was visiting me and i decided to show off Manchester to her and what better place to take her than Midland? We went in for a quiet evening meal and drinks for a mummy-​daughter time. The pianist was playing beautiful live music (My mum is a musician so she definitely would give it a 5 star just because of this). The drinks are VERY expensive but I guess you pay for the experience and not to get wasted. We had a bottle of rose to share followed by some baileys. But finally at the end of it I had a very pleased Mum, so it was definitely worth it!
Verdict: If you are out to impress nothing better than this place! I am definitely going back here, hopefully for a special date ;)

Superb hotel, excellent staff and totally great stay in Manchester.
Though the hotel is very big, it is actually relatively quiet — and it’s not that it was empty or anything — I just think that because walls are solid this isolates the outside noise, blah blah.
Anyway, I loved the breakfast — it was prepared and served with such a style! The utensils were charming, and the china looked expensive, too.
Room was big enough for 2 people. Not the best view, but I wasn’t going to stare out of the windows anyway.
I loved The Midland and would stay there again…, but they should work on improving the WiFi coverage.

For the price I was expecting just a bit more. The hotel does have nice accommodations and modern updates. The hotel does have a lot of character.
The good:
Really good breakfast, the peanut butter and honey are excellent.
The room is well lit, and the AC works great.
The bed is comfortable.
Excellent location
Fantastic service.
The negatives:
The room is dusty, they housekeeping doesn’t do a good job of getting into places where dust settles.
The shower has some dark spots and possibly mold. They need to use bleach.
The don’t launder the shower curtains, but also don’t allow them to dry fully after use creating a wet smell. It was really bad by the end of the week.
They don’t give washcloths, but have shower gel use. I asked for a washcloth, and used the same one all week. They never replaced it.
The neutral:
The hotel is old, so the rooms are very small. But this is a trade off for using a historical building
There is no in room refrigerator so no where to store old drinks
They don’t have international input electrical outlets so come prepared.
Their TVs are small, the remotes don’t work well, Nd. The sleep feature doesn’t work well.
They don’t have in room irons. The trouser press doesn’t work very well.

I was lucky enough to attend a wedding evening do at the Midland recently, and goodness is it plush. If you ever want to mega impress anyone, meet them in the Midland lobby and make like you hang out there all the time. They’ll swoon.
Continuing my streak of good luck, since I was paired up with the best man I got to stay there too! So what did I make of the whole thing, from what I experienced?
1) Security — yes, weirdly, I encountered security. Of sorts. I suppose it’s good (frustrating for me though) that the hotel’s so tight on this, I named the wedding party and my other half and I guess just in case I was some freakish stalker, they couldn’t really let me into the room to ditch my stuff and have a much-​needed shower as I wanted. Can’t complain really! (Well I can. I was very soggy and grumpy.)
2) Overall ambience and surroundings — oh, just lovely. Perfect venue for a wedding reception, awesome photo opportunities and quite simply one of Manchester’s prettiest hotels. There’s no getting around that fact.
3) Bar — so this is one of the things you undoubtedly hit at a party, and needless to say I kept sober as a judge that night simply because of the price of those drinks! Case in point: beau and one of the guests indulged in a Baileys each, and this cost £6.50. Owch! Pints were close to a fiver and a bottle of white set us back £20. Then again this is the Midland. Needless to say my significant other’s hipflask took a hammering that night… (Disclaimer: this is of no detriment to the party I attended whatsoever, Midland prices are simply rather hefty!)
4) Crashing out — massive, MASSIVE bed. Ridiculously comfy. Generally the rooms were set up very nicely indeed. I was getting ready there and made myself a cuppa using their clearly marked tea and coffee making facilities, and I found all the accouterments to be to my liking… shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, all that noise. The shower was great, towels nice and fluffy and everything was satisfactory.
5) Breakfast — just your standard hotel buffet, fried eggs and scram kept under a hot light, plentiful hash browns, mushrooms thankfully fresh and not slimy, lots of cereals to choose from, pastries and plenty to spread on your toast. At £15 it’s a bit of an ask, and remember, you’re paying that whether you’re having a mere smidgen of cereal or an entire full English. Needless to say I took full advantage.
I’ve heard the afternoon tea here is fantastic, so while I may not indulge in the bar or the breakfast again perhaps, this is definitely something I’d love to try out.

Came here for afternoon tea. Expensive but delightful. It had the comfortable feeling you get from old, well established hotels. Had Afternoon Tea in the Lowry and while the food was comparable the Lowry feels cold and sterile compared to the Midland. Staff were excellent and very accommodating (we had a 3 month old baby in tow).
Will be going again!

In my opinion The Midland is one of the most beautiful and most spectaular buildings in the whole of Manchester City Centre. It is so intricate, so elegant yet sort of majestic in the way it towers over St. Peters square. The building itself is the most impressive thing about The Midland.
Inside it looks a little tired, it has no atmosphere and the staff always seems surely and pissed off. The Midland seems to rest on it laurels a little and just doesn’t seem bothered about trying that hard.
It is very expensive to stay there and yet my only experiences have been distinctly average. It’s not worth the money. With so many other great Hotels in Manchester; The Midland should be bottom of your list.