Travel: Malmaison Piccadilly, Manchester

MANCHESTER has always had a lot to offer – the shops, nightlife and art galleries have long been a tourist draw. But the city can stake a claim to Sherlock Holmes as well.

You might think that’s a bit of a stretch, given that the world-renowned sleuth is famously located in Baker Street, some 165 miles south, but since Manchester’s great old buildings were used in the filming of the Guy Ritchie bromance Sherlock Holmes – the town Hall and Northern quarter doubling for Victorian London, Sherlock Holmes packages have been popular in the city’s hotels. We, however, were here for something a little less esoteric. A girly weekend of pampering – with possibly some light, recreational shopping thrown in. n

Wining and dining? We’ve all come across menus that claim to source nothing but fine, local ingredients. A menu that changes regularly with the seasons is always a great sign that a chef takes this promise seriously. Head chef David Sharp goes even further – giving you the contact details of the butcher and the port where the fish was landed – in a menu that simply makes you want to come back for the rest. The Sunday lunch is a popular treat and you should really book in advance if you want to fill up on the great roast beef and Yorkshire puds.

Room service? It may seem odd to come all this way just to stay in, but the Girls’ Night In package is a real treat. There’s a choice of spa treatments before you curl up in the fluffiest of robes in front of a great range of chick flicks.

Worth getting out of bed for? Within a few minutes of the hotel, you can be in the middle of the Arndale Centre – which has the world’s largest branch of Next – or you can cross over to Marks & Spencer’s flagship UK store. But if you hanker for something more upmarket, directly next door are the welcoming delights of Harvey Nichols and Selfridges. Of course, if shopping doesn’t interest you at all (eh?) you might be more taken with the recently launched Urban Culture Trails. Four themed tours that are self-guided, allowing you to take your own sweet time around the city’s music, arts, performance and gallery attractions.

Budget or boutique? It’s Malmaison so it’s definitely boutique. The rooms are all elegantly designed in contemporary reds and blacks and even though you are in the centre of a busy city that goes like, well, Piccadilly, you wouldn’t know it in the quiet of the room.

Little extras? The brilliantly-equipped bathrooms have fantastic toiletries you are positively encouraged to take with you. No more sneaking those bottles of shampoo into your bag and feeling guilty. If, after a hard day’s shopping, you feel the need for further exertion, the downstairs gym is fully kitted out with resistance machines and weights. And each room also has a complimentary jogging map, if you’d rather pound the pavements.

Guestbook comments Perfect for a girly pampering weekend, and directly opposite the railway station, it couldn’t be easier. With a bit of judicious pre-booking, we secured first-class seats for second-class prices on the Trans-Pennine express from Edinburgh to Manchester. Alternatively, it’s a four-hour drive along the M77 then the M6. The Girls’ Night In package is £99 per person and includes continental breakfast in your room the next morning, a spa treatment, a half bottle of wine per person, buffet finger food or two courses in the Smoke Bar and Grill.

Kayt Turner

Malmaison Piccadilly, Manchester (0161-278 1000, www.malmaison-manchester.com), see website for offers or to book online