Moxy Manchester City review: a solid three-star option – more please, Marriott
Functional is the word at this new Moxy property tucked away in Spinningfields
Stylish smart rooms, communal spaces. That, slightly paraphrased, is the Moxy philosophy from Marriott – the hotel behemoth behind this stripped-back, functional brand. And it’s this functionality that many people (yours truly included) look to when visiting a new city or in need of a dependable place to kip at short notice, such as when British Airways’s software keeps postponing your flight home. Grr.
Why come here
My “grr” is very much aimed at BA, not Moxy, and refers to an impromptu night I spent at the Edinburgh Airport Moxy back in February. For that, making a reservation was easy (via phone, from the gate) and check-in was slick. The fridges offered up cans of much-needed cold beer, the bed was comfortable, the TV big, the shower more than adequate, and the breakfast set me up well for more of BA’s shenanigans. All of those good things were also in evidence at my, thankfully less spontaneous, night at Moxy Manchester City.
Tucked away in Spinningfields behind Hawksmoor, this Moxy outpost is more of the same – and that, in the spirit of “if it ain’t broke…”, is a very good thing. Check-in/reception doubles as the bar, which is an efficient use of staff and space. It certainly frees up much of the ground floor for workstations and meeting spaces, and it’s clearly a popular space with the non-desk-bound too. Lifts are key-operated, offering a welcome extra layer of security, and the rooms are everything they need to be.
There’s a comfortable bed, a seat/bedside cabinet hybrid, pegs for hanging clothes and a compact but functional bathroom. It lacks some of the furniture I had in the New York Moxy – a collapsible table hanging from the peg was a particular favourite – but, frankly, those items are not needed.
Eating and drinking
Spinningfields and Deansgate are not short of food options, from high street chains to higher-end options, such as footballer-favourite Australasia and the aforementioned steakhouse Hawksmoor. Within the confines of the Moxy, things are a little more basic but the fridges are well stocked with drinks and snacks – and breakfast is surprisingly good.
The coffee machines are far from artisan but actually churn out something drinkable, the hot items appear to be well-sourced and – you may want to sit down for this – the toaster actually toasts bread. First time. It’s a relatively small space but covers everything from cereal to pastries, continental to traditional British.
What to do?
Business or social, quick dash or longer stay, Moxy Manchester City has you covered. This Marriott brand is a dependable option in the world of modern hotels, with properties springing up in some very useful locations. As with all of Manchester, you’re a stone’s throw from something interesting and/or cultural (for example, the Royal Exchange Theatre and the Arndale Centre are in easy reach).
Five-star luxury certainly has its place but in many cases I’ll take a solid three-star option like a Moxy. More please, Marriott.
Rooms at Moxy Manchester City start from £99; marriott.com
