Review: The Velvet Hotel on Manchester’s Canal Street

Twenty years after Canal Street entered British consciousness via the smash hit TV drama series, Queer As Folk, the area remains one of Manchester’s most vibrant nights out. Outdoor seating, new friends and nightclubs come as standard in the Gay Village – and the boutique Velvet Hotel is right in the heart of things. Entry is up a little staircase off cobbled Canal Street. Inside, it feels blissfully calm and rooms come with the kind of features that make a grown up weekend complete. They’re all individually designed: mine is spread over two floors that include a sofa section, dining area and plush bathroom downstairs, with a giant double bed, dressing room and second bathroom on the mezzanine layer. Huge skylights provide lashings of sun / moonlight while the mini bar is packed with irresistibles (Fevertree tonic, upmarket gin and Mint Aeros to name but a few). A proper Illy coffeemaker seals the deal for me. My friend and I eat in the restaurant downstairs – the recently opened Mr White’s English Chop House with a menu created by Marco Pierre White (click here for more) – but what really appeals about The Velvet Hotel is the location and vibe. Everyone says hi and the staff are lovely. Outside, people stop and chat. Another bonus is proximity to a host of bars including The Molly House and the Richmond Tea Rooms. While Velvet is an old face on Canal Street (there’s been a Velvet restaurant here since at least 2001), the hotel itself is a relative newcomer. Owned by the expanding Kro Hospitality chain which has just taken on Asha’s on Peter Street and the space above it, the Norwegian owners took over the premises in July 2017 and it was tastefully renovated in November 2017. Bubbly good times await.

The Velvet Hotel, 2 Canal Street, Manchester M1 3HE. Tel: 0161 236 9003, www.velvetmanchester.com