The Alan review: A sophisticated, stripped-back stay in the heart of Manchester

Described as ‘design-led and creatively-charged’, The Alan occupies six floors slap bang in the heart of Manchester, just a leisurely stroll from some of the city’s most famous and popular attractions.

Manchester Art Gallery is just across the street, the diverse, delicious culinary delights of China Town are no more than 100 yards away, and both Central Library and St Peter’s Square tram stop are just a couple of minutes on foot, giving you quick and easy access to the rest of the city.

Driven by a major focus on sustainability, the building has been carefully and sensitively stripped back to its original bones, with many of its historic features restored to their former glory. The ground floor is just one example of that eco-friendly commitment, formed using discarded pieces of marble.

High ceilings and swathes of exposed brick come together tremendously in the hotel’s lobby, which doubles up as a buzzy co-working space during the day, before transforming into an open-plan bar and restaurant later on.

The sleek, minimalist approach continues into the rooms, of which there are five variations available for guests to choose from. Ours is the Signature Deluxe, which comes with a seriously comfortable emperor-sized bed, 50″ Samsung TV and a huge walk-in rainfall shower stocked with high-end toiletries.

Rustic-looking floorboards are delightfully contrasted by steel beams, uncovered pipework and bare-plastered walls, while the room’s simple but stylish furnishings ensure the industrial design is still laced with luxury.

Our bathroom’s aesthetics are particularly pleasing — its vintage earthy tiles and 70’s-esque pink sink ticking a box that sits somewhere between Miami Vice and Alex Turner’s eccentric Tranquility Base era…a winning combination.

It’s clear that each addition to the room, and the entire hotel for that matter, has been carefully considered and only included if it genuinely brings something meaningful to the setting.

Rooms at The Alan start from around £50, book your stay using the button below.