[Ad-gifted] Going out on date nights or having a romantic weekend away without kids is a rare treat for us so we were thrilled to head to the heart of Manchester City Centre to experience the grandeur of Kimpton Clocktower Hotel.

Located at the corner of Oxford Street and Whitworth Street, this magnificent hotel is a Grade II listed red brick and terracotta building. Designed by Alfred Waterhouse (who is best known for designing Manchester Town Hall and the Natural History Museum in London), the building was originally constructed in segments from 1891 to 1932 as the Refuge Assurance Company headquarters.

After occupying the building for nearly a century, the Company moved to Cheshire in 1987 and the building was later converted to a hotel, changing ownership several times. It was later bought over by InterContinental Hotel Groups in 2018 and the hotel was renamed Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in 2020.

So dare I say, this Victorian architecture setting was our home for the weekend as we explored Manchester, a city where tradition and modernity meet and where artisanship reigns supreme. Keep reading to find out what we thought of this  iconic hotel.

Getting to Kimpton Clocktower Hotel could not be easier, we decided park up at the Tram stop (as parking is free for 24 hours at certain tram stations) and take the tram into town. The closest tram stop to the hotel is St Peter’s Square and this is just a 5 minutes walk to the hotel.

If you are taking the train into Manchester,  Piccadilly Train Station is just around 15 minutes walk from or you could also stop off Manchester Oxford Road Station which is 2-minute walk away. The hotel does not have its own carpark, so you need to park up at NCP Carpark which is the closest private carpark.  Hotel guests get a flat rate so remember to pay for your carpark at the hotel reception.

Soon as we checked in, our the hotel reception staff, Adam reminded us that Manchester is the best city in the world and we were staying in the best hotel in town…. and to be honest, I think he was absolutely right!

We staying on the third floor and the journey up to our room was beautiful, we enjoyed looking at the historic tiled walls and glass windows, wondering…if only walls could talk, what a tale they would tell us!

Our hotel rom was super spacious and soon as we walked in, we felt it was super clean. As avid travellers, my husband always travels with wet wipes and cleaning products to give our hotel rooms a clean before we touch anything. But surprisingly, the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel passed his test and there was no clean down needed.

We checked in at nearly 4pm, so decided to relax in the room and enjoy a cuppa coffee, crisps and biscuits which was complimentary.  Everything was available in our hotel from complimentary premium toiletries, minibar, safe box, extra pillow/towels, slippers  etc to make our stay comfortable.

Next, we decided to head to The Post Room for their evening social hour (which takes place everyday).  Here, hotel guests are given a glass of wine between 5pm to 6pm.

It was such an inviting room and the staff were friendly. We enjoyed our time chatting and admire the room before heading into Manchester City Centre for a walk and nosey around.

Our hotel is just 5 minutes from Chinatown so the perfect location if you need to stock up on your Asian food supplies (like myself) or if you need to or stop over to enjoy a delicious dim sum meal.  The hotel also acts as the perfect venue to stay over if you are heading to the Palace Theatre to watch a show as the theatre is just a few steps away from the hotel.

There is also so much to do in Manchester from experiencing canal boat tours, shopping, nightlife as well as enjoying the many café/bistro and restaurants around the Spinning Fields area.

The hotels’ historic commercial building is just stunning to look at, I love how they have incorporated different elements into the hotel from the original street map (see pic above) as part of the building.

They have also added a life-sized bronze horse (commission by Sophie Dickens, Charles Dickens’ great, great granddaughter) in the main reception area (see first photo) as traditionally this was the area the horse-drawn coaches used to turn around when they brought mail in. The stunning dome of the hotel was also part of the train station.

We soon got refreshed and headed for our early drinks and dinner at Refuge Restaurant which has two entrance, one within the hotel and another, accessible from the streets.

The Restaurant was buzzing with patrons and walking in, we could not miss the stunning Gothic architecture and glazed brick tiles which adored the walls.

We were guided to our seats in the Winter Garden area where we ordered drinks and a selection of snack food such as dips, chorizo with cheese, chips and burger.

Our waiting staff, Ebony was ever so helpful and when I was in a dilemma as I did not know which cocktail to order, I was given a taster of both the Glamour of Manchester and Prove Me Wrong. I decided to order Prove Me Wrong which was delicious.  Our drinks and meal came up to around £50 for the both of us.

Winter Garden serves snack style food and cocktails while The Refuge serves more substantial dinner meals.

I was told to come back and try Refuge‘s Sunday Roast Dinners which is a firm favourite of guests. Make sure you reserve a table as it can get pretty busy in the evenings.

We had a lovely evening and headed to our room to enjoy the chilled beers and prosecco from the mini bar. The next day, we headed back to The Refuge for breakfast and the ambiance was totally different, still busy but the atmosphere was calmer.

We spotted the cleaning staff cleaning the bottom of the table legs for quite a while, hence enforcing the hotels’ IHG Clean Promise of rigorous cleaning procedures which we witnessed first hand.

There was ample of choices for breakfast from toast to full English Breakfast to cold food such as yoghurt, overnight oats, fruits and pastries.

With the bright daylight coming through the window, I could clearly see the grand walls and the artwork on the wall featuring the cover from the 1920 book by D.L Kelleher titled The Glamour of Manchester. Still relevant as ever.

Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is a landmark luxury hotel in the heart of Manchester and its namesake clocktower and grand Victorian façade stands out as you pass it and what a privilege it has been for us to stay over to experience its grandeur.

What did we think of our stay?

It is very rare that we get a weekend alone without the kids and our last romantic getaway was to Chester during the Eurovision Song Contest last year so we were ready to experience some quiet time together again.

Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is not only conveniently located in the heart of the city centre but there was something so glamorous about staying here. Our room was spacious and came with all the amenities provided such as snacks, alcoholic drinks, Nespresso coffee machine, minifridge, safe, yoga mat, slippers, iron etc.  The room was clean, spacious with tall ceilings and luxurious with comfy sofa,  huge bespoke furniture and premium toiletries.

When we returned to our room after dinner, I was a little worried if the hotel was haunted, as our slippers were moved, but then realised that the staff had been in to get our rooms ready for the evening. They places our slippers next to the bed, left a spray Elemis pillow spray on our pillow and hung clothes which we left on the sofa.  Little things like this made our stay very special. Although we were not celebrating a special occasion, it felt as if we were.

The location of the hotel is so apt and we would definitely be staying here again especially if we are heading to the Palace Theatre for a show.  Huge shout out to the hotel staff for taking time to chat to us and answer all our questions. The cocktails and food was delicious and most importantly, our beds were super comfy and we slept like babies!

I would say it was definitely a night to remember.

Where is Kimpton Clocktower Hotel?

Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is just 7 minutes walk from St Peters Tram Station or 12 minute walk from Piccadilly Station. The hotel does not have its own carpark but is close to the NCP Carpark on Oxford Street . The postcode for the car park is M1 5EJ

Oxford St
Manchester M60 7HA
Reservations: 0161 288 1111
Hotel: 0161 288 1111

Parking charges are £20 for 24 hours, remember to pay at the reception to obtain this rate.

Where did we stay, how much was it and how do I book a room?

There are around 270 rooms at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel and we stayed in their King Premium Room which had 1 King Sized Bed, Sofa, various appliances such as mini fridge, coffee maker. Price for our room starts from £294.

There is an offer currently called ‘From Manchester With Love‘ this package includes room stay, £50 spending money at The Refuge, breakfast as well as a bouquet of flower from their in house florist Giraffe with a Gin and Tonic tipple and sweet treat waiting in the room on arrival. This package is priced at £464.

Things to Note:

• Check in time is 3p.m. while check out time is 12noon
• wifi is free for guests
• Hotel is non-smoking, but they do have a smoking area available for smokers
• Kids stay free up to the age of 12.
• Dog welcomed, at no extra charge, but must be a maximum of 35kg (about 80lb).
• Did you know that the hotel is purported to be haunted. One of the staircases is said to be haunted by a grieving war widow who committed suicide by throwing herself down it from the top floor. The staircase in question was only accessible to men at the time. Rest assured, we had a good night’s sleep and did not experience any paranormal activities.
• There is a hosted social evening wine hour at every day from 5pm to 6pm.
• The hotel does not offers pet sitting/walking services but speak to the concierge team and someone would be able to suggest some local services.
• The hotel offers gift cards
• Guests would need to sign a waiver fee if to get their key card approved to use the fitness centre, speak to the reception staff on how you can do this
• There is complimentary coffee and tea in the lobby
• There is a yoga mat available in every room
• There are bikes available for the hotel guests to use, just speak to reception on availability

About Kimpton Tower Hotel

Beginning with their start in San Francisco more than three decades ago, they do have a few “firsts” under their belt. But they also know that it’s putting customers first, over and over, that really makes them who they are today. And they also believe that anything they’ve accomplished comes from an unscripted passion for serving their guests.

The Kimpton Clocktower Hotel stands tall as a beacon of sophistication and charm in the center of Manchester. The hotel is in the iconic former headquarters of the Refuge Assurance Company and this historic building has been transformed into a luxury hotel that combines old-world elegance with modern amenities. The hotel’s prime location is near the train station and that found that getting around Manchester to be quite easy.

The twenty-first century has arrived in Manchester. Peppered with neo-Gothic structures and modern skyscrapers, this diverse metropolis proudly embraces its industrial roots and ushers in the future. Take in a match at the famed football club, visit an eclectic array of museums, listen to cutting-edge music, explore the imaginative culinary scene and sample from a wealth of cocktail bars and pubs. Join us, where you can stroll the city’s reimagined streets, teeming with urban charm and polished grit.

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