Another excellent stay in this hotel. This time, we had a triple room as our son met up with us-the room was on the top floor with great views across Manchester and there were 3 double beds in the spacious room and a pretty palatial bathroom. Would highly reccommend this hotel for anyone with children studying at the universities/Northern Ballet School as the location is perfect.

Standard of room/excellent breakfast

Can't think of anything in particular!

We have stayed at the Palace on a few occasions and have always completed the customer satisfaction cards in the room. Always, we have suggested that the service in the bar is not up to scratch, there was no difference this time in the service, or in our eyes lack of service. The room was dusty and the sheets were suspiciously not as crisp as they should be. The reason for our stay was the architecture in the hotel, we promised our daughter a stay there as she is a student photographer and appreciates such things.

There was no room service menu in the room, as we were on a tight schedule, we ate out instead of waiting for a- a new room service menu, then b- our order to arrive.

The triple room we booked was smaller than the double rooms we have stayed in on other stays, which was a shame.

When we got up in plenty of time for breakfast, I found that the shower was faulty, then we all played cat and mouse with the far too hot shower and raced down to breakfast.

We were shown to a table only to have the maitre d' be hissed at by a colleague that we couldn't have that table and were politely requested to wait in the lounge for a table to be found. Breakfast was fine, mostly hot and plenty to choose from. In all fairness the service in the breakfast room and in reception were fine too.

After breakfast, my husband reported the faulty shower and a plumber promptly came and fixed this problem, but with checkout being so close, it was a rush to get showered (again) and packed.

The architecture, reception service, breakfast reception and flowers were outstanding - stargazer lilies filled all public areas and the scent was amazing.

Dusty rooms, incredible poor bar service. Sometimes bar staff will come to you, other times you have to go and order at the bar.

Really interesting hotel- reminds me of the movie the shining!! would stay here again if every returning to manchester- really worth a visit- cocktail bar fantastic and a great breakfast- only wish it finished at 11am not 10am

atmosphere and cocktail bar

some may find the hotel a little spooky!

ideal for town centre
slick operation

ease of booking checking in /out

 

The foyer and vast scale of the building dwarfs and almost intimidates the visitor. We've stayed here before liking its central position and the fact there is a good 24 hour secure car park round the cornerwhere guests get discount. Check in was smooth and the staff friendly and efficient. The sheer scale of the hotel with its vast high ceilings, acres of terracotta and green tiling and the warren of corridors is a bit daunting. It does have a lot of character retaining the vaulted ceilings, wood panelling and many of the features of the former insurance building. Our room was not one of the best - a bit frayed and the decor rather gloomy and quite small for a double. It appeared to have been carved out of a section of office and was in need of refurbishment. The holded curtains and view of the railway lines did nothing to enliven it. The corridor and landing leading to it had evidently had new carpet laid but no one had hoovered any of the bits and debris up. However the bathroom was good, the shower very efficient and all the usual facilities inlcuding an iron and board (nice touch). The bed was comfortable but generally the room didn't really reflect its 4 star status. The Tempus bar and barman is good although the prices will keep you sober. As everything seemed to cost £7.50 cocktails seemed rather better value than my glass of rioja. A good buffet breakfast with options such as kippers cooked to order was included. The Palace can't really compete on style or fittings with some of the newer hotels but its staff are friendly and efficient, rooms relatively comfortable and with its central location it makes a good choice for theatre and concert stopovers. Generally its comfortable. Given what we paid it was good value as it included the breakfast. If we'd been charged the full £100 a night price, it would be differfent matter.

Central location, friendly efficient staff and good breakfast

Room was small and in need of refurbishment

I enjoyed the stay in The Palace for 4 nights. The room on the 2nd floor was a very large one with an also large bathroom with the essentials.Everything very clean and
also a quiet room as I had asked for.
Dining at the restaurant was a very good surprise! Good cuisine!
All the personnel were very nice and helpfull.

everything

no remarks

The Palace lives up to it's name as you enter it's grand hall and go to the reception, it's a this point onwards that your awe is taken down a peg. The receptionists are not as welcoming as you'd home and you almost get the feeling you're an inconvenience (and if you've booked online, it's here that they tell you there is a parking discount available through the Palace - shame you've already paid and displayed). The bathrooms in the rooms are perfect, some rooms are nice but others define the word - basic. Also, if you're unlucky with the room, you get to look out the window at some skips, rubbish and back-alleys. The restaurant and bar is exquisite but the cost of the luxurious surrounding is included in the price of the drinks. Lovely hotel, it clearly wants to attract the highest client but it needs to remember that the quality has to be throughout the hotel - not just in parts. Though if it wants to attract families then the prices will have to drop.

The style

The view and the receptionist

I stayed at the Palace Hotel Friday June 13th. and Saturday June 14th.2008 with my husband and teen aged daughter.The people woking in the hotel could not have been nicer.They were all very polite, helpful, efficient and friendly.
The building is very interesting as it was originally built at the end of the nineteenth century to house the Refuge Assurance Company. The original Victorian and Edwardian details remain intact and the lobby is stunning.
On arrival we were offered an upgrade to a newly refurbished room for an additional $50 per night.We declined and stayed in a room which was described as,"traditional". The room was very large as was the bathroom.It was clean and nicely furnished but looked a little worn which didn't bother us.
Breakfast was an extensive buffet served in the resturant.The waiters were very friendly and efficient and choices of food offered were excellent.
We enjoyed our stay and would be very happy to stay at The Palace again.
The location is perfect for shopping , theatre and visiting the museums on foot.

The building and the people working in the hotel

Our room was a little worn [but not unplesant]

Stayed with 3 friends all in our early 30's. All of us found the hotel to be extremely good. It was clean, the staff attentive, food was very good and the bar was always staffed - although maybe not by enough people. My friends had never stayed above 3* before and were all very impressed with the oppulence of the Palace, it is indeed very grand in the old style rather than one of the trendy boutique hotels such as a Du Vin. All in all would definitely go back there. nb. Could do with a room service option.

pleasant and classy feel to the hotel

lack of air conditioning

It was a nice hotel, but we were unfortunate enough to get a basement bedroom which was hot and stuffy with windows which did not open. They were aware of the problem with these rooms as they provided a fan as standard.

The building was impressive and in a good location

The bedroom

The hotel was everything we expected, full of character and style.
The choice of food, drink and facilities was excellent if a little pricey.
The staff were very polite and accomodating with the exception of one young "waiter" at breakfast who, when we asked for our long awaited tea and toast, snapped "I'm only clearing tables"
This wasnt a huge issue obviously but was a little blemish on an otherwise perfect stay

The decor and service

Only the lack of customer service by one breakfast waiter.

I really enjoyed my one night stay at the Palace. It made a change to stay in a hotel with character and beautiful decor rather than a modern faceless box. My room was amazing, absolutely huge but warm and cosy at the same time. Breakfast was excellent with plenty of choice and the dining room was classy.

My lovelyt spacious bedroom

Finding my room, it was like a labyrinth

EXCELLENT HOTEL , EXCELLENT SERVICE

EVERYTHING

NOTHING

Very nice hotel.
Good central location.
Great value for money.

Rooms, Breakfast.

 

Overall a great hotel BUT the hotel staff let it down. Very slow at check-in, not helpful with heavy baggage, not very great with any complaints and there were a few about rooms near the trainline. Had they said the trains dont run at night - problem solved - they didn't seem to know this.