Sheesh - seems like ages since I've been here. So many changes, business up and running - bred my f...
Sheesh - seems like ages since I've been here. So many changes, business up and running - bred my first litter of labs - moved house - guess I had better work on catching up now!
Member since:20.03.2001
Reviews:275
Members who trust:170
Having experienced one good hotel in the Jarvis Chain, The Jarvis Picadilly was our choice for our weekend away to witness Spurs lose at Old Trafford. The footie may have been disappointing, but the hotel lived up to the quality reputation, save for a few minor mishaps.
It is situated in the heart of City, a short walk away from the Arndale Shopping Centre, and overlooks Piccadilly Gardens and Tram Station, however, don't be fooled by any pictures you may see of this hotel, as where there was once rows of trees and shrubbery, there is now a building site, as the council and local firms busily prepare for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, to which Manchester is the host city.
CAR PARKING The hotel has its own free car park, albeit in limited numbers - it is accessed via a little side street behind the hotel. The driveway is very curvy, narrow and steep, both up and down and is situated above a pay NCP car park, so be careful when approaching that you select the correct entrance (signposts are overhead) - Should you need to park in the NCP you will be stung for £14.50 pr 24 hours - although it is human security.
On arrival, you report to reception and the concierge either allocate you a space, or park your car for you. Prior to your visit, you can either obtain directions to the car park from the hotel, or download them off the internet, but you need to be alert and it is useful to have someone directing, as the traffic around this area is busy.
RECEPTION The hotel reception is a grand affair, synonomous
more with your average travelling business-person, than the hundreds of football supporters that descended on it that particular weekend. Service is all computerised and processing is speedy and efficient; the concierge will assist you in taking your luggage to your room, for which you would be well advised to tip, my other half had the grand total of 70p change on him, whoops, not off to a good start.
PRICES I shall give you the bad news about this hotel first, prices do not come cheap
o Double room, without breakfast is £129 per night o A suite without breakfast is £200 per night.
Continental breakfast is £7.50 and full English is £10.95.
However, if you are travelling at weekends, check out their internet site for late deals, Jarvis don't seem to do special offers for 1 night stays. We secured a standard room including breakfast for £136 for two nights, i.e. £68 per room per night. A far cry from the extortionate prices advertised in reception, which I certainly don't think the hotel warranted.
THE ROOM The Jarvis Picadilly is home to 272 bedrooms which are quite small, but adequate, and contain all the facilities you would expect to find in a hotel of this standard, including, en-suite, King size bed, remote control TV with pay Movie Channels. All the sky sports channels were provided Free Of Charge, telephone & modem link, hairdryer, trouser press and tea & coffee making facilities. The hotel is 11 storeys high, and the rooms offer a birds-eye view of the city. It offers a range of both smoking and non-smoking rooms.
During our stay, we had a problem with our toilet tank that flooded our bathroom floor, despite reporting it twice, it was still playing up on our departure.
THE FACILITIES The hotel has a wide range of leisure facilities including a large indoor heated swimming Pool and children's pool, surround by sun-beds, steam room & spa bath, sauna & solarium, gymnasium, health & beauty salon and hair studio.
It offers a choice of three bars, The Portland bar, which is adjacent to the hotel and accessed off the main street, worth a visit as drinks are cheap, £1.50 for a pint of John Smiths, and £1.50 for a pint of Fosters, it is not open on Sundays.
There is also a Club Bar which offers both 'basket' meals and drinks, this was not however open during our stay, I believe, because of the number of football supporters in town.
And last, but certainly not least, the Arts Grill and Bar. We opted not to try out the Grill as with China town on the doorstep, not to mention the array of old favourites such as Pizza hut, there were far better bargains to be had. I understand you could have a meal here for around £15-£20 per person. The bar section had a large comfortable seating area, and a wide screen for sports fanatics. The staff were friendly and helpful, although the prices were much higher than the Portland Bar, around £3.45 for a pint of John Smiths and half a Lager. Despite this being high compared to the local pubs, they were much lower than other hotels I have stayed in, and reasonable considering the Piccadilly is renowned as 'THE' Business Meeting Place in Manchester. The hotel also offers a number of conference rooms for businesses.
UPDATE: I attended a conference at the Jarvis Picaddilly a few months later were lunch was provided - a superb array of buffet style hot and cold food such as goulash, rice, salads, fries and cold meats, followed by proffiteroles, meringue, fresh fruit, cheese and biscuits and coffee. Certainly left you wanting for more, but unable to fit it all in.
BREAKFAST The full english breakfast offered
A wide range of cereals and fruits Orange Juice Coffee/Tea/Hot Chocolate Toast A range of pastries and rolls, accompanied by butter, marg and conserve Bacon, Sausage, Fried potatos, Fried & scrambled eggs, Beans, Tomatoes Mushrooms
All on self-service, buffet style. It is worth trying, and if you get a window seat as the restaurant offers a panoramic view over the City.
The hotel is approximately ½ mile from Piccadilly station, Manchester and 10 miles away from the airport.
SUMMARY If you can get a good deal over the internet, then this is certainly worth a visit, it is stylish, upmarket with good service and good food, situated in a convenient location both for shopping and site seeing, and travelling to outlying areas of the city. If staying here and going out and about at night, ensure you take you room key and chit with you, or you won't get back in without some convincing.
HOW CAN I STAY THERE You can book on-line at www.jarvis.co.uk Call central reservations on: 01494 436264 Or call on the hotel direct on: Telephone 0161 236 8414 (if you chose the last method, from experience, be prepared to pay higher prices).
Although on our conference visit, last minute attendees on a Sunday night managed to get rooms for £45 B&B, considerably cheaper than the £65 Roon only quoted for the conference rate.
If travelling to this area on a tight budget, it is worth shopping around as there are myriads of hotels of all shapes and sizes available within a very short distance, I have stayed in the Jarvis, Britannia and Thistle all on more than one occasion and would say the Jarvis is definitely the nicest, although the Britannia opposite does offer some excellent deals. I am advised that Jurys a short walk away also offers extremely competitive rates, there is also a Travel Inn and Ibis on the same street.
Jarvis Piccadilly Hotel Piccadilly Plaza Manchester M60 1QR http://www.jarvis.co.uk/
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