A night away from it all can be a wonderful thing, and with The Stock Exchange Hotel right on our doorstep, where’s the need to travel further than Manchester?
I visit Manchester all the time. I hit the shops, and come home. I enjoy a night at the theatre, and head home. I investigate a recommended restaurant – and yes, you guessed it, head home. The trouble with such a great city right on your doorstep is that we take it for granted, and never really celebrate it. I decided it was time to put that to rights, and the Stock Exchange Hotel was the perfect base from which to accomplish it.
The Stock Exchange opened in November 2019, within the building built in 1906 to house Manchester’s own Stock Exchange. It’s a gorgeous building, and the conversion by GG Hospitality, owned by Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, has been beautifully done, really doubling down on the buildings style and heritage.
On arrival, we simply pulled up outside, handed the car keys to the concierge and left it with him. A first touch of luxury. The check in takes place settled on elegant, comfy armchairs in the lounge, while sipping champagne. Another touch of luxury. Finally, we’re shown to our room and introduced to more than a touch of luxury – though this has definite overtones of Manchester’s industrial past and ‘we do things differently here’ attitude. Nothing frilly, or fancy, or unnecessary, just pure comfort of the highest standard.
We spent our day pottering the shops and seeing the sights. A serious stroll along King Street, a dash to Afflecks Palace (oh my it’s been a while, but it never disappoints), and then a visit to the newly renovated Manchester Art Gallery and their new exhibition – Unpicking Couture, which features creations from iconic designers and fashion houses such as Christian Dior, Elsa Schiaparelli, Azzedine Alaïa, Vivienne Westwood, and Alexander McQueen. Our ‘day out’ was completed with dinner at El Gato Negro, an everlasting favourite, before heading back to the hotel and the Sterling Bar, where cocktails were a must-do.
Situated in the lower ground floor of the hotel, walking through the doors of Sterling is a little like a step back in time, American time, that is, to the speakeasies of the Prohibition era. One almost expects to see Daisy Buchanan laughing uproariously at Jay Gatsby, while her husband snarls menacingly in the background.
We sat at the bar and admired the mixologist shaking his stuff (cocktails, not his behind) and chose our tipples. I started with a Nectar (Tanqueray No. Ten gin, honey, lychee, lemon and Schofield’s Dry Vermouth), which went down a treat, before daring the Floradora (Monkey 47 Gin, raspberry, ginger, lime and soda). The ginger syrup was a little fiery for me, which was quickly picked up on and an alternative suggested and quickly mixed up. I have no idea what it was called, but it still had raspberry and a much gentler ginger, and I loved it. This is the mark a true craftsman and the very best customer service, I’d argue. Mike so enjoyed his Butterscotch (butterscotch, butter, The Singleton 12 Scotch, lemon and egg white) he did it all again.
After a night in a vast, super-comfy bed we enjoyed breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant – porridge and fresh fruit salad for me (and a couple of cheeky fresh-made pastries) and the full English for Mike.
As weekend breaks go, it was superb – a luxury hotel, shopping, a bit of culture and closing with cocktails in an atmospheric location. Bliss.
