Cryotherapy and cocktails: Why Manchester is pushing the limits in ALL the right places
THE Ainscow Hotel & Spa is a shining example of Manchester’s forward-thinking, cosmopolitan appeal.
Scenic. Stunning. Breathtakingly beautiful.
These are not words you’d use to describe Manchester.
No, the UK’s most liveable city doesn’t need your compliments.
Oozing grit and seduction, this industrial melting pot is far too cool for that.
Layered thick with development, the iconic northern city screams innovation.
Its inhabitants possess an acute patriotism that lulls you into the lifestyle instantly.
Slick with history, culture and a hedonistic scene of food and drink, Manchester lives up to its liveable reputation.
Where to stay: The Ainscow Hotel & Spa
Outside it blends in perfectly with the city’s industrial aesthetic, but inside The Ainscow tells a different story.
Just two years old, it houses all the seductive features tantamount with Manchester, while adding a touch of sophistication.
Locals proudly boast The Ainscow is technically in Salford, ideally positioned on the border of the twinned cities.
With a history harking back to the late 19th century, this building has been transformed into a four-star fit-out with a family-run approach.
In an ode to the historic architecture, each of the 62 rooms has been preserved in its unique shape.
We stayed in a fourth floor twin with two floors and impressive views of the brown brick city.
Testament to the building’s quirky structure, the rooftop terrace can be found one floor below.
If you strike out with the weather like us, this cosy outdoor spot is the perfect place for a cocktail on a sunny day.
One of the hotel’s most discerning features is even further down.
The basement boasts one of the few spas in the country to offer cryotherapy.
If liquid nitrogen at a temperature of -160 degrees celsius sprayed on various body parts doesn’t sound tempting to you, think again.
The pioneering treatment has revolutionised the beauty and health industry, promising everything from weight loss to pain reduction and an unrivalled feeling of euphoria.
Head back up to dine in the hotel’s charming restaurant, with gaping windows and sleek features adding to the polished allure of this bespoke setting.
Bookings: www.theainscow.com
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Where to eat: The Refuge by Volta at the The Principal Manchester
The Principal Manchester is in itself, a sight worth seeing. The palatial building has preserved its Victorian features, with a glass-dome lobby and striking clock tower.
Step inside The Refuge restaurant and you’ll continue to be blown away.
The sprawling setting houses a bar, a garden area illuminated in twinkling lights and plenty of cosy seating space inside.
Dimly lit with black finishings and an impressive tiled mural covering one entire wall, the design does what any restaurant should: invites you in and tempts you to stay a while.
The menu is tapas-style with a range of different cuisines on offer, including salt cod croquettes, wood fired oysters and tuna tartare with passionfruit.
Boasting a varied wine list and cocktails that push the boundaries, it’s easy to see why there’s barely an empty seat in the house.
Where to drink: The Black Cat at El Gato Negro Tapas
From the street, the El Gato Negro looks like an unassuming pokey Spanish restaurant.
But the inside hides a cocktail bar that manages to stand out in a city saturated with inebriation.
The Black Cat sits on the fourth floor, with a retractable roof for star gazing when the weather’s fine.
Sit at the bar for a drinking experience that will transport you back to a different era, while simultaneously hurling you head first forwards.
The excellent barmen turn cocktail making into alchemy, conjuring up drinks that come with their own story.
Sip bourbon tipple out of a glass pipe and swig from flasks hidden inside books.
If you’re feeling even more adventurous, try the cocktail made of cabbage.
It tastes far better than it sounds and moorish than it should.
Non-alcohol drinkers need not fret as equal care has been taken to the teetotal menu. The highlight? A mango lassi with a twist.
Getting there: Virgin Trains run from Euston to Manchester Piccadilly from £17 each way headline fare (£34 return)