The vibrant city of Manchester has so much to offer and if you’re visiting, you’ll want to be in a prime spot in the very heart of the action. The Reach at Piccadilly opened in 2024 and offers a stylish retreat within walking distance of Manchester’s bars, restaurants, history, culture and shopping.
This Tribute Portfolio Hotel by Marriott (part of the Marriott Bonvoy Collection) is located on the banks of the Rochdale Canal right by ‘the reach’ while also being just a two minute walk from Piccadilly station, making it super convenient.
You’ll find The Reach on Ducie Street, nestled amongst some of Manchester’s best-loved and luxurious hotels. Throughout, you’ll see nods to Manchester’s industrial heritage, while the hotel boasts the most stunning public spaces – light and airy with fancy art and chic seating in the lobby, bar and downstairs restaurants.
There are 215 rooms and eight suites in the 11 storey building. My ‘deluxe double with balcony’ was compact, but had everything you would need for a comfortable night’s stay in Manchester. Thoughtfully designed, there was hanging space for clothes, a fridge stocked with water, 50 inch wall TV complete with SKY TV and Sports channels, TNT, and Movies channels, natural toiletries, free WiFi and convenient charging ports.
I loved the sleek, tiled bathroom and smart lighting, the wooden floors, panelled walls and warm pastel colours. Paying homage to the materials once carried down the loch, natural materials like timber, coal, wool and limestone are used in abundance to create rooms with ‘sustainable elegance’ and a hand-crafted finish. The Ducie St. Co. bathroom products smelled divine!
Ambient lighting provided a soft cosy feel and I felt right at home working from the room while looking out onto the bustling city below. If you don’t feel like working in your room though, the lobby is a comfortable spot to take your laptop and set up your office!
Staff are super friendly and even though I was dining alone in the restaurant, I was made to feel super welcome. The Reach at Piccadilly remains dedicated to keeping things local where possible. From their own Lock 84 IPA, (exclusively by Salford’s Seven Bro7hers) craft to Worker Bee Coffee, roasted nearby and served at the hotel, the menu is also a celebration of Manchester producers.
With a range of small plates priced at 3 for £18 or individually priced and a larger plates menu, I enjoyed cauliflower cheese croquettes with tomato relish, creamy garlic mayo and sharp pickled onions which were a tasty snack to start. Winter squash ravioli was a filling main course with each pocket of fresh pasta stuffed with spinach, parmesan and crispy sage topped with a sprinkling of toasted mixed seeds for added texture.
Breakfast is also served at Loch 84 and as the restaurant is located at the back of the hotel, you’re right on the water which allows you to enjoy a sense of calm – quite the contrast to the Manchester buzz of the city. For £20 you can enjoy the The Lock Keepers Breakfast Table with coffee and tea, breads, pastries, juices, yoghurts and cereals, plus one main event dish. The Floddie is among the mains and really should be tried – eaten canal side in the North for hundreds of years.
The Reach at Piccadilly is quite a unique addition to the Manchester hotel scene. Rooted in Manchester’s industrial past and its historic relationship with the canal, the design feels thoughtful and authentic rather than overtly themed and the story is never blatant, rather, woven seamlessly into the building through its design and its people. Book your stay at The Reach at Piccadilly here.