FIRST LOOK | Bedrooms at King St Townhouse – new luxury boutique hotel with rooftop pool

Manchester’s King Street Townhouse – Jemima Forbes gets a sneak preview of the newest boutique hotel in town.

Tucked away down Booth Street, just a brief walk to city centre shops, is a magnificent Grade II listed building which was built in 1872 as the Manchester Salford Trustee Bank, and which will open soon as the newest boutique hotel in town.

“…it’s the subtle
finishing touches
that give King
Street Townhouse
its added hint of
decadence.”

This is the perfect location for Eclectic’s latest offering as it compliments their existing portfolio of hotels in stunning period buildings – Great John Street, Didsbury House and Eleven Didsbury Park. Eclectic hopes to “expand respectfully on the allure and unique qualities” of King St Townhouse’s historic location and create a “baby grand hotel”.

We were invited in for an exclusive tour ahead of its opening next month and, despite it still being in a semi-state of refurbishment, it was an impressive place. Featuring 40 rooms and suites, a Tavern bar and restaurant, 170 person capacity event space, a spa and gym, and an amazing rooftop infinity pool, King St Townhouse focuses on metropolitan luxury and will be the ideal place for a city getaway or a special event.

Due to the history of the building, each room is a unique shape and size as well as being individually decked out with elegant soft furnishings and bespoke furniture. The smallest room is the snug. Priced at £250 a night, it’s a moderate price for a luxury hotel in the city centre. From there, prices increase with the size and facilities of the room. The suites at the top end are large and feature floor to ceiling windows with panoramic views of the Town Hall. Enjoy the view from your free standing bath, the super king size bed or comfortable sofas in the separate lounge area. Some of the rooms can also be connected through the wardrobes – a handy feature for families or groups.

King Street Townhouse aims to be a luxurious addition to the Eclectic Group’s portfolio and this is reflected not only in the price but also the décor, service and embellishments.

The rooms all feature a walk-in monsoon shower done out in colourful rustic tiles and all but the snug rooms feature free standing baths, an understated nod towards Eclectic’s Great John Street hotel. From goose down feather pillows, double pocket sprung mattresses, designer wallpaper, bespoke furnishings and lavish fabrics, each room has been individually designed with comfort in mind. For the technology buff, the rooms have their own personal wi-fi, USB ports in the walls for charging various gadgets, and flat screen TVs with access to Sky Sports.

However, it is the subtle finishing touches that give King Street Townhouse its added hint of decadence. The wardrobes in each room are fitted with metalwork grills on the doors made of the same material as Jaguar cars. Similarly, the door to each room has an added lip fixed on the bottom to block out noise and light from the corridor so guests can relax and sleep in complete darkness and silence.

Even the contents of the mini bars have been carefully thought out and contain a mix of delicious products that guests will actually want to eat or drink.

It is not just the rooms and suites that make this hotel a must-see destination. The second highest floor of this striking hotel houses the South Terrace bar area and event space. This area can seat 100 formally or 150 informally, and features a large wooden bar area and music system. This floor and the one above have spectacular views over Manchester city centre, and on a clear day you can apparently see all the way to Derbyshire. As well as being an ideal look out spot, the terrace would be an atmospheric space for a wedding reception, birthday party or New Year’s celebration.

Just above this is the spa area with its treatment rooms, sauna, relaxation room and the much anticipated infinity pool. Heated to 50 degrees and with the same unrivalled views of the city, the pool is a stunning location to have a relaxing soak in after a spa session.

Minutes away from the Town Hall, King St Townhouse makes an ideal wedding reception destination. With private hire of the South Terrace and two or more preparation rooms for the bride and groom, the hotel facilities are specifically tailored to make the day stress-free and special. The Tavern Restaurant with a mezzanine bar on the lower floors will be open to the public but is also available for private hire.

Although the hotel is currently taking bookings for Christmas and New Year events, you will have to wait a little longer before you can book a room to stay in. The official opening date is still to be revealed but expect this luxury boutique hotel to be opening its doors to guests in the New Year.

King Street Townhouse are now taking bedroom bookings from January 2016 with an opening offer of 25% off:
www.eclectichotels.co.uk/king-street-townhouse

Don’t forget to follow them on Twitter: @KingStTownhouse