The new-look Midland Hotel is now open – what’s it like to stay there?

As pubs, restaurants, cafes and bars start to reopen again, it’s great to see Manchester embrace our city’s hospitality offering once more.

One thing we’ve really missed this past year, though, is a hotel buffet breakfast. That thrilling start to the day when breakfast becomes a leisurely meal of several courses, with cold meats and cheeses, fruits and yoghurts, fresh juices and hot coffee, warm buttery pastries – and a full fry-up, to boot.

Rushed mornings at home with a bowl of cereal before firing up the laptop just can’t compete. 

Well, now the hotel breakfast is back – with one or two adjustments given the current restrictions. And we couldn’t be more excited.

This particular breakfast is even more special as it’s at The Midland, which has just had a multi-million pound makeover to become the city’s hottest destination.

The £14m revamp includes a stunning transformation of all bedrooms and public areas, a brand new restaurant Mount Street Dining Room & Bar, as well as the destination restaurant, The French.

The refurbishment follows the full rebrand of the award-winning on-site spa, which transitioned into Rena Spa at The Midland in November 2019.

As well as a pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, and hanging sleep pods, the spa also offers a selection of specialist treatments, all using renowned French beauty brand, Caudalie.

You’ll want to celebrate your trip to The Midland with a drink at the beautiful new curved Champagne bar, a dazzling dark shade of emerald, which serves a range of Champagne and cocktails including some with a local flavour – Fancy Vimto, perhaps, or Manchester Tart Fizz.

A crisp Martini is made with local gin, while the Mad For It Margarita includes sage-infused Vimto cordial.

Twinkling lights in the trees give a glamorous feel making a perfect spot for pre- or post-dinner drinks, with music at the weekends adding to the atmosphere.

When it comes to dinner, there’s a choice between the new-look Adam Reid at The French, or new restaurant concept, Mount Street Dining Room & Bar, a modern British style brasserie, which combines Northern hospitality with an all-day menu offering from chargrilled fish and lobster, steaks and grill dishes to hearty homemade pies.

Staying the night? Featuring a restful, neutral colour palette adorned with luxurious soft padded armchairs, plump cushions and glowing lamps, the new bedrooms offer guests ultimate comfort and style.

It feels like a sanctuary in the city, with crazily comfortable beds as well as all the amenities you’d expect, from fast free Wi-Fi and complimentary tea, coffee and mineral water to flatscreen TVs, hairdryers and adjustable air conditioning.

A room service menu includes an array of irresistible options, from lobster crumpets with hollandaise sauce to aged Limousin burgers and 24-hour pizzas.

And what about that breakfast? Well, it’s worth the wait.

While you can’t quite help yourself in quite the way we used to, you can still wander over to the hot buffet section where a server will pile a plate full of whatever you fancy, from bacon and sausages to mushrooms, black pudding and tomatoes, via an egg station where you can get them cooked any style fresh to order.

Cold buffet sections include the cheeses, breads, fruits, yoghurts, mini muffins and pastries you’d expect, but for the moment everything is individually wrapped for extra peace of mind, with juices served in individual little bottles.

It’s everything you’d expect from one of the city’s most iconic hotels, where a stay is now even more special than ever.