Aloft by Marriott Manchester City Centre

Marriott’s got a lot of elbow room in Manchester. It already has the Victoria & Albert, the Moxy, an AC Hotel and a couple of Tribute Portfolio properties. What it didn’t have, until now, was an Aloft. So in Pokémon’s gotta-catch-’em-all spirit – albeit with global megabrands rather than pocket monsters – it just opened one on Deansgate. And at 358 rooms, it’s the largest in Europe.

If the day-to-night buzz of Deansgate is your jam (more on jam, shortly), you won’t find a hotel better located. It’s seconds’ walk from both Deansgate Metrolink and the train station, with a plethora of flashy and less flashy bars and restaurants on your doorstep, alongside cultural highlights like Castlefield Gallery, HOME and Aviva Studios.

As for the venue itself, the clever part isn’t the tower – it’s what’s underneath it. Aloft takes over one of the old brick railway arches at the end of Deansgate Locks and turns it into the atmospheric space where breakfast and dinner happen. Corrugated iron roof, exposed brick, industrial lighting – so far, so post-industrial Manchester.

But things change in the tower stacked on top, made of glass, steel and eye-watering investment capital. It stretches 22 floors up, and our room is happily perched on the highest one. The view, of course, is the star of the show. Deansgate and the wider city spread out below, and beyond that, the green hills of the south Pennines. It’s serene by day, and dramatic by night, like a cut-price Blade Runner with more chippies.

The room itself keeps sensibly out of the way of that view, with earthy tones and textures complementing simple but effective amenities and a gargantuan bed. The bathroom follows suit, complete with a shower big enough to bathe a small horse. Or, given Aloft’s pro-pooch policy, maybe a couple of Tibetan Mastiffs.

Breakfast happens back down in the arches, where you’ll find an unflashy but satisfying cooked breakfast buffet, continental spread, pastries and cereals. But small decisions shine, case in point being the oat milk coffee machine – something we haven’t seen before, and a genuine result for vegan guests and anyone off cow’s milk.

There’s also a self-service jam and spread station. Now, a jam sommelier must be a thing, right? Well, that person would be happier than a pig in jam, here, with miniature vats of the sweet stuff lined up in ceremonial rows as if it’s some kind of Ambrosia (the magical ancient Greek honey, not the wartime custard). This too, for reasons that are quite difficult to put into words, is deeply pleasing.

Aloft’s whole pitch is bold, sociable, design-conscious – built for a younger market that swings between midweek business travellers and city-break guests at weekends, helped along by a proper 24-hour gym, not the usual cupboard with a treadmill. But the best thing about this particular Aloft isn’t anything the brand brought with it. It’s the heritage arch and the almost unrivalled view of the city. Throw in a great location, very friendly staff, and the most earnest handling of jam this writer has ever seen, and you’d struggle to do better for £95+ per night.