INNSiDE by Meliá Hotel

INNSiDE by Meliá Hotel, 1 First Street, Manchester, M15 4RP – Visit Now

The staff at INNSiDE by Spanish hotel chain Meliã understand the importance of a warm and enthusiastic greeting. They talk you through the various mural-covered pillars in the generously proportioned foyer, including one by local artist SRG, aka Scott R Greenwood.

Tonight’s event – a takeover by beer experts SEVEN BRO7HERS – begins with a glass of prosecco and a visit to INNSiDE’s ongoing collaboration with Comme Ça Art Gallery on the first floor: a rotating exhibition showcasing Mancunian artists.

INNSiDE takes the best local specialities Manchester has to offer, and brings them directly to its guests

Street artist Mr. Eggs brings North Western echoes of Banksy, whilst Big H’s numerous big and bold collages blend 80s cartoons and pop culture iconography with paint-splashed £50 notes. Meanwhile, Rebecca Davy’s oil painting Irridescent almost photo-realistically captures the reflective wobble of a moulded jelly in a kitsch cut-glass serving dish.

On the ground floor, First Street Bar & Kitchen is spacious and varied, with a mixture of booths and dining tables lit softly for the evening. The outdoor garden area is furnished with a lush faux lawn, flowers, fairy lights and patio heaters aplenty. We sample two guest beers from Salford craft beer brewery SEVEN BRO7HERS on draught as part of their current tap takeover: Honeycomb Pale and Pilsner, both highly recommended. The takeover is part of a new collaboration between the hotel and brewery, set to continue all year. Guests in some suites will even get the chance to sample complimentary SEVEN BRO7HERS beers from the minibar.

More artwork from local artists is on display in the bar, with a table of Pokemon prints by SRG proving very popular. In the background, guests are serenaded by an acoustic guitarist and singer as delicious canapés circulate. First pizza: sweet tomato marinara for the vegans, garlicky pizza bianca with smoked mozzarella for the dairy lovers.

Crisp arancini oozing with fontina cheese come next, followed by the appearance of tiered afternoon tea trays. These contain three savoury treats: bresaola rolls; Prosciutto, mild goat’s cheese and olive crostini; and best of all – hot fish finger ciabatta with tartare sauce.

INNSiDE hopes to take some of the best local specialities Manchester has to offer, and bring them directly to its guests ‘with curious minds’ for a vibrant city experience. These collaborations with Comme Ça Art and SEVEN BRO7HERS are a credit to the state of modern Manchester – accessible but innovative, modern but aware of the city’s heritage.

• 1 First Street
• Manchester
• M15 4RP
• View map

• Website: www.melia.com
• Telephone: 0161 200 2500