Located a short walk from New York Street, in the part of Manchester sometimes called “Cottonopolis”, naming your hotel (the budget sister property to the city’s Gotham Hotel) the Brooklyn seems like either a geographical nod too far or a Batman pastiche.
To be fair, it probably is a little tongue-in-cheek – there’s certainly a sense of playfulness here – but the Hotel Brooklyn is shaping up to be a brand in its own right (a Leicester outpost should launch this year) and, when it comes to modern hospitality that’s accessible for all, it’s doing a remarkable job.
Why come here?
I’ve waxed lyrical about Manchester in other reviews so we’ll ignore the joys of the city for once; suffice to say, the Brooklyn’s location makes it very handy for general exploration and, in particular, the nearby delights of Chinatown (and the Thai places that also nestle within). The hotel itself though has much to recommend it. There is a Brooklyn/Williamsburg-y feel to it all – bare brick, industrial flourishes, a touch of knowing funkiness such as terraced-seating and individual record players for those nomadic workers enjoying the lobby’s Wi-Fi who can’t do it without listening to some vinyl.
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The design is clever – there’s a natural flow to its semi-open plan that takes you naturally from reception to lifts/bar/workspace. However it’s the rooms that truly impress, particularly from an accessibility perspective. Wider entranceways, well thought out bathrooms and furniture layouts, storage, powerpoints and light switches at levels convenient to wheelchair users… it’s all been done as a matter of course in many of the rooms, a seamless addition to hospitality that many places could well do with studying.
Assistance dogs are also very welcome: guests with such canine requirements are asked to advise in advance, however, but mostly so that the Brooklyn staff can spoil them too. The team have also been trained to support guests with well-being or mental health issues. And if you’re tempted to write that off as “woke”, then hell, go and stay somewhere else. You won’t be missed…
Eating and drinking
As mentioned, Hotel Brooklyn rubs shoulders with the great, the good, and the considerably less so of Chinatown. However, the hotel’s own option – Runyon’s, one of several Guys & Dolls references you’ll pick up around the place – is also a very solid bet, with an impressive (and tasty) vegan menu (which does, slightly confusingly, offer “meatballs”). Cauliflower “wings” are gradually becoming a little bit of a cliché but, when they’re done well (as they are here), it’s a cracking dish/drinking snack. The black bean tacos are also rather tasty. There are unexpected levels of creativity on the regular menu too, from cauliflower and corn bread fritters, to paprika-braised lamb with pickled grape salsa alongside the more expected steak/burger/fish and chip options. Perhaps it’s not so surprising then that breakfast is rather good too.
What to do?
While facilities at the Brooklyn are somewhat minimal (aside from its impressive conferencing and banqueting options), the “basics” of accommodation and food and beverage are anything but. It is then a very good option from which to explore Manchester, and Lancashire as a whole. If this is a brand that extends further across the country, that would not be a bad thing.
Nightly rates at Hotel Brooklyn start from £139 for a Club Room on a B&B basis; hotelbrooklyn.co.uk
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