The Staycation…an idyllic domestic holiday taken close to home, from where one usually embarks on day trips or single-overnight trips.
Yes, it may sound a bit tame compared to the international trips you typically embark on, but in these days, when the international borders are closed and your go-to destinations are off-limits, this could be a perfect time to find out what staycations are all about.
For most, if not all of us, 2020 has been a year of major ups and downs. Millions of people have had to cancel their holiday plans because of coronavirus pandemic, meaning that the UK tourism industry has seen a downturn in recent months.
I’ve always been a big fan of taking a trip in the UK and quite frankly, there has never been a better time to explore what the nation has to offer. While the borders remain closed and strict quarantine rules have been put in place, a staycation isn’t a sacrifice but an opportunity to rediscover the beauty waiting for you right around the corner.
The best thing is that you don’t even have to venture out of your own town or city to experience that ‘taking a break’ feeling.
A Warm Welcome To ‘Manc-hattan’
After much anticipation, and two years of sworn secrecy, Hotel Brooklyn finally launched in Spring 2020 with the aim to become an epicentre of eclectic substance and a home-away-from-home to the creators and style setters and I headed to the spot for a well needed weekend of R&R.
The experience was a welcome trip, transported to ‘Manc-hattan’. Full of skyscrapers and hotels, the Big Apple and Manchester have more in common than you might think (parts of the Northern Quarter stood in for NYC in the latest Marvel movie Morbius).
Weaving the lines between Manchester and Brooklyn, the hotel is a bold and inspirational project that draws many parallels and made for a unique visit.
Although it may be 3,334 miles away from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan, New York – the most obvious source of inspiration for hotel’s creation – Hotel Brooklyn brings with it raw, unpolished creativity and character.
As part of the Bespoke Hotels family, they have once again delivered on creating another iconic Manchester hotel with a strong identity and character.
The concept for the hotel, which was imagined by design studio Squid Inc., was to create sanctuary for urban explorers – think of a living room away from home and a workplace away from the office.
Post pandemic, the hotel has reopened (so good they launched twice) and I was invited to experience a Brooklyn style weekend, without even leaving the confines of the M1 postcode.
Upon entering the premises we were greeted by possible the friendliest team on the planet, who were so nice I want to make friends with them for life!
That bold spirit starts in the lobby, often blended together with the sound of live music as guests check-in. The walk-in-the-park design scheme, complete with charming park benches under an exposed industrial ceiling, is uncluttered and smartly blends in biophilic design elements while reflecting modern, industrial vibes.
Around the corner from the understated check-in desks is a tiered seated cinema, which offers a communal area unlike anywhere else in the city, where guests can relax and unwind.
On the ground floor, a space called The Snug is designed to be a sanctuary from the hubbub, with an open fireplace and record players spinning vintage records from the Manchester music scene – with sound via headphones so there’s no disruption to other guests.
There’s also a big cinema screen, which will show films to complement the feel of the hotel – think iconic flicks like Taxi , Gangs of New York and Joker.
The Suite Life
Our suite was the ultimate in luxury and style, with decor that could match
Upstairs, while the 189 rooms are impressively designed, it is the 18 fully accessible suites that set the hotel aside from others. With Bespoke Hotels being award-winningly famous for pioneering stylish accessibility in hospitality for all, to help delicately balance style and functionality.
Accessible accommodation at Hotel Brooklyn features subtle details like basins with integrated hand grips, removable matt black grab rails, accessible bedroom storage and a hidden ceiling track hoist
The aesthetic of each guestroom was inspired by Brooklyn’s loft spaces, peppered with immaculate features that favour quality and high-spec finishes. The beds, for example, have brass adornments, while Turkish-inspired carpets contrast with the concrete walls. Yellow and blue chairs, compliment black desks, while modern lamps and a traditional dial phone add to the interior’s overall mise en scene.
Rooms here face the window at an angle, providing a stunning view of the city. Although the city is usually crowded with people and filled with traffic, during the sunrise it felt like a different experience.
The modern bathrooms within the rooms feature matt-black fixtures and fittings which stand out against a simple white-tiled backdrop. The majority of bathroom configurations in each room have been cleverly-angled to allow their back walls and semi opaque windows to look out across the bedroom – a nod, I feel, to the city’s voyeuristic and playful side
On the top floor, the hotel’s meeting and event space has been aptly named, Brooklyn Heights. Complete with hanging baskets and panoramic vistas across the city, Salvation Bar has the swag to become a new destination venue.
NYC district style dining at Runyon’s
These days no hotel is complete without the addition of a bar and restaurant. Runyon’s Bar and Restaurant was named after New York journalist and writer Damon Runyon, who was renowned for his depictions of Brooklyn characters.
The food & beverage area, complete with chandeliers made from upcycled glass bottles, is an energetic and refreshing in its design. The iconic backdrop of a wall mural featuring the hybrid cable-stayed Brooklyn Bridge, which was the world’s first steel-wire suspension bridge and is one of the oldest roadway bridges in the United States of America, can be seen from all angles of the restaurant and further distorts guests’ sense of place.
Whilst Runyon’s is a welcome addition to the hotel experience it’s so good it could stand alone in it’s own right. The food was superb and tingled all the right tastebuds.
Our staycation was complete with a morning treat, pulling back the curtains with the touch of a button (fancy) we woke to views over the city and a delicious breakfast in bed. The perfect way to end a stay, it doesn’t get much better.
All in all this was this simply is the perfect city staycation for those with discerning taste. It’s got class and craft. With design, with food, with the sofas and chairs. And damn – the food & cocktails to match.
Accessible, dog-friendly, modern and stylish – with decent food to boot. What more could you want?
And while Manchester is getting it first, the Hotel Brooklyn concept will soon be rolled out to other UK cities. It seems only fitting that we’re leading the way.
If you’re looking for a little getaway treat you can book your stay here.
*In collaboration with Hotel Brooklyn & Bespoke Hotels*
Check out @hotelbklyn
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