“People talk about Manchester as ‘edgy,’ but I like to think of it more as having energy,” says Adrian Ellis, general manager of The Lowry Hotel, taking a late-afternoon pause in the hotel’s lounge, with a view of the iconic Santiago Calatrava bridge over the River Irwill. A quick glance around shows what he means. At a nearby table, musicians sporting badges from an upcoming music festival hunch over a laptop to mix a video; in the corner, three athletes in team track suits sit down for tea with their manager. “There is so much to do here, in so many different areas,’’ Mr. Ellis says. “We are both a haven and an introduction to everything Manchester has to offer.”
Often described as England’s second city, Manchester was once the heart of the country’s textile industry. Today it is better known for world-class soccer, the home of Manchester United and Manchester City of the English Premier League. Internationally known architects like Daniel Liebeskind are redrawing the skyline as Manchester expands to welcome new corporate headquarters in media, wealth management and the arts. The city’s growth and prosperity have also fueled a cultural explosion, with institutions like the Whitworth Art Gallery and the Imperial War Museum North sharing attention with a thriving and thrusting contemporary art subculture. Add to that a buzzy music scene, as well as a drink and dining culture that critics say is second only to London’s for innovation, variety, and quality.
We are both a haven and an introduction to everything Manchester has to offer.
As one of the first luxury hotels in the city, and still the preeminent name in five-star hospitality, The Lowry Hotel is part of the fabric of Manchester. Named for the 20th-century painter L.S. Lowry, whose work celebrated the city’s industrial roots, the hotel proudly supports its local heroes. The public areas and hallways of The Lowry feature a rotating exhibition of artists and photographers whose work captures Manchester’s edge and energy. At the popular River restaurant, where footballers and musicians dine side by side with families visiting their college-student offspring, the chef sends out seasonal dishes based on British classics, with a fresh twist: cannelloni of Scottish salmon, honey-roast vegetables with sage, handmade English cheeses.
The hotel’s supersized rooms, recently renovated and most with floor-to-ceiling windows for spectacular city views, maintain The Lowry’s focus on comfort. For leisure travelers, or business travelers taking a break, the hotel’s cheerful staff can advise on the perfect tea room or brew pub, a walking tour of historic buildings, or a shop-till-you-drop afternoon among the brand-name luxury boutiques just a few minutes away. After a quick massage or sauna in the hotel’s spa, a Manchester evening awaits. “This is a great place to live, and an even better place to visit,” Adrian Ellis says. And with everything going on in Manchester, chances are you will visit soon—if you haven’t already.