I read a stat the other day that said Brits are set to add 27 billion to the economy via staycations in 2020 and to be honest, I’m not exactly surprised. When travel is unpredictable, to say the least, people are bound to seek a little R & R in nearby cities. My bestie is home from Dubai next month and we’ve talked about the idea of a mini staycation in Manchester. A nice girlie pamper night is just what I need. The idea of sleeping in a bed I don’t have to make, having a meal I didn’t have to cook or a cocktail I didn’t mix (I am truly sick of being my own bartender) plus a few sheet masks thrown in for good measure is quite simply bliss.
Here are the deets of our girlie Manchester staycay.
Shopping and Lunch
There are so many delicious places to eat in Manchester for lunch but my favourite places to eat are often inside the big department stores as they are super handy. The San Carlo located in Selfridges has stunning views of the city and serves mini tapas-style plates featuring their signature dishes. Any excuse to get 3 different types of pasta dish and I’m sold. This San Carlo has a Laurent Perrier Champagne bar which makes it all the more suited to a girlie lunch.
Pamper Night in
On the first night of a staycay it’s always nice to chill, especially if you’ve spent the day scouring the boutiques or getting your steps in around the big department stores. We always stay in a serviced apartment when having a girlie night as they are well suited to groups of three and they are always more spacious than hotel rooms with more room to lounge around in fluffy robes and you still get complimentary toiletries in most. Trashy tv, takeout, and a good hair treatment later and I’m a happy bunny. Doing this is a great alternative to getting spa treatments and you get to enjoy quality girl time too. But if you did want to treat yourself, we sometimes get the lovely Secret Spa team to come and do massages in our serviced apartment or if we are going out, blowdries! With massages and facials back on the cards, this is a lovely idea after a six-month hiatus.
Brunch or Afternoon Tea
After a well-deserved lie-in, brunch is always on the cards. My caffeine fix is always a priority but most serviced apartments come with a top-quality coffee machine but I’ll always choose my brunch venue based on where does a cracking iced latte. Opt for the Koffee Pot isolation kit if you are nursing a hangover, they do the best pre-delivered brunch kits if you want to make your own brunch in the apartment. Teacup Kitchen is perfect if you want something sweet and are prepared to venture out, it’s extensive take out cake menu has to be seen to be believed! The Lowry Hotel is a lovely little afternoon tea spot is a must if you want super trendy decor and a posh vibe. They are offering socially distanced afternoon tea Thursday through to Sunday only.
Dinner and Drinks
If we do a 2-night stay, the second night we’ll get glammed up and go out out. Twenty Stories is where we will usually make a reservation for a Saturday night as it’s a restaurant and bar combo with great food, a bustling atmosphere, and fancy cocktails as well as great views of the city. They’re part of the Government Eat Out to Help Out scheme so you can get a 50% deal! I highly recommend booking here if you want both food and drinks but if it’s just cocktails you’re after, The Alchemist serves impressive instagrammable drinks and they’re also part of the scheme just as Gusto and The Pen and Pencil are.
If you’ve been on a great girlie weekend in Manchester, leave me a comment with recommendations!
*This was a collaborative post but all opinions are my own.
