Native Places

Native Aparthotels & Apartments In London

native manchester

How to spend Valentine’s weekend in Manchester

For the coupled up or just plain nostalgic, the Valentine’s Soultown Supper at Bierkeller is an immersive dining experience that takes you back to the 60s. Expect glittering costumes, live Motown and soul music, a three course meal and a banging dancefloor.

If a bit of friendly competition is more your style, head to Flight Club for a game or two of feathers. It’s darts, but with a souped up, 21st century spin, in a pub that’s more like a fairground. You have to see it to believe it. There are sharing plates, pizza paddles and signature drinks to be had, including boozy slushies and sharing trophy cocktails.

 

The refined and romantic

Dress to impress and take your date to Cottonopolis for drinks. The carefully curated menu includes beers, wines, spirits and cocktails, as well as flowering teas, sakes and bubbly, all served inside a magnificent Grade II listed building.

If you’re in the mood to wine and dine, try and snag a booth at Gusto. This gorgeously opulent Italian restaurant is both relaxed and romantic and they pull out all the stops for Valentine’s Day. You’ll be enjoying your meal under a canopy of fairy lights and there’ll be a special Pornstar Martini Cheesecake on the menu that’s not to be missed.

Of course, if you’d rather stay closer to home, you could always just nip downstairs to The Restaurant in Ducie Street Warehouse for their Valentine’s Day set menu. There’s nothing more romantic than sharing a sumptuous dinner, and their Chateaubriand and poached pear pavlova are specially made for two. If that doesn’t get you in a romantic mood, nothing will.

Book Valentine’s weekend in Native’s aparthotel in Manchester.

Native Manchester: The Sunday Times Award Winning Hotel

The rooms

rooms

When you’re ready to head up to your room, “the lift whisks you up to what might be the swankiest hotel corridors on the planet”, according to Matthew Davis at the Sunday Times.

All our apartments are airy and spacious, boasting rich, gorgeous quality furnishings and décor, a pantry stocked with a few locally sourced goodies, and fully equipped kitchens with everything you need to whip up a proper meal. The plush Gainsborough beds mean a lie-in is inevitable and the rainfall showers are too luxurious not to linger in.

As for the penthouses, they have “a deco/maritime feel, with huge mirrors, velvet chairs you can’t stop stroking and a sprawling private terrace with Peak District views. These rooms start at £315 a night, a steal if there are four of you.”

 

The city

city

We’re proud to have breathed new life into a building that’s Manchester through and through.

“This has been an extraordinary opportunity to take one of the great icons of Manchester’s industrial past and turn it into a major cultural and social destination for the city,” said Native Founder and CEO Guy Nixon. “Manchester is a thriving, culturally rich and fast expanding city so it seems apt that we are unveiling the new breed of Native’s aparthotels here at Ducie Street Warehouse.”

Intrigued? You can read the full article here or the coverage in the Manchester Evening News.

Or just come and stay. We think you’ll love it too.

See it for yourself at Native Manchester and find out more with us.

Best Christmas Markets in Manchester

The food

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by TransportforGreaterManchester (@officialtfgm) on

Let’s be honest, it’s the main reason we seek out Christmas markets every year. But Manchester isn’t content with grilled bratwursts and glühwein.

Mancunians know their food, so they’ll be heading to Yard & Coop for on-the-spot fried chicken, Mango Rays for brilliant burritos or Little Spain for paella, chorizo rolls, patatas bravas and hot sangria. If you’re a little worse for wear after last night’s Christmas party, you’ll want to make a beeline for Northern Soul Manchester for a grilled cheese sandwich that’ll cure all ills.

The Ice Village

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Ice Village (@theicevillage) on


The Ice Village in Cathedral Gardens is home to Manchester’s outdoor ice rink, as well as enormous and beautiful ice sculptures, Santa’s grotto, a mini ice slide for little ones and an Ice Tiki bar for the grown ups.

The rink is covered with a clear roof, so you’ll never have to worry about the weather, and you can book your skating slot now.

The stalls

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by O’Donnell Moonshine UK (@odonnellmoonshineuk) on

If you’ve exhausted the Arndale Centre and still have Christmas gifts to buy, the market is your friend. You can pick up things you wouldn’t find anywhere else, like bitter rose liqueur and roasted apple liqueur from O’Donnell Moonshine, handmade organic and vegan beauty products from The Buddha Beauty Company or a one-of-a-kind puppet from Artichoke Wooden Toy, to name but a few.

 

Plan your Manchester market crawl

Here are a few links to make sure you get to see and do everything Manchester’s Christmas market has to offer:

A map of the market

What’s on at the Ice Village

Book your ice skating slot

Book your spot at Santa’s Grotto

A list of all 300+ food and gift traders.

Plan your festive getaway and book your stay at Native’s aparthotel in Manchester.

How to spend 48 hours in Manchester

Manchester is one of those cities that surprises you at every turn. From new pop-up eateries to freshly painted street art, you could stay for a month and still find something unexpected around the next corner. Don’t worry if you’ve only got 48 hours in Manchester though. We’ve put together an itinerary of some of our favourite places to eat, drink and soak up the city, so you can get a real feel for its unique culture, people, history and vibe.

Day One: Art, history and footie

Breakfast: Ducie Street Warehouse

(On the ground floor, underneath Native Manchester aparthotel)
The ground floor of Ducie Street Warehouse is home to Manchester’s newest hangout. Grab some breakfast from the Lounge from 7am on weekdays and 8am on weekends.

After breakfast: Manchester Art Gallery

(11 minutes from Ducie Street Warehouse)
Spend a couple of hours perusing over 25,000 works of art over three floors. More than a collection of artworks, Manchester Art Gallery celebrates local craftsmanship alongside its big-name pieces from around the world.

En-route to lunch: Central Library

(2 minutes from the gallery)
This exquisite Grade II listed landmark plays host to a vast collection of literature and a wide range of events. Check out the magnificent Wolfson Reading Room before taking in a workshop, concert, comedy gig or lecture.

Lunch: Rudy’s Pizza

(2 minutes from the library)
A laid back lunch in the heart of town calls for pizza. But not just any pizza. Rudy’s is a neighbourhood favourite, serving brilliant Neapolitan food alongside a lovingly selected craft beer and wine list.

After lunch: The National Football Museum

(13 minutes from Rudy’s)
This is the world’s biggest museum dedicated to the beautiful game. Not just for full-on fanatics, this museum is enjoyable for anyone with a passing interest in the sport. You can even test your skills at everything from penalty kicks and tricks to goalkeeping and commentating.

Dinner: Dishoom

(12 minute from the museum)
Voted Britain’s favourite restaurant two years running, Dishoom’s London reputation precedes it. Here, in its first home outside the capital, you’ll experience a whole new take on Indian cuisine, inspired by the Iranian cafés of old Bombay. Unmissable.

Drinks: Cottonopolis

(18 minutes from dinner – perfect for walking off that pudding)
Named in honour of Manchester’s cotton-trading heritage, Cottonopolis is the place to go for Asian-inspired cocktails, beers, teas and sakes – the perfect bar for toasting a brilliant day in the city centre.

 

Day Two: Shopping, design and street food

Breakfast: Ezra & Gil

(5 minutes’ walk from Native Manchester)
If you love locally roasted coffee and wholesome, seasonal food, you’ll want to kick start your day at this friendly, communal and welcoming coffee shop.

Post-breakfast retail therapy: The Arndale Centre and New Cathedral Street

(7 minutes from Ezra & Gil)
Manchester’s famous Arndale Centre is home to over 200 shops, boutiques, eateries and cafés, so there’s no end of opportunity to work that credit card. And, if you’re in the mood to treat yourself, you’ll find New Cathedral Street, the luxury shopping district, right opposite.

Lunch: El Gato Negro

(5 minutes from the shops)
Mancunians swear that this place serves the best tapas outside Spain. If you’re organised, you can book the chef’s table, where you’ll enjoy watching the open kitchen at work while you lunch.

Post-lunch tipples: The Oast House

(5 minutes from the restaurant)
A trip to Manchester wouldn’t be complete without a visit to one of its breweries, so take a moment or two to sample little something at the Oast House. With its impressive ale inventory from around the world, it makes a perfect afternoon detour.

Northern Quarter shopping

(17 minutes from the pub)
Looking for something quirky and crafty? Head to the Northern Quarter for shops like Fred Aldous for artsy things, Fig & Sparrow for lifestyle design, Affleck’s Palace for indie eclecticism and much more.

Manchester Craft and Design Centre

(4 minutes from Fred Aldous)
Manchester Craft and Design Centre is home of the city’s artistic community, here you’ll find 16 retail and studio spaces filled with makers and crafts, a top-notch café and a busy and varied programme of exhibitions.

Dinner: Mackie Mayor

(6 minutes from the Northern Quarter, 12 minutes from home)
A gorgeous Grade II listed indoor food market, Mackie Mayor hosts ten exceptional eateries under its brand new glass roof. There’s everything from pork belly stuffed bao to fresh, handmade pasta, as well as plenty of tipples, so you can raise a glass to the city before you go.

And that’s it! 48 action-packed hours in Manchester – the UK’s beloved second city. If that doesn’t leave you itching to return, we don’t know what will.

Book your whirlwind tour of Manchester with a stay at Native Manchester.

Monstrous Manchester: Halloween in the city

Get gothy at Manchester Metropolitan

Hosted by the university, the seventh annual Gothic Manchester Festival will follow the theme of Gothic Times. Spanning the whole of October, there’s a brilliant programme of eerie events across the city, like games, literature, performances, club nights and more.

Get tricked and treated across the city

If you’re brave enough, throw on your favourite Halloween costume and join Manchester’s Trick or Treat Trail. Pick up a map from the information point in Exchange Square and make sure you hit all the trick or treat houses scattered across the city centre. There’s a different character at each one, just waiting to greet (or maybe eat) you.

Get creeped out on New Cathedral Street

Enjoy a family-friendly freak show on at Grimm Rita’s Creepy Carnival. Full of street performers, sideshow stalls and a proper old fashioned helter-skelter, there’s also the Strolling Bones parade, led by Grimm Rita herself, taking you between the Carnival and Dr Mancenstein’s Castle.

Get the heebie-jeebies at Manchester Arndale

For something a little less scary, head to Manchester Arndale with the family, where Z Arts, the kids’ arts centre, will be hosting a taster of their exhibition A World Inside a Book – Gruffalos, Dragons and Other Creatures. Dedicated to the universally adored children’s author, Julia Donaldson, the show gives you the chance to meet some of her best-loved characters and enjoy a spellbinding storytelling session of classic favourite, Room on the Broom.

Want to see more of Manchester’s macabre side? There’s loads more going on over the Halloween season, and you can find all the details in the city’s full Halloween itinerary.

Book a spooky sojourn in Manchester.

Top 10 Manchester bars

Cocktails and gins with Japanese flair

Inspired by Manchester’s proud history in the cotton trade, Cottonopolis offers such a stunning menu of Japanese cocktails, beers, sakes and teas that you’ll simply have to come back to sample them all.

Must try: Drunken Life, Dreamy Death – an intoxicating mix of gin, bergamot and lemon verbena.

Ale, ale and more ale

Whether you’re a total novice or a proud Real Ale champion, you’re bound to find something in the Oast House’s Ale Inventory that’ll surprise you. There’s everything from IPA and lager to Trappist and dark varieties, and their Ale Masterclasses are legendary.

Must try: Brodie’s Prime Porter – a rich, dark brew with notes of dark chocolate and treacle.

Big Bavarian biers

If you’re looking for a place that takes its beer seriously, you’ve found it. At Albert’s Schloss, the team makes a weekly 1,500 mile round trip to the Urquell brewery in Prague to fill their tanks with the good stuff before serving it in Manchester’s very own Bier Palace.

Must try: The Manchester Rein – brewed right here in the city to Bavarian standards, using Munich malts.

Whimsical cocktails and bold beers

Fresh, young and quirky, The Font is fast becoming a Mancunian favourite. If you like your cocktails tooth-teasingly sweet, with rainbow ice and a unicorn horn, you’ve found your tribe. If you don’t, you’ll still find plenty to love on the beer menu.

Must try: The Unicorn Juice – a fruity frolic of bubble gum, rainbows and glitter.

Beer where it’s brewed

Most people find themselves at Seven Brothers for the first time while they’re waiting for a table at Rudy’s Pizza, but it’s well worth a visit in its own right. A family brewery through and through, here’s where you’ll find some of the best beers in town.

Must try: The Honeycomb Pale Ale, with its subtle hints of honey and proud Manchester heritage.

Experimental mixology

Whether it’s served in a hip flask, copper kettle or tea cup, the cocktails at The Alchemist are something to behold. With innovative mixes, ingredients you’ve never heard of (yet) and spectacular presentation, you’ll be Instagramming every round.

Must try: The Caviar One, simply for the joy of making your own rhubarb caviar to add to rhubarb gin and prosecco.

Beer and wine with Mancunian soul

Under the railway arches behind Piccadilly train station is Fairfield Social Club, home to the city’s newest food market, cider festivals, vegan delicacies and a fine list of wines, beers and cocktails to sample.

Must try: Anything from the new line of boozy sodas from local pop producer Steep Soda – we love the Tropical Crush, which is exclusive to Fairfield Social Club.

Booze with a side of live music

One of the Northern Quarter’s top gig spots is also one of its best bars. Matt & Phred’s has the feel of a real neighbourhood joint – albeit one that Jamie Cullum and Adele have played at. The bar is well stocked with classic cocktails, fine wines, beers and spirits – don’t miss the carefully selected bourbons that go brilliantly with the bar’s own wood-fired pizzas.

Must try: The happy hour deal – buy two alcoholic drinks and get a free pizza. A whole pizza. For free. Seriously.

Top-notch tequila

Take a detour from the Northern Quarter via Mexico City. At El Capo you’ll find terrific tapas, as well as South American-inspired cocktails, cervezas, wines and spirits, as well as one of the largest collections of tequila in the whole city.

Must try: Lady Marmalade, with its moreish mix of gin, peach liqueur and marmalade.

Bold Mexican blends

Mexico meets Vegas at Luck Lust Liquor & Burn, where you’ll find a huge range of bottled and canned craft beers and a cocktail menu packed with bold fresh fruit flavours. There’s also a killer happy hour, with £5 margaritas and £2 tequila shots – it’s not to be missed.

Must try: The paletas – Mexican ice lollies made with fresh fruit, doused in sparkling prosecco.

Fresh new flavours

Tucked away under the railway arches behind Piccadilly train station, GRUB is Manchester’s favourite street food festival. On Fridays and Saturdays there’s an incredible array of cuisine, but don’t miss the bar scene while you’re there. They have great selection of craft beers and ales, wines and cocktails, many of which you won’t have come across before.

Must try: Marble Mango – a local Kölsch-style brew by Marble Beers, packed full of juicy mango pulp.

 

Book a holiday apartment in Manchester and plan your next bar tour of the city.