During my recent trip to Manchester, I had the opportunity to stay at the Manchester Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel. This is my review after spending two nights in one of the wheelchair accessible rooms.
Disclaimer: Thank you so much Marketing Manchester and Manchester Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel for providing accommodation and breakfast for the purposes of this review. This is an honest review and my opinions, as always, are entirely my own.
As a friendly reminder, I use my website to share my personal experiences as a wheelchair user with Muscular Dystrophy. I don’t speak for all disabled people, and what works for me, may not work for you and vice versa. However, I hope this blog post gives you some useful information if you are planning a stay at this hotel.
Where is the Manchester Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel located?
The Manchester Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel is located on Water Street, overlooking the River Irwell in the Spinningfields district. Its central location makes it convenient for visiting iconic landmarks and attractions like the Science and Industry Museum, the People’s History Museum and Aviva Studios.
We found the hotel’s location to be ideal, as we were attending a gig at Manchester Academy, which was around a 15-minute drive from the hotel.
Read more: 5 Wheelchair Accessible Things to Do in Manchester with Kids
Hotel Parking
I have stayed at quite a few hotels in Manchester city centre, but the Manchester Marriott Victoria & Albert is the first one with on-site parking. The hotel is a Grade II listed building, and the car park has a cobbled surface. I was made aware of this before my arrival, so I knew what to expect. Although it was bumpy, I could slowly navigate it in my power wheelchair.
The parking area is small, with only twelve spaces and about four Blue Badge bays, which can make it hard to find a free spot during busy times. The hotel had reserved an accessible space for us, but on our second evening, another car without a Blue Badge took it.
There is a paved pathway next to the accessible bays leading to the hotel’s main entrance, but during our stay, we saw cars parked on the path, blocking access.
We found alternative on-street parking about a five-minute walk away. The nearest parking facility is the NCP Car Park Spinningfields, located at M3 3BE, which is also a five-minute walk away. Hotel guests can get a discount when using this car park.
I shared my experience of the car park and misuse of the disabled parking bays with the hotel management. They have assured me they will review the processes and systems in the operational departments. They also explained that they would address the misuse of disabled parking bays and the obstruction of pathways with the Front Office Team to ensure that all guests have easy and safe access. The parking is monitored digitally by an external provider, which imposes fines for parking violations. This includes both parking in designated bays and blocking access on the pavement.
Hotel Entrance, Welcome & Check-in
We entered the hotel through the main entrance, which is step-free and features automatic doors. We were immediately greeted by the friendly and welcoming staff at the check-in desk. The staff member filled out my Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) before we headed off to our room to relax for the evening.
As I mentioned, the hotel is a Grade II listed building, and the interior showcases beautiful oak-beamed ceilings, exposed brickwork, and pillars throughout.
My Wheelchair Accessible Hotel Room at Manchester Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel
We stayed in wheelchair accessible room number 108 on the first floor of the hotel. My first impression when entering the room was how spacious it was, allowing me to move around easily in my wheelchair without feeling restricted.
The oak ceilings and brick walls made the room feel cosy. As did the low lighting from the floor lamp and two bedside wall lights. The only ceiling lighting was a spotlight at the door. While the room felt warm and inviting, I found that additional lighting would have been beneficial, as it tended to be quite dark.
I’ve fed this back to the hotel, and as a Grade II listed building, there are some restrictions on what and where they install anything, but this is something that the maintenance manager is currently working on to improve, which is good to know.
The double bed was accessible from both sides, but with a little more space on one side. This worked well for me, as I could park my wheelchair beside it and transfer into the bed.
The bed was on small castor wheels, which allows for the possibility of raising it with elephant feet risers or blocks, enabling a mobile hoist to roll underneath if needed. I recommend discussing this option with the hotel, as they can provide assistance.
The headboard included mounted lamps with light switches and a telephone.
Opposite the bed, there was a large wall-mounted TV, a small round table with a chair, and a desk. The desk drawer contained a kettle, mugs, and tea and coffee.
As you enter the room, you’ll find a spacious area that includes a wardrobe, a safe, and a luggage storage space.
Wheelchair Accessible Bathroom at Manchester Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel
The wheelchair accessible bathroom was a good size, allowing me to move and turn around comfortably in my wheelchair.
The bathroom featured a bathtub instead of a roll-in shower. While I cannot use baths, those who can transfer will find an over-the-bath handheld showerhead, as well as toiletries and grab bars on the wall.
The toilet was situated in the corner and was equipped with both a vertical and pull-down grab bar. There was enough space to park my wheelchair alongside the toilet for a lateral transfer.
There was a roll under sink with an easy-to-operate tap lever. If you have read my hotel reviews, you know that I often find hotel bathroom sinks difficult to use due to their size, but I was able to easily roll under this one.
Dining at Manchester Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel
Manchester Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel features a restaurant called the Chop & Plant, located on the ground floor. We enjoyed a lovely room service meal from the restaurant on our first evening. I ordered the lentil and bean burger, while Allan chose pizza, and both were delicious.
On our second evening, we chose to dine out, but we had breakfast in the hotel on both mornings. The buffet-style breakfast offered a wide variety of options, including a full English breakfast, fresh fruits, delicious pastries, cold meats, yoghurt and cereals. There was also a breakfast menu offering a nice selection; I ordered the vegetarian breakfast and the smashed avocado on sourdough with poached eggs.
Final Thoughts on Manchester Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel
We had an enjoyable stay at the Manchester Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel. The hotel’s location is fantastic, and the accessible room offered most of the accessibility features I need. It’s unfortunate we had issues with parking, but I’m glad to hear that the hotel management is addressing this so it doesn’t happen again.
If you’re looking for a nice hotel with a wheelchair accessible room in the heart of the city, Manchester Marriott Victoria & Albert Hotel could be a good option for you, especially if the accessibility features I’ve shared in this review meet your needs.
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