Christmas

In Manchester - Now with 25% Off

You asked for it, and here it is! A chance to celebrate Christmas with Friendship ‘in the north’ for all those folk who live north of Watford. Our chosen hotel is small enough for us to create a houseparty atmosphere and the world-class attractions and shops of Britain’s third city are on the doorstep.

Our programme

Christmas Eve (Thursday)

Check in during the afternoon and settle into your room.
Dinner in the Trafford Restaurant: 3 courses with wine.
Relax in the Lounge Bar – open till late.

Christmas Day (Friday)

Happy Christmas: enjoy breakfast in the Trafford Restaurant but leave room for lunch! Free morning to open your pressies, phone absent friends or linger over coffee. Lunch is the full works: turkey, tinsel and all the trimmings. 4 courses with wine in the Trafford Restaurant.A fiendish Friendship Quiz should stop you from snoozing all afternoon. This evening, there’s a light supper of soup and sandwiches with tea/coffee.

Boxing Day (Saturday)

Bright and early for breakfast
The day is free to hit the sights – or the shops as the city centre re-opens for business. The hotel is close to bus and tram routes for travelling around the city and only a short taxi ride from most places. You could join your Host on a stroll round trendy Salford Quays (see panel for Manchester sights and shops).
People joining us just for tonight arrive this afternoon. This evening is our Black Tie Ball at the hotel, so it’s posh frocks and bowties all round! We’ll take our time over the 4-course dinner with wine and coffee, then dance the night away in the Disco.

27 December (Sunday)

to add in - permitting, make sure you take advantage of our full English breakfast before checking out and heading for home.

Manchester

Holiday Inn Manchester West

The Holiday Inn Manchester West is a brand new four-star hotel conveniently located just off the M62 between Salford and Manchester city centre.

All rooms have a king sized bed and we expect to be just about the only guests over Christmas, making it a real Friendship party.

Trafford’s Restaurant is a stylish venue for most meals and the Lounge Bar has funky red and white leather seats, in keeping with the footie theme!

There’s no Health Club at the hotel but we have negotiated a half price deal with the local Esporta Club at Salford Quays. This means you can enjoy access for only £7.50 for up to a full day. All you have to do is show your room card. There is a 20m indoor pool, spa, steam room, sauna, sun-beds and a great gym with over 90 ‘stations’. See www.esporta.com for more info.

The hotel has plenty of parking spaces but there is a charge: £5 per car per day. If you are coming by public transport, the hotel is 3 miles from Manchester Piccadilly station and 10 miles from Manchester Airport.

What to see, where to go

Manchester is a great city – confident and lively – home to great music and great shops. Landmark Victorian buildings include the Town Hall and Central Library as well as the ornate Midland Hotel.

City centre attractions include the boutiques of St Anne’s Square and the big brands of Market Street, plus several theatres and great nightlife, the best being around Canal Street in the gay village, which welcomes all party people!

New life has been breathed into Salford Quays, close to our hotel, with the award-winning Lowry Centre, the ‘museum’ of urban life at Urbis and the Imperial War Museum in the north. Footie fans might like to visit the nearby Manchester United stadium.

Check out www.visitmanchester.com for other sightseeing ideas.