ibis Manchester Centre 96 Portland Street Hotel 3 stars

staff excellent hotel let down by two aspects;- - no refreshments in reception - in effective air con

I have stayed in plenty of hotels from fairly expensive chain hotels (W Hotels, Malmaison), boutique independents and budget hotels; primarily Premier Inn. I stayed in Manchester for a long weekend from Friday to Monday and thought I'd try Ibis as Premier Inn was fully booked, and it looked to be about on-parr on what to expect and the cost. Unfortunately this was one of the worst few days of sleep I've ever had. I dread to think what a non-"SweetBed" is as it was basic with a topper which felt like a pullout bed at a mates for the night. The pillows were like cardboard -- impossible to get comfortable on. In hindsight I wished I have bought one at Argos after the first night. The noise didn't help either. I was at the back so there was much less street noise but instead there was a constant drone of the aircon units for the building below, which sounded like a helicopter hovering in the far distance. Fortunately the window supplies very good sound insulation, but it didn't help that there was a mini heatwave over the weekend, which brings me onto the aircon: at first this seemed to work well, but as time went on, you realised it was pumping out barely cool air and is controlled via an old mechanical thermostat so the on/off click for the selected temperature is wide compared to a digital unit. The next morning I got into the shower and thought it was a little strange the shower head was in the bolt-upright position. Upon adjusting it I realised why--one side of the holder was cracked so it couldn't hold it up in any other position. Otherwise the shower was a decent size and the water pressure and temperature were good. I didn't bother to take toiletries but I ended up having to buy shower gel and shampoo at a local shop--the supplied were awful; the combined hand, face and body gel was like the stuff a mechanic uses to get grease off their hands and the shampoo left my hair thick and sticky despite being fully washed out. I appreciate these are bulk products but there has to be better than this available. I checked in online but had to queue for my room key, waiting behind those who hadn't done the same. Staff were pleasant and advised that I had paid for late checkout and breakfast and let me know how it works (at the Novotel sister hotel next door). They also let me know there will be no housekeeping during my stay but I can request towels as required. This meant I had to use a supermarket bag to keep bits on rubbish in that collected over the four days as it well overflowed the bin. As such you don't get 'do not disturb' signs on the door handles. Breakfast next door was very good and helped make a good start to the day despite a very poor sleep. It is a comprehensive buffet with lots of hot and cold options and drinks, all of which were good quality and presented well in a very clean environment, whereby you are taken to a seat given the current situation with coronavirus. Breakfast staff at Novotel were very professional, polite, friendly and attentive; all of which made me wish I'd paid more to stay there. I'd read on previous reviews one person's issue with housekeeping wanting to know why they weren't out of the hotel by 12 noon as they had paid for late checkout at 5pm, so when I was passing reception on my last day, I purposely queried the late checkout time on purpose and the person checked to ensure I had it, which I did. Cue about 12 noon a constant knock on my door until I got out of the shower (as I decided to try and get some more sleep, somehow -- I was in a daze most of the time by this point). Wringing wet with a towel wrapped around me, the housekeeper/cleaner, who doesn't speak any English is somewhat mad as to why I'm there. Kind of strange that she couldn't grasp me counting 1-2-3-4-5 on my hand given that no doubt its a common option people pay for at the hotel. A call to reception's mobile number confirms the head housekeeper was told about the late checkout but clearly the message didn't get passed on. After my shower I start packing to leave earlier than I expected -- I just wanted to go by that point. I decided to take some things to my car and come back for the rest as I had plenty of time. Upon trying my door, it doesn't let me in. Now I have to queue in reception behind those checking in to be allowed back into my room which I still had for hours to come. This is my first and last time I use an Ibis. There were good points: it's well located, the staff were nice, the hotel and room was clean, the breakfast was good and security were present throughout the night (at least when I was there, which might be a Friday-night onwards thing), not that I ever felt at risk in Manchester City Centre anyway, but the negatives outweigh the positives for me, given there's other options available at the price I paid (a significant weekend premium over the standard price). In hindsight I'd have paid the £80 or so for Novotel next door, for the chance of a good night's sleep more than anything.

Really enjoyed our stay, clean, comfortable and the location was very central

I visit Manchester 2 or 3 times each year to visit friends and to enjoy the city. Ibis Portland Centre is perfectly located for the neighbourhoods I visit, for restaurants and museums. The hotel staff are super friendly and go out of their way to assure you have an excellent stay.

Empty hand sanitizers on floors outside lifts, the bar had no draft beer, I asked for a baileys and told it was out of season, no gin, I was then told due to COVID the stock was low, there is a grey rug on the floor around the bar area full of dirty stains, how easy it is to replace a rug, not good enough when you are paying £133 per night, hotels have been open for many weeks now, this is no excuse, the only good think I can say is the room although very small was clean and tidy. The breakfast bar was closed WHY? WOULD NOT RECOMMEND STAYING HERE

I paid over £300 for a 2 night stay and you couldn’t be bothered to provide fresh towels let alone change the sheets. Covid is no excuse for terrible service. On arrival the room stank and I had to ask the cleaners for air freshener. Not good enough.

Greeted by very pleasant and friendly staff Who were very helpful indeed. Room was very clean,bright & pleasant too.

I had an excellent stay: the hotel is very well located, the new Ibis rooms are awesome, great staff and breakfast offers great value. The location is really good, near Piccadilly Gardens and with easy access to Metrolink, National Rail, buses and coaches. It is also in a walking distance to Deansgate and to Science and Industry Museum. I got surprised with the new Ibis rooms (it is my first time using one of them), with great and smart decoration, a nice and large Smart TV and a useful desk. Air conditioning wasn't too necessary during my stay but it was working very well and it is nice to have it. Hotel staff is doing a really good work. During my stay the water boiler failed one night but it was quickly repaired and reception offered alternatives. Another thing is that I wasn't expecting room cleaning (in a post-pandemic era) during my stay but it was done twice in eight nights. Currently, breakfast is offered in Novotel (at the building in the next door) and as expected it is great. At the same it is an operational optimisation, it is a great deal paying for Ibis breakfast and getting Novotel breakfast.

Lovely and clean, great for what we needed in terms of a bed for the night after seeing a show in Manchester.

Nice room good location , a bit noisy (drunk mancunians!!!) but a good place to stay

Room was nice and clean. Based on first floor at the back of the building, slight noise from the air-con outside late at night.

We’ve stayed here several times in the past 6/7 yrs however this time there was no servicing of rooms whatsoever. We paid prior to staying for early check in but we had to wait for a room to be ready upon arrival which wasn’t too long await but when we got room there was a few hairs in shower cubicle and only 2 bath towels no hand towels. Next day there was no service so asked reception for fresh towels which was no problem then the same on the next day which we were told you don’t get your room serviced or fresh towels if only staying 4 days and you have to ask for these separately at reception if needed during your stay. I think this should’ve been told to us on check in

Hotel excellent rooms clean and stocked well with tea ,coffee ,shower and hand wash problem with the loo told staff very noisy all night apologies and gave us a free breakfast Excellent customer service will stay again

I regularly stay in Manchester, often at this and other Accor hotels. On this occasion the room, except for the TV was fine. Both the evening meal, and breakfast left something to be desired. I have real misgivings about the 'Chill 96' branding of the Café-Bar. In the evening the TV network within the building was not functioning correctly, so I got a very intermittent picture with 'no signal' messages appearing on the scree, In the morning everything was fine.

Room 419 holes in the bedding I have the photos ! Paid for 5pm late check out to be woken at 11.45am by maids ! Then after explaining still woken up again at 2pm. The noise during the night kept us awake also and the t.v did not work properly. I would like the manager of Ibis Portland Street to contact us please we have been loyal customers for many years.