Great John Street Hotel

The old school has been lovingly restored, maintaining period features with an attention to detail that makes this a lovely place to stay.

No two rooms are the same, although the guest bedrooms are spacious, starting at 28m² (301 sq ft) and moving up to 58m² (625 sq ft). The rooms feature tall ceilings and many of the rooms are split over two levels. All rooms feature comfortable beds, a television with satellite channels, ironing facilities, tea and coffee making facilities and en-suite bathrooms with cast iron baths. One of the rooms is wheelchair-accessible.

All guest rooms have free Wi-Fi wireless internet access.

For such a small hotel, there are a lot of common areas including bars on the ground floor and rooftop plus private rooms that can be booked for special events.

The ground floor Oyster Bar is decked out in eclectic furnishings with a chandelier serving as the centrepiece. The bar serves wine and cocktails but is also a nice place to relax with a cup of coffee and a newspaper. The Oyster Bar also serves a traditional afternoon tea.

Breakfast is served in the mezzanine area overlooking the bar. This space can also be booked for private events.

Other rooms that can be booked for functions include the Library, the Headmaster’s Office and the twin Boys’ and Girls’ Classrooms.

The former school’s playground has been transformed into the south-facing Rooftop Lounge and Playground with wicker furniture. The rooftop lounge is sometimes booked for events and staying at the hotel is not a guarantee that you will be able to use this space.

The Great John Street Hotel is a charming place to stay with eclectic decor and a unique atmosphere, however, it is one of the more expensive places to stay in Manchester.

The hotel is very close to the Museum of Science and Industry and the Opera House. Spinningfields is only a five-minute walk from the hotel and the Central Retail District is a 15-minute walk. The closest railway stations are Manchester Deansgate and Salford Central, both a 10-minute walk away; however, it is a 25-minute walk to Manchester Piccadilly station.