Sir Rocco Forte`s latest hotel, The Lowry Hotel in Manchester, has been awarded five stars by RAC following an inspection last week. The hotel, which opened on 5th April this year, becomes the first in Manchester to be awarded this accolade.

The hotel is situated on the banks of the River Irwell on the Salford/Manchester boundary and is part of the new Chapel Wharf development. The main commercial, business, shopping and entertainment areas can be reached within a few minutes via Santiago Calatrava`s landmark Trinity footbridge, making it an ideal location for central Manchester.

The hotel has 164 bedrooms and suites, all of which are unusually large with air-conditioning, a generous working area for business customers, two-line telephones, fax and modem points, interactive television, walk-in wardrobe and a safe which will accommodate a laptop computer. There are six riverside suites and the Charles Forte penthouse suite which, at 140 square metres, is one of the largest in the UK. It incorporates two bedrooms, a grand piano and separate dining area; guests also have the services of their own personal chef to plan and prepare private dinners or small drinks receptions.

The hotel has 164 bedrooms and suites, all of which are unusually large with air-conditioning, a generous working area for business customers, two-line telephones, fax and modem points, interactive television, walk-in wardrobe and a safe which will accommodate a laptop computer. There are six riverside suites and the Charles Forte penthouse suite which, at 140 square metres, is one of the largest in the UK. It incorporates two bedrooms, a grand piano and separate dining area; guests also have the services of their own personal chef to plan and prepare private dinners or small drinks receptions.

The River Room restaurant is overseen by Marco Pierre White, the youngest chef ever to be awarded three Michelin stars. The hotel incorporates a floor dedicated to meetings, conferences and banquets with its own separate entrance. It can accommodate anything from a small board meeting to a meeting for four hundred people and has the very latest in technology for audio visual presentations.

The Lowry Health Spa has six large treatment rooms for rejuvenating and soothing holistic therapies and relaxation lounges for guests to use between treatments. There is also a fully-equipped gym and separate sanariums for men and women.

Sir Rocco Forte said, “I am delighted that The Lowry Hotel has been recognised in this way by one of the foremost hotel guides in the UK. We built the property to five-star standards but, in the end, the service delivered by the staff to the customer is what really counts. This independent confirmation that the hotel is delivering five-star service within three months of opening is a tribute to John Philipson and his team.”

John Philipson, General Manager of The Lowry Hotel, commented, “We are all immensely proud to have given Manchester its first five-star hotel. I hope that this is the first of many awards.” “RAC Hotel Services have been delighted to work with The Lowry Hotel during the development of this exciting project,” said RAC Hotel Services Manager, Linda Astbury, SHCIMA. “The Lowry Hotel thoroughly deserves its five-star rating and we look forward immensely to working closely with its management and staff in the future to consolidate this tremendous achievement.”

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