It would be hard to have missed that Manchester has moved into a higher level of lockdown again.
So what has it meant? Well most bars have closed, those who don’t or haven’t been able to change to serve food – or for whom it just doesn’t make fiscal sense to do so.
But I’ve still found escape from the four walls at home. The gym is still a bit of a haven, though the rules on mask wearing have tightened. I can still get out and run or walk. And though we can’t travel outside the Greater Manchester area, I can still stay in a hotel.
So I did.
To be honest, I had this booked for a few weeks, long before the whole Andy Burnham vs the scruffy blonde one kicked off. And I waited to see if I’d get an email cancelling or postponing the booking.
But nothing arrived – so this week, I packed up my laptop and gym gear, and pyjamas and checked in.
Things are… Different.
There’s the QR code to check in, there’s hand sanitiser everywhere. Screens around the reception desks, and following the rules, masked faces all round. The venue is undergoing a huge refurbishment programme, so it’s not quite the bright shiny slick venue we’re used to. The class is still there, it’s just having a little facelift.
It’s also rather quiet. Which is both sad – I miss the hustle and bustle of people grabbing a coffee, perching at the bar, passing through – but reassuring. There’s plenty of space, so social distancing is easy and there’s no doubt the place is spotless.
There are other changes too. It’s one person to a lift. All the rooms are very carefully sanitised, and everything is disposable. So no glasses and tea cups. It’s paper and plastic. No bound book with details on how to contact reception or menus for room service, everything is paper. It’s a necessary evil, but I miss the clink of glass, and clatter of the teaspoon into your mug.
For all the sad bits, the stay was great. The bed is big and bouncy, the room spotlessly clean – and I having stayed there once or twice before, I definitely approve of the lighter, more modern decor. The staff are still lovely and attentive – though at a distance. It still feels like The Midland.
I did treat myself to room service, and though the menu is more limited, there’s still plenty of choice, and it’s all as contactless as possible. Again, reassuring.
But most importantly, I could work from my room (or escape further and head to Salut Wines, who have opened the upstairs space for those who need to work). It meant I could leave the four walls of our flat, the never ending washing up, and laundry, cooking for myself three times a day (yes porridge in the microwave counts as cooking) and have someone else do the hard work.
Overall, if like me you need to get out of the house for 24 hours or so, and can afford it, it’s worth it. Whether it’s the Midland, or a local Travel Lodge, the space away from home, maybe your partner, the kids, or just the housework, helps keep you sane.
And in a world where we’re still not sure when this is going to end, or what things will look like afterwards, we need every bit of sanity we can get.