Just arrived back from a weekend break in manchester with a group of friends!! I had never stayed in a hostel before and was fairly skeptical about it.
We arrived well before check in at 10am but where given a room straight away.Good start!! The staff on reception were lovely and very friendly. We booked a 4 person private room with private bathroom, it was spotlessly clean and the beds were made up for us. Bathroom was a little bit small, it reminded me of an airplane bathroom with a shower! but it had everything we needed!
There is a restaurant downstairs, and the food is pretty decent and its a good price! Games room is great and theres a tv room swell that has massive couches in the room, great for chilling out and nursing a hangover on! :)
The only criticism i would have is that it is a bit away from the main part of town. a 25-30 min walk. which wouldn't be bad on a nice day.. but it was snowing when we got there!
Other than that i would recommend this place for anyone to stay in! not just youths but families, couples and people with children!

i've never been to a youth hostel before but if this one is anything to go by i'd definitely go to another! There were 4 of us and although we'd paid for 4 beds in a shared dorm we got a private room with bathroom as the shared rooms are only for 4 people, the bathroom is like that of a ferry cabin but still has everything you need and is better than having to go to a shared one in the middle of the night. I don't doubt the people who said it's only a short walk into town but as me and my friends are a bit geographically challenged we ended up getting lost the one time we tried it so instead got the free metroshuttle bus (the purple one stops at quay street just at the bottom of the road with the science museum on for those interested).

Being new to hostels at the age of 31, (how that happened I don't know), I have been surprised at the brilliant value and professionalism these places give. An easy 20 minute walk into central Manchester, this hostel is excellent. Modern throughout with excellent security and key card access. Great range of food, and drinks between 11am and 8:30pm. Vending machines, games room outside tables and a nice view onto the canals make this a great hostel. Compact but good bathrooms, clean rooms with lockers, you will need your own padlocks. Extremely helpful and friendly staff. Overall I rate this hostel highly.

Travelled with children (11 and 9) for weekend in Manchester.

Room adequate - bit grubby.

En-suite was akin to an aeroplane toilet (or those at Monkseaton High School !).

Kitchen had leaking "U Bend" and half missing oven door.

Woken on Saturday morning by geese on the canal.

Saturday evening the Castlefields events arena opposite had a rock concert on - with family room overlooking the arena area, it meant the children didn't get to sleep until after 11pm.

Overall - adequate ..... just.