A Boxing Day Boozy Escape – BrewDog DogHouse Manchester

With the festive rituals firmly out of the way, it was time to escape to Manchester for a boozy overnight stay, courtesy of the Mrs. After days of indulgence, leftovers, and the usual post-Christmas slowdown, a change of scenery felt long overdue, and a city break with a strong emphasis on craft beer sounded like the perfect antidote.

After roughly two and a half hours on the road, we rolled into the city and parked up at our pre-booked car park at around 11am. As we were staying right in the heart of Manchester, parking wasn’t exactly cheap, but that came as no surprise. Boxing Day in a major city rarely offers any bargains, and with the convenience of being within walking distance of everything, it felt like a fair trade-off. Once parked up and bags unloaded, it was time to start the experience properly.

Our base for the night was the BrewDog DogHouse Hotel, tucked away on Fountain Street in the Northern Quarter, directly behind the enormous Primark department store. The location couldn’t be more central if it tried, with shopping, bars, restaurants, and transport links all just moments away. This is Manchester’s only craft-beer-themed hotel, and certainly the first “beer hotel” we’ve ever stayed at, which immediately set expectations that this wouldn’t be your average overnight stay.

As you approach the building, you’re immediately struck by the huge living wall covering the exterior, made up of over 26,000 plants. It forms part of the hotel’s eco-friendly, carbon-zero approach, but aside from the sustainability credentials, it simply looks incredible. Set against the surrounding brickwork and concrete of the city centre, it feels bold, modern, and refreshingly different. It’s the kind of building that makes you stop and look twice, even before you’ve stepped inside.

Walking through the doors, you enter straight into the BrewDog Taproom Bar, which instantly sets the tone. Despite it still being relatively early in the day, there was already a welcoming buzz about the place. The atmosphere felt relaxed but lively, with a steady flow of people coming and going, some clearly hotel guests and others just popping in for a drink. It didn’t feel forced or gimmicky, just like a good bar that happens to be attached to a hotel.

The Taproom is one of two dedicated bar areas within the hotel, the other being a rooftop terrace bar located above. Between them, there are around 30 craft beers on offer, covering just about every style and flavour imaginable. From crisp lagers and hoppy IPAs to darker stouts and experimental brews, there’s something for every palate. Alongside the familiar BrewDog favourites, there’s also a solid representation of guest beers from local Manchester breweries, which is a nice touch and helps keep things feeling connected to the city rather than purely branded.

The hotel itself is relatively small and intimate, with just 18 rooms spread across three floors. This gives it a more boutique feel than a traditional hotel, and it never felt busy or overcrowded. We were on the second floor, and the moment we stepped into our room it was an immediate “wow”. Spacious, stylish, and completely different from anything we’d stayed in before, it felt more like a carefully designed space than a standard hotel room.

The décor was modern and trendy, with plenty of industrial touches and, of course, beer-themed indulgence throughout. Neon signage glowing above the bed added a playful edge, while the overall layout felt practical and comfortable rather than overdone. It struck a good balance between fun and function, which isn’t always easy to achieve.

The minibar area was particularly impressive. Stocked with sweets, bottled water, soft drinks, wine, and plenty of beer, it felt more like a mini off-licence than a typical hotel fridge. We’d opted to upgrade our room to include the full lager selection and cocktails as part of an add-on package, and it turned out to be money well spent. Having everything to hand without needing to head back down to the bar was a real luxury, especially later in the evening.

Beyond the minibar, the room also came with some genuinely cool extras. There was a guitar ready to pick up and play, along with a proper record player and a selection of vinyl albums to choose from. I honestly can’t remember the last time I listened to vinyl — probably sometime in the 80s before I ditched it all in favour of CDs, which at the time felt like the height of modern technology. Dropping the needle onto a record again felt oddly nostalgic and added to the overall experience.

One particularly nice touch throughout the hotel can be found in the corridors on each floor. Old-fashioned sweet jars filled with sweets are dotted along the hallways, complete with scoops and little bags, all completely complimentary. It’s a small detail, but one that adds a sense of fun and generosity, and it’s hard not to grab a handful each time you pass by.

There’s also the rooftop bar area, which unfortunately was closed during our visit and absolutely freezing when we ventured up for a look. Unsurprisingly, it remained empty, but even so, it’s easy to imagine how good this space would be in the warmer months. While the views aren’t panoramic, it would be a great spot for cocktails, people-watching, and soaking up the city atmosphere on a summer evening.

We did encounter a small issue with our initial room, but this was handled quickly and professionally by the staff. The resolution involved an upgrade and some complimentary bar tokens for draft beers, which felt more than fair. The staff overall were friendly, approachable, and clearly knowledgeable, particularly when it came to guiding guests through the extensive beer selection. Nothing felt like too much trouble, and the service matched the relaxed vibe of the place perfectly.

To wrap things up, this isn’t a cheap stay, and costs can creep up, especially with the tempting extras in the room that are charged after checkout. However, what you get in return is a quirky, memorable, and genuinely different hotel experience that stands out from the usual city-centre options. Would I return? Absolutely — especially in the warmer summer months, when the rooftop bar really comes into its own and the whole place would feel even more alive.