For Pete’s day one review and photos click here.
It was slightly ironic that I was nearly late for the start of the launch due to my return flight with BA being 45 minutes late. Apparently we had “weather” on Thursday around both Gatwick and Manchester, including the astounding revelation that it was raining in Manchester. Whatever next, fog on the Tyne?
Anyway, I got into T3 at 5.30 and schlepped my way over to T2. It’s not an unpleasant walk, the short distance between T3 and T1 is by covered walkway and then from T1 to T2 is about 15 minutes aided by travelators most of the way. The train station is between T1 and T2, much closer to the T2 end. Much, much more pleasant than walking the subterranean passages at LHR.
I’d sent Mitcha a text and knew he was waiting by check in desk 1, and there he was, looking very smart. Pete had gone home after the previous day’s press [s]jolly[/s]coverage and was leaving us to it. We were checked in at desk 70 something and escorted through the terminal in groups of 6. Our own dedicated security channel too!
Arrived at the V-room and the entrance corridor is bathed in red light which is quite striking, even if vaguely reminiscent of some interesting tourist spots in Amsterdam. Past reception is the adults’ only area and the bar, and very swish it is too. Reminded me a bit of Malmaison in Manchester if anyone has been there with the purple seating. There is a dividing wall separating it from the next section. This contains the food counters, seating and at the moment a Virgin Holidays desk. Off that is a fantastic games room with a PlayStation and a howge projection screen; a play area for smaller children including the magnetic wall, and around the corner an area for older children and teenagers with laptops, table football etc.
We were treated to champagne and cocktails and the canapés were really good. Every single member of staff we met did an excellent job in the promotion. There were a few flight crew, check in staff and staff from Sodexho who provide the catering.
A few facts we gleaned. Capacity is set at 100, with those on premium holiday packages getting entrance inclusive in their package price. Otherwise its £20 per adult and £12 per child if booked in advance. Admission on the day is possible subject to capacity, but the price goes up slightly. That doesn’t include alcohol, but a pint will be around £2.80 and a cocktail £3.50. We asked but didn’t find out the cost of a glass of champagne, but were told all prices would be set at reasonable levels. And sorry HL, no Tanqueray but Bombay Sapphire.
Food will be mostly breakfast items to complement the opening hours, but they are considering maybe more brunchy type items as it gets towards midday.
The decision on Upper Class passengers’ access still isn’t resolved as reported by Pete on Wednesday.
The staff we spoke to were highly optimistic that the investment in both the V-Room and the Virgin Holidays network in the North would lead to more choice for passengers in the North rather than having to connect through London.
The verdict – a fantastic place to start a holiday and a real boost for Manchester. With my critical hat one, a couple of things had me slightly quizzical. They have learned from the Gatwick V-room and put in more physical segregation between the adults section and the family/kids bit, but all the traffic passes through here on route to the family section. Will it be an issue? I think we’ll have to await the “live” reports after 1 July. I liked the adult space – unlike the Escape lounge there is some natural daylight and windows across the atrium, so all in all my preference would be for the V-Room. The kids and family bit is great, but if that 100 capacity is 50 adults and 50 kids I wouldn’t want to be the one trying to get them all to take turns! And keeping everything working will be key. I suppose there are many of us who remember the “cinema” in the Gatwick clubhouse regularly being out of action – so I hope the technology doesn’t disappoint the kids and their parents in turn.
And speaking of the technology, Mitcha managed a spare and a strike to my 9 and a strike, so I had to concede defeat. Hopefully he will be along shorty to add to the report, and perhaps upload a couple more pictures he took on the day.
We became aware that apart from a few die-hards, who looked intent on finishing off all of the champagne, we were outnumbered by the staff by 8.30 p.m. so made a break for it, Mitcha had an early shift the next day and we were both driving home. So a schlepp back again to T3 valet parking and home by 9.15.
Thanks Pete and V-Hols for the invite!
Regards
R3dV
It was slightly ironic that I was nearly late for the start of the launch due to my return flight with BA being 45 minutes late. Apparently we had “weather” on Thursday around both Gatwick and Manchester, including the astounding revelation that it was raining in Manchester. Whatever next, fog on the Tyne?
Anyway, I got into T3 at 5.30 and schlepped my way over to T2. It’s not an unpleasant walk, the short distance between T3 and T1 is by covered walkway and then from T1 to T2 is about 15 minutes aided by travelators most of the way. The train station is between T1 and T2, much closer to the T2 end. Much, much more pleasant than walking the subterranean passages at LHR.
I’d sent Mitcha a text and knew he was waiting by check in desk 1, and there he was, looking very smart. Pete had gone home after the previous day’s press [s]jolly[/s]coverage and was leaving us to it. We were checked in at desk 70 something and escorted through the terminal in groups of 6. Our own dedicated security channel too!
Arrived at the V-room and the entrance corridor is bathed in red light which is quite striking, even if vaguely reminiscent of some interesting tourist spots in Amsterdam. Past reception is the adults’ only area and the bar, and very swish it is too. Reminded me a bit of Malmaison in Manchester if anyone has been there with the purple seating. There is a dividing wall separating it from the next section. This contains the food counters, seating and at the moment a Virgin Holidays desk. Off that is a fantastic games room with a PlayStation and a howge projection screen; a play area for smaller children including the magnetic wall, and around the corner an area for older children and teenagers with laptops, table football etc.
We were treated to champagne and cocktails and the canapés were really good. Every single member of staff we met did an excellent job in the promotion. There were a few flight crew, check in staff and staff from Sodexho who provide the catering.
A few facts we gleaned. Capacity is set at 100, with those on premium holiday packages getting entrance inclusive in their package price. Otherwise its £20 per adult and £12 per child if booked in advance. Admission on the day is possible subject to capacity, but the price goes up slightly. That doesn’t include alcohol, but a pint will be around £2.80 and a cocktail £3.50. We asked but didn’t find out the cost of a glass of champagne, but were told all prices would be set at reasonable levels. And sorry HL, no Tanqueray but Bombay Sapphire.
Food will be mostly breakfast items to complement the opening hours, but they are considering maybe more brunchy type items as it gets towards midday.
The decision on Upper Class passengers’ access still isn’t resolved as reported by Pete on Wednesday.
The staff we spoke to were highly optimistic that the investment in both the V-Room and the Virgin Holidays network in the North would lead to more choice for passengers in the North rather than having to connect through London.
The verdict – a fantastic place to start a holiday and a real boost for Manchester. With my critical hat one, a couple of things had me slightly quizzical. They have learned from the Gatwick V-room and put in more physical segregation between the adults section and the family/kids bit, but all the traffic passes through here on route to the family section. Will it be an issue? I think we’ll have to await the “live” reports after 1 July. I liked the adult space – unlike the Escape lounge there is some natural daylight and windows across the atrium, so all in all my preference would be for the V-Room. The kids and family bit is great, but if that 100 capacity is 50 adults and 50 kids I wouldn’t want to be the one trying to get them all to take turns! And keeping everything working will be key. I suppose there are many of us who remember the “cinema” in the Gatwick clubhouse regularly being out of action – so I hope the technology doesn’t disappoint the kids and their parents in turn.
And speaking of the technology, Mitcha managed a spare and a strike to my 9 and a strike, so I had to concede defeat. Hopefully he will be along shorty to add to the report, and perhaps upload a couple more pictures he took on the day.
We became aware that apart from a few die-hards, who looked intent on finishing off all of the champagne, we were outnumbered by the staff by 8.30 p.m. so made a break for it, Mitcha had an early shift the next day and we were both driving home. So a schlepp back again to T3 valet parking and home by 9.15.
Thanks Pete and V-Hols for the invite!
Regards
R3dV
Last edited by RedVee on 25 Jun 2011, 21:20, edited 3 times in total.
In any case I'm not really likely to go from MAN
Thats not good 
! 
