FOR the latest in chic, a weekend reservation at a boutique hotel is a must do. For the uninitiated, boutique hotels combine designer elegance with a relaxed informality allowing you to enjoy your surroundings without feeling intimidated by them.

One of the latest hotels is the Alias Rossetti which opened in the heart of Manchester just before Christmas.

The Rossetti is an ideal location from which to enjoy one of Britain's brightest cities -- and don't be put off by the fact that it's just on the doorstep.

Situated on Piccadilly, the Rossetti is an historic building in a city full of heritage.

As the headquarters of the Horrocks cotton company, it was designed by Charles Heathcote and completed in 1899. When cotton was king, Horrockses were the crowned princes, at one stage being responsible for 80 per cent all the finished cotton goods in the world.

No expense was spared on the red sandstone building and the recent restoration work to bring it back to glory has been sympathetically handled, bringing out the original features.

The building was an architectural first, using steel girders as the basis for construction. These have been retained as part of the modern decor.

In total, the Rossetti offers 61 bedrooms ranging from a standard double room through to a series of penthouse suites.

The whole hotel is a combination of original features and modern design. The wooden flooring has been retained throughout and the spectacular, tiled staircase with sweeping oak banisters and art deco-style lamps in the shape of cotton shuttles should persuade anyone to forego the lift.

Our room was high-ceilinged and retained the original sash windows. The furnishings won't be to everyone's taste, being upmarket Habitat catalogue with open-plan storage and designer chairs in bright colours. At the centre of the room was one of the biggest beds you'll ever see. The decor was subtly neutral, with tiny halogen spotlights on a dimmer switch to suit your mood.

The en-suite bathroom had fittings to die for and a showerhead the size of a frying pan. A combined TV and DVD player (free DVDs are available from reception) plus a selection of paperbacks completed the entertainment.

Every floor of the Rossetti has its own kitchen area complete with fridge-freezer, dishwasher and unending supply of fresh fruit, several different types of ground coffee and a selection of teas. For an unexpected attack of the munchies a wide range of cereals are provided for you to help yourself. Throughout the hotel you will find works of art and posters from Sixties' pop festivals. We spent some time wandering the corridors just to see what else there was to look at.

The informality of the Rossetti is summed up by its staff. They wear jeans, they clearly enjoy working there and nothing is too much trouble. If it's the formal approach you want look elsewhere. This is the friendly approach, and to my mind, so much the better.

The hotel boasts its own restaurant, the Caf Paradiso, which at its heart has a specially-imported wood-burning pizza oven. After a trip to the Royal Exchange -- five minutes walk away -- we enjoyed a Saturday night meal which was first class, and reasonable. Hands up anyone who has ever had a pizza in the shape of a snake before -- I told you this was different!

After dinner it was down to the basement where the hotel has it's own bar and dance area. Intimate booths and squishy sofas surround a small sunken dancefloor, All very Studio 54, and the hotel prides itself on providing somewhere you can relax rather than be deafened -- would that other hotels would follow suit.

Situated where it is, the Rossetti does not have its own car park, but a secure NCP is across the road and, at £14.50 for a 24-hour stay, means you can just lock up the car and enjoy the delights of the city centre on foot.

I have to confess, before our stay I thought the boutique hotel idea was for arty types and marketing men.

Now I'm a convert. The Rossetti manages to combine informality and quality in an ingenious way. It's part gallery, part living history but above all it's friendly and fun.

Alias Rossetti, 107 Piccadilly, Manchester, 0161 247 7744. Prices range from £95 for a double room through to £330 for a suite.