Batman fans will be disappointed that Manchester’s Hotel Gotham isn’t awash with Batman memorabilia, but they will quickly forget this when enjoying the luxuries on offer.

There were no Batmobiles nor capes to be seen, yet a raft of dark, gothic touches give the Gotham a clear identity.

From stepping inside for the first time to lugging our suitcases back to the car, our stay was faultless.

Driving up on a weekday afternoon from Oxford meant rush hour traffic was the villain of the peace, but after a three-and-a-half-hour journey, we finally pulled up outside the hotel in the centre of England’s third city.

The first challenge was finding the entrance, tucked away in the corner of a former bank building, but once inside we were welcomed by a friendly staff member who parked the car.

We were directed to the sixth floor reception and checked in quickly and without fuss.

Our room, The Wilson – one of the first level Gotham Suites – was on the fifth floor, which took us through the dark but intriguing corridors which fitted the overall décor nicely.

When entering the room, we could scarcely contain our disbelief. To our right, a bathroom bigger than most hotel rooms we’ve stayed in. In front of us, a bath sat in front of one of the windows offering impressive views across the city.

The radio was turned in to Classic FM, complementing the hotel’s vibe. This was one of several small touches which made the hotel perfect – from a joke of the day and iced shortbread on one side table to a selection of gourmet chocolates on the other.

A chaise longue and two chairs sat beside a cabinet decked out with magazines, while the super-king sized (and super comfortable) bed was covered with a fur blanket.

We quickly changed and made our way to the Honey Restaurant, taking a table looking out over the city.

Our waiter was very chatty and attentive without being overbearing – and particularly helpful with the wine ordering.

A mi cuit of salmon with Heritage beetroot, fennel and nasturtium set up the meal perfectly with the beetroot blending especially well with the other flavours. I had no qualms that it was quality over quantity and could not wait for the next course.

An elegant cèpe risotto with aged parmesan and chestnut mushrooms followed, artfully presented and proved surprisingly filling.

Georgia had the crispy pork belly with soy chilli glazed broccoli, apple and sesame seed. As soon as her fork touched the pork, it fell apart. Coupled with a rich apple sauce, the tender-stem broccoli was perfectly cooked. The portion sizes were perfect for Georgia, who does not have the biggest appetite.

Around this time, a particularly rude customer on a nearby table began disputing her bill but our waiter dealt with her with admirable patience. The professional staff did not deserve such pretentiousness.

When the obnoxious diner left we were the only remaining customers in the restaurant, but never felt like we were being rushed as staff gave us plenty of space.

We finished with a strawberry soufflé, which looked looked imposing but was very light and tasty. The accompanying caramelised white chocolate ice cream produced a sweet blend.

The only disappointment was how quickly the night went – but we still had breakfast to look forward to.

We awoke to a newspaper outside our door and opened the curtains to more stunning view across the city.

Returning to the restaurant for breakfast gave us the chance to see the skyline from another angle – and the opportunity to tuck into a delicious eggs Royale.

Sadly check out was quickly upon us. A short wait due to a filming crew shooting in the stairwell was eased by a chatty concierge, before my dirty old VW Polo was brought round – looking terribly out-of-place in such stylish surroundings, though there were no sniggers.

It was a flying visit, but we left in no doubt that Gotham is the hotel Manchester deserves – and the one it needs.