THE SPACE

As the name would suggest, this is a football-themed hotel, owned by former Manchester United stars including Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville. Obviously, this has the potential to be fist-chewingly awful, but the theming is relatively light. Cool touches include framed photos of everyone still alive who has scored in a World Cup final, but as they are today. The seemingly grey-black walls turn out to be made of collectible football stickers on further inspection.

But the real points of difference are the public areas. The rooftop events space has a five-a-side pitch, while the Old Trafford Supporters' Club downstairs transforms from bar with free pool and table football on normal evenings to a throbbing supporters' hub on match days.

THE KIT

For a new-build, Hotel Football is surprisingly uninterested in showy electronica. So forget needlessly complicated bedside iPads that control 47 different curtain settings. Not putting plug sockets by both sides of the bed seems an unnecessary own goal, though. 

Perhaps the biggest surprise is how few surprises there are. Aside from having "Dreaming of Victory" embroidered on the pillows, and the giant picture of a bulging goal net taking up the back wall, it could pass as a reliable but timid Novotel. 

COMFORT FACTOR

For every misstep – much of the in-room furniture looks inexplicably like office filing cabinets – there's something genuinely endearing. A free mini-bar with classic old school confectionary and microbrewed beers doesn't exactly fit the football theme but it's very welcome. Massive windows (almost floor to ceiling) suit lifelong fans who wish to stare at the stadium, robes in the wardrobes are plusher than can perhaps be expected, while the beds typify the general four-star dependability. The service is notable.

THE FOOD

Café Football has the strong whiff of a chain-in-waiting, with bland décor, screens showing live sport and shoehorned menu theming ("hand ballini" cocktails, "The Kick Off" instead of starters).

The food is ostensibly sports bar staples – burgers, chicken wings, pizzas – but they're lifted above the bog standard. The £13.95 Boss burger, for example, has dry-aged beef, scotch bonnet chilli, pulled pork, lime aioli and Asian slaw. It's simultaneously nothing worth going out of the way for and pretty good at what it does.

STEPPING OUT

The location is both a strength and weakness, depending on what you're in Manchester for. The city's energy is in the centre, but many of the key set pieces are within easy walking distance. These include the excellent Imperial War Museum North on the south bank of the river, plus the shiny new Salford Quays complex – with its outlet shopping mall and The Lowry cultural centre – on the north. Then there's the Old Trafford cricket ground and, closest of all, the football ground. The stadium tours of the latter are well worth doing, even for non-fans.

THE VERDICT

Hotel Football is neither star striker nor hapless flapping goalkeeper. It's more the engine room midfielder who endears himself to fans through hard work, and is a bit more skilful than the passive observer might give him credit for. 

It could have been howlingly tacky but, while there's the odd whiff of naffness, there's genuine heart and broadly good judgment thrown into the concept. Big football fans will probably love it – but that was a given anyway. Those who don't give a stuff about the beautiful game will probably come ready to sneer, but find little to heap opprobrium on. Beyond the sparingly sprinkled quirks, Hotel Football is a solidly good upper-mid-table hotel. 

ESSENTIALS

Doubles start at £117 a night (although considerably more on match days). 99 Sir Matt Busby Way, Manchester, England. Phone +44 161 751 0430, see hotelfootball.com.

HIGHLIGHT The service, staff are very perky and genuinely enthused. That rubs off.

LOWLIGHT Bland décor, corny cocktail names – the "hand ballini" cocktails, for example.