AFTER 21 years of marriage, she really should have known better.

I've never been prone to great romantic gestures or wild acts of spontaneity.

But I could still see her eyes light up when I told her: "The kids are off to their grandparents and we're going away for the weekend."

I was in the good books for the first time in weeks – months even.

The joy, however, was short-lived.

"So, where are we off?" she inquired. Now why she ever thought that Paris or New York might be on the cards is beyond me.

"Manchester."

"Manchester?" The word seemed to stick in her throat. "That place a bit further on than Bakewell?"

"Yes. Problem?" I asked. Clearly it was but I persevered. 'Look, if it's good enough for Robinho, it should be good enough for us.'"

I really must keep more up-to-date with the news about home-sick superstar foreign footballers! The sofa cushion that caught me on the side of the head was far better placed than one of the aforementioned Brazilian's free kicks.

My transition from hero to zero was complete when our apparently straightforward hour-and-a-half drive north became a frustrating odyssey around one-way streets.

I did, however, have two things on my side: Mother Nature had delivered a crisp, cold weekend with plenty of bright sunshine, which was absolutely perfect for exploring during a city break.

And, most importantly, we were staying at The Light.

Rising 15 storeys above Manchester's up-and-coming Northern Quarter, this brand new, luxury aparthotel scores high in the wow stakes.

The Conran-designed landmark building has a contemporary styling and lavish décor that would delight the most discerning – or demanding – guests.

And it did. Suddenly, Mrs H's opinion of Manchester had turned through 180 degrees.

Rather than built-up, the area was "high-rise". Rather than busy, the streets were bustling. She was becoming a bigger advocate for the city than its tourist board.

The Light nestles among vintage boutiques, independent bars, restaurants and live music venues and overlooks the Arndale Centre – the largest inner-city shopping centre in the UK. Most importantly, as far as Mrs H was concerned, it is only minutes away from Selfridges and Harvey Nichols.

But before turning her loose in retail heaven, we took a spin on The Wheel of Manchester, a 60 metre-high eye over the city, offering stunning perspectives across the rooftops, out to the snow-capped Pennines and beyond.

This lofty platform also afforded us an eye-level view of the balcony of our 10th-floor apartment home for the weekend.

The owners of The Light aim to twin the service of a five-star hotel with the independence of apartment living and they manage the combination well.

Our apartment, one of 45, was certainly chic – although the wooden floors were a little cold – and extremely well-equipped, with wall-mounted flat-screen TVs in both lounge and bedroom and enough kitchen utensils to keep Gordon Ramsay happy. The fridge, dishwasher and washing machine would cater for a much lengthier stay than our one-night experience.

The associated restaurant, The Bulb, serves a great Italian-inspired menu in relaxed surroundings. The service is warm and friendly without being over-fussy although, if we were being hyper-critical, the lighting was a little bright.

We didn't have an opportunity to try out the hotel gym but we both took advantage of the Inner Sanctuary spa, Mrs H opting for a facial and yours truly experiencing his first – but certainly not last – Indian head massage.

It is clear that much time and investment has been put into equipping The Light for its target market.

If we did have any criticism, it was over small details – no milk for a drink when we arrived – but the helpful staff soon put any minor glitches.

It may not have been Paris, but Mrs H had lived like a star for a couple of days. Well, pop singer Gareth Gates was staying in The Light's penthouse!