UK: Serviced apartment provider Staying Cool has announced plans to open a Manchester aparthotel in 2018.
The property on Chorlton Street, within the Whitworth Street/Princess Street Conservation Area, will see the regeneration of a strategic city centre building – a former cotton warehouse – that has been empty for several years.
Once home to Oliver Peyton’s Mash & Air in the 1990s, the building was acquired by the Cringle Corporation. In January, Staying Cool won a competitive tender, led by CBRE, to select an operator for the property.
The two parties have signed heads of terms and submitted a joint planning application, which includes the addition of a new roof top extension. If approved, redevelopment works will commence this autumn and Staying Cool will welcome its first guests in late 2018.
“Given the location of the building, and its particular loft style features and appeal, interest in leasing the site was significant, with strong bids received from a range of regional, national and international operators. We selected Staying Cool for their forward-thinking business style, attention to detail, quality and award-winning brand,” said Cringle director Joshua Senior.
“The building is a real gem, a classic Manchester warehouse, with tonnes of character,” said Paul Taylor, co-founder of Staying Cool. “We believe that the significant redevelopment schemes in the immediate neighbourhood, including Kampus across the road, make this a perfect location for a design-led apartment hotel by Staying Cool.”
The project is the first in a joint partnership with Bespoke Hotels, which will see the Staying Cool brand brand roll out across the UK. Staying Cool currently operates a 45-unit apartment hotel on the top floors of Birmingham’s Rotunda. “We’re delighted to be able to announce this new scheme – one of a number over the next few years as we move ahead with our ambitious expansion plans. We are especially pleased to be opening in Manchester as it is the city where our story began,” said Taylor.
The architects on the scheme are Halliday Meecham and Euan Kelly Property Solutions are the planning consultants. Staying Cool was advised by Tony Bray of Pure Real Estate Solutions. Nick Huddleston of CBRE managed the tender process on behalf of the Cringle Corporation.</p
