Manchester’s Grade II-listed Kimpton Clocktower Hotel has been named one of the UK’s top hotels.
The magnificent terracotta hotel was voted as one of the very best in the UK by readers of Condé Nast Traveler, after more than 800,000 submitted responses rating their travel experiences across the globe.
Asked to provide a full snapshot about the places they can’t wait to return to next, readers delivered – and the votes were in agreement, Kimpton Clocktower is up there with the very best of the best.
Image: Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
Opened in October 2020, Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is part of the leading global luxury brand IHG® Hotels & Resorts. It was formerly known as The Principal hotel and before that, The Palace.
The acquisition by IHG makes it the brand’s fourth hotel in the UK, following Kimpton Fitzroy London Hotel, Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel in Glasgow and Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel in Edinburgh.
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The building itself dates back to 1890, when it first opened as The Refuge Assurance Company headquarters – and its grandeur has not been diluted by time.
Image: Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
Rather, the striking Victorian architecture is still very much a draw today – with the grand clock tower at the centre of its striking Victorian architecture remaining an unmistakable landmark on Manchester’s skyline today.
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Plenty of period features remain today, including glazed bricks, tiles and faience, stained glass, and some impressive carved wooden staircases.
The hotel is also home to award-winning restaurant and bar, The Refuge, operated by the team behind popular neighbourhood bars Volta and Electrik.
Image: Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
Speaking on the award, General Manager at the hotel Johan Scheepers said: “It is an honour to be named among the top hotels in the UK by Condé Nast Traveler.
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“Thank you to our guests who have stayed and voted for us. It is a great recognition of our dedicated team at Kimpton Clocktower.
“We will continue to offer a real ‘wow’ factor stay with a warm and heartfelt Mancunian welcome.”
The longest-running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry, the Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards are considered some of the most trustworthy around.
Feature image – Kimpton Clocktower Hotel
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Manchester Remembers Foundation announces its return for a special anniversary charity match
Danny Jones
The Manchester Remembers Foundation has announced the return of its charity football game in 2027, which will coincide with a special anniversary close to all Mancunians.
For those unaware, the MCR Remembers charity matches were set up in memory of the Manchester Arena victims, helping raise funds for the families of the 22 who sadly died in the attack.
While the fifth iteration of what started out as an annual vision, set for this past summer, was sadly cancelled back in May and the Foundation itself seemingly shut down, the co-founders have decided they’re not ready for it all to end just yet.
Somewhat quietly confirming the return of the fundraising footy match on social media, the next fixture will be returning next year, which marks a full decade since the tragedy.
Folks, having time to reflect we’ve decided that we just couldn’t go out like we did. No matter how difficult things get we have to keep going.
We are planning a spectacular return for the 10th anniversary in 2027. Plans and talks to begin shortly pic.twitter.com/ZRTmAJalov
— The McrRemembers Foundation™️⚽️🐝 (@McrRemembers) October 2, 2025
Writing a slightly lengthier statement on Instagram, MCR Remembers creators Aaron Lee and Paul Corrigan said: “No matter how difficult things get and how little support we get from people in positions to help, we have to keep going.
“We take inspiration from the brave and courageous people who were so closely involved with the arena attack. We will continue to remember those affected and celebrate their legacy.
“We are planning a spectacular return for the 10th anniversary in 2027. Plans and talks to begin shortly We will reassess after that event. As always, thank you to those that stuck by us. We see you, and we appreciate every single one of you. Stay tuned. Aaron / Paul.”
Lee – a local and a former police officer on 22 May 2017 – set up the organisation with his friend and fellow fundraiser (10 marathons in 10 months) with the aim of not only honouring those lost but also to help raise vital funds for their families and native bereavement charities.
They’re two incredibly inspiring individuals who have done a lot to help those in and around Greater Manchester, as well as keep that date in our heads and hearts.
Although information is still scarce in these early stages, The MCR Remembers Foundation has assured that details regarding exactly when and where the game is set to take place will be shared over the coming week and months.
It goes without saying that we here at The Manc are glad to see the moving charity match being confirmed for a comeback, even if it’s only for a one-off, and can’t wait to see which ex-pros and celebrity players get involved.
Then again, who knows? A successful return could signal the start of a fully-fledged revival, and we sincerely hope it does.
Watch this space and see you next year for the anniversary edition of Manchester Remembers 2027.
Manchester given extra £3m funding to help ‘prevent’ homelessness and rough sleeping
Emily Sergeant
Manchester has been handed a £3 million funding boost to help ‘prevent’ homelessness and rough sleeping across the city.
The ‘substantial’ extra funding, which was announced by the Government last week on World Homelessness Day (10 October), will be a top-up to Manchester City Council’s existing homelessness funding up until 2027 in recognition of the continuing pressures that Manchester and other UK areas are currently under.
The Council says it’s already begun to set out plans for how the extra money will be spent to make sure it has the ‘maximum impact’.
At this time, it’s expected that around £550,000 of the funding will be awarded by the Council as grants to organisations in the city’s Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector – which are supporting people who are homeless, or are at risk of homelessness.
Manchester has been given an extra £3m funding to help ‘prevent’ homelessness and rough sleeping / Credit: Gary Knight (via Flickr)
Other funding will be used to ‘bolster support’ to help people in temporary accommodation move on to settled homes.
The funding will also be used to adapt temporary accommodation for people with physical disabilities and other needs, which will meet the demand for such housing, while 180 ‘care leavers’ who would otherwise be at risk of homelessness will also be housed in shared rented homes.
Finally, part of the funding will be used to help ensure social housing in the city is available to those who need it most – including a major crackdown on tenancy fraud, back efforts to bring empty homes back into use, and help people whose existing social housing is too large for their needs to ‘right size’, freeing up larger homes for families.
Today is World Homelessness Day.
Support is available from Citizens Advice for those who've experienced or are at risk of homelessness, hear from Councillor Joanna Midgley and Jess about this help.
“Tackling the homelessness crisis is one of Manchester’s biggest priorities and, working with our community partners across the city, we are turning the tide,” commented Cllr Bev Craig, who is the Leader of Manchester City Council.
“In Manchester, we are working tirelessly to prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place through early help, and to ensure anyone who does become homeless gets the support they need to build new lives in settled homes.
“We welcome today’s extra funding boost from Government which, nationally, adds an extra £84 million to the billion that was committed earlier in the year.”
Georgina Pellant -
7th October 2021 
