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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
“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
News
Huge new Salford Quays restaurant slams ‘idiot’ who ran off with iPad in broad daylight
Daisy Jackson
A huge restaurant in Salford Quays has shared CCTV of a man taking an iPad and running away in broad daylight.
Unagi, which only opened its huge futuristic sushi and Asian restaurant last summer, shared a frustrated appeal online.
“As if January isn’t already tough enough!!!” they wrote in the Instagram post.
In the video clip they shared, the man is seen standing at a counter as though he’s waiting to be served.
But then he reaches across the counter, seizes an iPad and runs out the door with it under his arm.
Unagi has slammed him as an ‘idiot’ who has struck during what is famously a ‘VERY tough time for the hospitality industry’.
The popular Asian restaurant, which now has locations in Cheetham Hill, Altrincham, West Didsbury, Wilmslow and this beautiful spot in Salford Quays, said it was the ‘cherry on top’ of a challenging time.
Unagi in Salford Quays shared CCTV of this man stealing their iPad. Credit: foodunagi, Instagram
The iPad that was stolen is integral to the restaurant’s operations, controlling their booking systems.
In their post, Unagi Salford Quays wrote: “As if January isn’t already tough enough!!!
“As everyone knows January is a VERY tough time for the hospitality industry, then you get idiots like this who make it impossible. Cheers for that, happy new year to you too.
“We’re already facing enough challenges and you’ve really just put the cherry on the top!! Taking our IPad which controls all of our bookings system!!
“If anyone happens to have seen this guy around the Salford Quays area please give us a shout. But also any businesses in the SQ area, watch out!!!
Unagi in Salford Quays. Credit: The Manc Group
“On a lighter note, THANK YOU, to everyone who is out supporting the hospitality industry this January. Your support means so much to everyone!!”
Unagi has been flooded with support from customers and other operators, with one person writing: “Shocking, so sorry for you guys. We had a lovely lunch in there today.”
Someone else commented: “So sorry this happened. And your employees are such sweet people. Always serving everything with the utmost kindness.”
And fellow restaurant Gran T’s said: “What an absolutely loser, so sorry guys.”
Royal Oldham Hospital staff member left with ‘life-changing injuries’ following attack
Emily Sergeant
A staff member at Royal Oldham Hospital has been left with ‘life-changing injuries’ following a serious attack over the weekend.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) we were called to Rochdale Road in Oldham to reports of a stabbing at around 11:30pm on Saturday 11 January, as it was believed that a member of the public attacked a member of staff at Royal Oldham Hospital.
Once officers arrived on the scene, they found that a woman in her 50s had suffered “serious injuries” during the attack, and she still remains in hospital for treatment.
Her injuries are believed to be “life-changing”, according to police.
Following the attack, a 37-year-old man was swiftly arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder, and he remains in police custody.
With the investigation in the early stages, GMP says it is not currently looking for anyone else in connection with this incident, and officers “do not believe” there to be any kind of threat to the wider public.
We've arrested a 37 year old man on suspicion of attempted murder after a member of the public attacked a member of staff at Royal Oldham Hospital.
“This is a serious incident which has left a woman in a critical condition,” explained Detective Sergeant Craig Roters, from GMP’s Oldham district said:
“Our thoughts are with her family and colleagues, and we will continue to support them throughout this investigation.
“The local community can expect to see an increase in police presence whilst we carry out enquiries, but they are also there to offer reassurance and answer any questions you may have. We know that news of this nature will come as a shock, and if you have any concerns or anything you would like to share, please speak to them.”
Chief nursing officer at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Heather Caudle, also added following the incident: “We are incredibly shocked and saddened by the incident and our focus is on supporting the colleague involved and their family.
Georgina Pellant -
7th October 2021 
