Hollywood a-lister Robert De Niro was in Manchester yesterday, to break ground on the new 246 metre tall Nobu skyscraper.
The movie star is a co-founder of Nobu Hospitality, which has revealed plans for a £360m tower in the heart of Manchester.
When it’s complete, the skyscraper will be the tallest outside of London, and will be home to a signature Nobu restaurant as well a 160-room hotel and 452 residences.
At the groundbreaking ceremony yesterday, Nobu Hospitality founders Robert De Niro, Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and Meir Teper joined Salboy’s co-founders Fred Done and Simon Ismail.
The new tower is set to complete in 2031, once again transforming Manchester’s skyline with its tallest skyscraper to date that will dwarf the likes of Deansgate Square and Beetham Tower.
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As well as first-class dining from one of the world’s best-known restaurant names, it’ll be bringing hundreds of new Nobu branded residences to town.
Yesterday, it was announced that the Nobu restaurant will be situated on the ground floor, among the site’s original Grade II-listed Victorian viaduct arches.
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Nobu Hospitality co-founders including Robert De Niro broke ground on Nobu Manchester this week
It’s hoped that the space will have a strong sense of Manchester’s industrial history to go with the modern cuisine.
Chef Nobu Matsuhisa opened his first restaurant, Matsuhisa, in Los Angeles in 1987, later partnering with Robert De Niro and launching in New York in 1994.
Now, there are more than 50 restaurants worldwide.
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As for the Nobu Residences, these will be 452 luxury home, some of which will be among the highest penthouses and apartments in Western Europe.
Residents in these Japanese-inspired homes will have access to premium amenities like an exclusive swimming pool, a podium garden, and a gym.
Salboy and Nobu Hospitality will be collaborating with award-winning designers, Bowley James Brindley.
Nobu Manchester will be the city’s tallest skyscraper when it completes. Credit: Supplied
Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, Robert De Niro and Meir Teper, Nobu Hospitality’s Shareholders, commented: “Breaking ground in Manchester is a defining moment for Nobu in the UK – our first venture beyond London, and the introduction of Nobu Residences to this market.
“This landmark project – encompassing a hotel, restaurant and residences – marks the debut of Nobu Residences in the United Kingdom. Manchester’s global outlook and dynamic spirit align perfectly with the Nobu brand.
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“We’re proud to bring our signature hospitality, dining and design to the city, and excited to offer both guests and residents an authentic Nobu experience.”
Fred Done, co-founder of Salboy, said: “Ten years ago, Simon Ismail and I founded Salboy with a clear vision: to change Manchester’s skyline. I believe we are doing just that.
CGIs of the Nobu Manchester restaurant
“I’ve been fortunate to experience exceptional cuisine and hospitality around the world, which is why we chose Nobu as our partner to help realise that vision. Best in class, best in creativity, the best of the best.
“This is our pièce de résistance— exactly what we wanted to bring to Manchester, the city of firsts. This is why it’s so fantastic to welcome Nobu to our wonderful city.”
Simon Ismail, co-founder and CEO of Salboy, added: “Chef Nobu’s 30-year influence on our culinary tastes can not be understated and I look forward with huge anticipation for the impact he and his team have on Manchester’s established and ambitious dining scene.
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“As a proud Salfordian too, I’m keen to see how Chef Nobu and his team blend local produce and influences from the Northwest’s culinary heritage into the dishes and flavours they are famous for.
“Beyond the signature restaurant, which will look magnificent under the Victorian arches, being part of Nobu’s journey to extend its leadership in the global luxury hospitality and property markets is an honour.
“Manchester deserves luxury accommodation to match its growing position on the international stage and the Nobu team has the imagination and track record to make that happen.”
Enabling works are now underway, with intentions to start construction next year.
Inside the regal Cheshire home for sale on one of Britain’s most expensive roads
Emily Sergeant
A stunning detached family home on one of Britain’s most expensive roads is currently on the market over in Cheshire.
In case you hadn’t heard, a recent report by The Times has revealed where you’ll find Britain’s top 20 most expensive roads for 2026, based off Rightmove data, and Congleton Road in Alderley Edge – slap bang in the middle of Cheshire’s iconic ‘Golden Triangle’ – has appeared in the top five most expensive outside of London.
So we snooped around to see what your money (… or your hypothetical money, at least) can get you on this street, and came across a regal residence currently for sale for a whopping £4.95 million.
This is Highclere – a six-bedroom detached family home occupying a private plot of over 1.3 acres and enjoying panoramic views across the adjoining Cheshire countryside.
This is Highclere – a stunning family home on one of Britain’s most expensive roads / Credit: Andrew J Nowell
Approached behind electric gates, and set back along a sweeping driveway, estate agents say Highclere has been ‘carefully and tastefully’ renovated by the current owners.
It now offers ‘spacious and versatile’ accommodation, and benefits from being within easy reach of Alderley Edge village centre and all the amenities it’s known and loved for.
Some of the stand-out features include an impressive reception hall with large sweeping staircase, open living kitchen with a large central island, large bedrooms, and a full leisure suite with a pool, jacuzzi, steam room, and showers.
There’s also a dedicated bar area, a games room, cinema room, and a gym.
Upstairs is where you’ll find what is described as the ‘unparallelled’ principal bedroom suite with two large dressing rooms, its own living area, en-suite bathroom, and a powder room, as well as four other large bedrooms.
Just as you’d expect, the outside of Highclere is as impressive as the inside.
The property is set within a private plot of over 1.3 acres enjoying panoramic views / Credit: Andrew J Nowell
Not only are there expansive terraced lawns with mature trees and shrubs and two large courtyards perfect for outdoor entertaining, but there is also a large driveway providing off-road parking for multiple vehicles and a detached double garage converted into annexe accomodation.
This property is currently on the market with Alderley Edge-based independent estate agents, Andrew J Nowell, for a Guide Price of £4.95 million, and if you fancy taking a closer look, then you can contact the agents to arrange a viewing.
Or you could just take the cheaper route instead and have a nosy at the Rightmove link here.
Featured Image – Andrew J Nowell
Property
Manchester rent is now ‘41% more expensive than five years ago, according to a recent study
Danny Jones
Yes, that’s right, as per some of the latest data on leased housing in central Manchester, it’s now approximately 41% more expensive to rent here than it was half a decade ago.
If you’ve lived in and around the city centre for long enough, chances are that you’ve already been feeling that difference, especially of late.
The ongoing cost-of-living crisis roughly began in 2021, following the economy and the world essentially opening back up after multiple lockdowns, so it’s little surprise that new research has shown affordability when it comes to renting has been on a slump ever since, too.
As well as the price of seemingly most things in everyday life going up post-pandemic, the average rental rate for even just a one-bedroom flat/apartment has jumped up significantly between 2020 and 2025.
Even some ‘available’ housing in town is being hampered by claddin (Credit: Valienne via WikiCommons)
That’s according to the numbers crunched by credit card experts, Zable, anyway.
Not only did their recent report cite the rent prices going up even before the cost of living crisis – essentially following the outset of the Covid-19 outbreak – but if their figures, the rate of inflation and the unwaveringly high demand for housing are anything to go by, this trajectory is likely to continue in 2026.
As of February this year, around one in three UK households is now a single-person occupancy, which already comes with its challenges (the Manchester City Council tax discount being a thin lifeline for countless), not to mention energy bills and the cost of groceries continuing on an upwards trend.
Put in the simplest and most reductive terms, it’s now almost £300 dearer for most people to live on their own than it was back in 2020, and besides Liverpool clocking in as second on the list of increasingly expensive cities to live (a 42.12% increase), Manchester came in third.
You can see the full table down below:
Rank
City
% increase – 2020-2025
Difference from 2020 to 2025 in £
Average rental cost for a 1 bed 2025
1
Newport
47.39%
£2,611
£8,121
2
Liverpool
42.12%
£2,290
£7,727
3
Manchester
41.00%
£3,364
£11,569
4
Edinburgh
40.28%
£4,620
£16,090
5
Leicester
39.93%
£2,391
£8,379
6
Wolverhampton
39.22%
£2,049
£7,273
7
Nottingham
39.07%
£2,400
£8,543
8
Glasgow
38.02%
£2,679
£9,725
9
Colchester
37.63%
£2,617
£9,572
10
Cardiff
37.06%
£2,828
Average rental cost for a 1-bed 2025
Another fear is that with lots of people finding it hard to manage living in other major cities like London, even those moving to Manchester are also having an impact on how available affordable housing is here.
That’s why schemes such as the new ‘social rent’ development over in Wythenshawe are so important to the current generations of renters, with the possibility of owning your own property in the future becoming increasingly difficult for so many.
It’s also worth noting that Manchester ranked fourth among the British locations where the cost of living is said to have increased the most over the past five years, with the average difference in annual spend growing by an estimated 22.84%.
Daisy Jackson -
12th November 2025 
