Salford

Inside the five-star Salford hotel loved by celebs including Johnny Depp

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 10th June 2022

When the rich and famous pay a visit to Greater Manchester, they’ve got a fair few hotels to choose from.

They could head to relative newcomer Dakota (as Hugh Jackman did in 2019), or return to an old classic like The Midland.

But more often than not, it’s one particular hotel that draws in the true A-listers – and it’s just across the water in Salford.

The Lowry Hotel is a five-star beauty where some of the most famous faces of all time have laid their heads.

  • Inside The Lowry Hotel in Salford. Credit: Supplied
  • Inside The Lowry Hotel in Salford. Credit: Supplied
The entrance and reception of The Lowry Hotel in Salford

Who could forget the time Taylor Swift booked out the entire hotel for her touring crew when she performed here in 2018?

ADVERTISEMENT

Or the fact the Jose Mourinho decided to just live there, rather than find an apartment, during his time as Manchester United manager.

Most recently, the most talked-about celebrity of the moment, Johnny Depp, was spotted as a guest of The Lowry.

ADVERTISEMENT

The actor stayed the night shortly after winning his libel case against ex-wife Amber Heard, then went on to perform on stage with Jeff Beck.

And that’s not all – Britney Spears, David Beckham, Rihanna, Take That, Lady Gaga and Kylie have all stayed here too.

It’s easy to see why it’s got such a draw, especially when it comes to the hotel’s range of suites, large enough for your entire entourage.

ADVERTISEMENT
  • The Presidential Suite at The Lowry Hotel. Credit: Supplied
  • The Presidential Suite bedroom. Credit: Supplied

The Presidential Suite will set you back a staggering £4,500 a night, but the room does come with a baby grand piano.

Even The Lowry itself admits the suite is ‘slightly outrageous’, with its walk-in wardrobe, kitchen, and two bathrooms.

The Riverside Suites at The Lowry – this is where Jose Mourinho lived as United manager. Credit: Supplied

There’s also the Riverside Suites (this was Mourinho’s choice of pad), with their own living and dining rooms.

You can choose from a variety of normal hotel bedrooms too, with deluxe, executive and superior king rooms on offer.

Read more: Ed Sheeran at Etihad Stadium Manchester – times, tickets, support act and more

ADVERTISEMENT

There are 165 bedrooms and 12 suites in total, floor-to-ceiling windows everywhere, as well as a spa, the Riverside restaurant, and a bar.

Last summer, The Lowry celebrated its 20th anniversary with a £5m bedroom refurb.

You can even now order Botox on room service…

Featured image: Supplied

Salford

Eyebrows raised as key coach and director of the company set up to buy Salford Red Devils resigns

Danny Jones Danny Jones Director of Salford Red Devils ownership company resigns

Serious eyebrows and questions are being raised as the director of Jacobsen Venture Group (JVG), the company set up to buy local rugby league side Salford Red Devils, has now seemingly resigned from his position.

Krisnan Inu, who is also employed as an assistant coach at Salford Red Devils, appears to have stepped down from his role within the investment group this week, effectively immediately.

This latest development only spells more concern for supporters as yet more uncertainty circles around the Salford Community Stadium that is edging ever closer to the brink.

Reacting to the news on social media, fan organisation The 1873 is now looking for further clarity as to what this means for the future of the club.

Sharing a lengthy open letter of their own, as well as a screenshot of the former New Zealand and Samoan international’s official resignation papers via Companies House, the supporters group have now reiterated their “call for transparency.”

Aside from urging for assurances regarding “stability, and above all else, the safeguarding of Salford Red Devils’ future”, The 1873 have also stated their belief that this signals more key movements behind the scenes that the fan base has not yet been made privy to.

The statement goes on to read: “This is a significant development, given Inu’s longstanding relationship with, and evident support for, Saia Kailahi – Jacobsen Venture Group’s other, and now sole, director.

“Inu has not only been a public backer but, by his own choice, a private supporter of Kailahi’s efforts to assume control of the club. His departure, therefore, raises serious questions.”

It was only back in August that fans, who have already mobilised multiple times in protest of the increasingly shadowy and tight-lipped consortium, slammed the 38-year-old ex-pro for defending the owners and clearly aligning himself with Kailahi, investor Dario Berta and others pulling the strings.

Salford Red Devils supporters group outline plans for the next major protest march
Hundreds marched through the streets before the game against Wakefield Trinity

They go on to speculate: “Would Inu, who also serves as the club’s assistant coach, step away from his role within Jacobsen Venture Group if he retained any confidence that the long-promised bridging loan was about to land, or indeed would ever materialise?

“Or has he now concluded that his trust and support have been misplaced, and simply had enough?”

They also noted that JVG has now moved its registered office from central London to Miles Platting here in Greater Manchester, though this is not the same address as Salford Rouges Diablo Ltd itself.

Continuing, they write: “This has all the hallmarks of the involvement of Steven England [former director], whose name has been linked to previous entities and involvement.”

England joined ex-CEO Paul King in quitting Salford earlier this year; however, the latter ultimately returned to try and help with the ongoing financial crisis.

As they see it, “Inu’s resignation feels like a highly significant indicator of his dwindling confidence in the ownership and by extension, the likelihood of the current financial crisis being resolved under Kallah’s leadership.” Neither the club nor Inu has yet to address the resignation publicly.

Only time will tell if the crucial funds promised so long ago will ever arrive and, more importantly, what this latest development ultimately spells for Salford Red Devils’ fate.

Read more:

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — NAPARAZZI (via Flickr)/Salford Red Devils (via IG)

Salford

Salford City ‘extremely disappointed’ in Yorkshire Police’s investigation after racist abuse

Danny Jones Danny Jones Salford City statement on Yorkshire Police racist incident investigation

Salford City FC have issued a statement expressing their disappointment with Yorkshire Police and the force’s final decision regarding a racist incident earlier this year.

Local authorities in the region opened an investigation into allegations of racism and verbal abuse during a pre-season game between Salford and York City FC back in July.

The game itself was ultimately abandoned with just five minutes left to play after new signing, Adebola Oluwo, was unfortunately subjected to deeply offensive and discriminatory behaviour by a member of the opposition fan base.

Now, just over a month later, North Yorkshire Police have concluded their investigation and decided not to pursue charges against the accused individual – an outcome that SCFC have not taken lightly.

Issuing an extensive and frustrated response online, they wrote: “Salford City Football Club is extremely disappointed with the findings of the investigation by North Yorkshire Police (NYP), and the subsequent decision not to charge the individual responsible for the racist abuse aimed at Adebola Oluwo.”

“It is particularly concerning how the investigation concludes that there is no evidence to corroborate the report of abuse, despite a number of first-hand accounts of the abuse from those present at the fixture.

“This includes [by] the match officials, who we know, through discussions with the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO), gave verbal statements on the night and provided their details for the investigating team to follow up, but have not been contacted.”

Oluwo signed for Salford this summer from Barnet FC on a two-year deal, but sadly faced racist abuse before his debut season with the club had even begun.

The 25-year-old explained how “monkey noises” were made in his direction; sitting down with various other senior figures from within the club and around the administration, he and the likes of head coach Karl Robinson made it clear that this kind of treatment is simply unacceptable.

We urge you to watch this in full.

The club statement continues: “Having spoken with Adebola and sought further advice on the matter, including legal, we will be exercising the Victims’ Right to Review Scheme to request an independent review to reconsider this outcome.

“Our players, coaching staff, members and everybody at our Club stand united with Adebola, and we have also engaged the English Football League (EFL), the Professional Footballers ‘ Association (the players’ union), and Kick It Out, who have all offered their full and unequivocal support for the review application.

“The match officials, supported by their governing body PGMO, remain available to be contacted to provide their impartial accounts of events that evening. We will pursue every available avenue to ensure accountability, and together send a clear message that racism has no place in our sport.”

SCFC sign off by insisting that they will be adding no further comment, but supporters, both local and beyond, have certainly had plenty to say online.

York City themselves made it clear at the time that everyone assosciated with the fellow Northern side categorically “condemns racism in all forms” and assured they would cooperate with Salford and the police service on the investigation.

While it is distressing to learn that NYP won’t be proceeding with the hate crime that was so openly and emotionally acknowledged by both teams, ‘The Minstermen’ did reiterate that the 23-year-old arrested at the time “will face the strongest possible sanctions from the club.”

In terms of the update from ‘The Ammies’, one user replied: “North Yorkshire police? Failure to bring charges? Suggesting [a] lack of evidence? Nooooooo, never. They don’t seem the type.”

Another added: “Was this case referred to the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service], who decided not to charge; or did North Yorkshire Police not refer it to them for a decision? Tough to know who to be p***ed-off with until that is clear.”

We can only echo the post shared by Salford City FC and stress how disheartening it is to still see situations like this arising. It also goes without saying that we send our support to Adebola Oluwo and everyone at the club during this difficult time.

Not only is ‘the beautiful game’ for everyone, but the only way we can ever even hope for racism to be completely kicked out of football is for decisive, consistent and punitive action to be taken in moments like this and more often, as we know the number of incidents that occur is far higher than those reported.

Read

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Emessem T/Salford City FC (screenshot via YouTube)

More Salford

Ernst van Rhyn new Sale Sharks club captain

Salford

Sale name Ernst van Rhyn as new Sharks skipper following contract extension

Salford Red Devils points deduction

Salford

Salford Red Devils deducted points for breaching ‘RFL operational rules’

Eats

Inside Nell’s MediaCity as local pizza legends open new site with karaoke and shuffleboard

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches