Iconic Manchester hotel with secret rooftop bar reveals new look and rebrand

Manchester will say goodbye to Hotel Gotham, one of the city’s most iconic hotels, as it announces a major rebrand.

The luxurious five-star hotel has announced a ‘new era’, and will be rebranding to The Rex next month.

Hotel Gotham is a real landmark in the city centre, a striking art deco building that was previously a bank for Manchester’s elite.

The building converted from a bank into a hotel back in 2015, a few years after Jamie Oliver took over the ground floor with a Jamie’s Italian restaurant (it’s now Lucky Cat by Gordon Ramsay).

Over the last decade, Hotel Gotham has become one of Manchester’s top-rated premium hotels, as well as being home to a secret rooftop bar and member’s club.

But now it’s apparently time for a refresh, as it announces its new identity as The Rex.

Leonardo Limited Edition UK has promised that the elegant art deco history of the building will be preserved and reinterpreted.

The 60-room hotel will ‘continue to celebrate its historic grandeur but introduce a modern style’.

Central to the rebrand is The Reserve, the private members’ club at The Rex, which is hidden up on the seventh floor behind vault-like doors.

High above the city with three rooftop terraces, The Reserve will offer everything from daytime working to relaxed drinks and small plates to members, as well as an events space called The Treasury.

The hotel’s main restaurant and bar will also be given a refresh, serving afternoon teas, five-course tasting menus, live entertainment, and private dining spaces.

Jenny Oh, general manager of The Rex, said: “While our name has evolved, the hotel our guests know and love remains very much the same.

“This rebrand is an expressive upgrade, retaining the character, comfort, and connection people cherish, while introducing a more modern, sophisticated expression of who we are today.

“It reflects our commitment to our guests, our team, and the community we’re proud to be part of, while honouring the history that has shaped us.”

The Rex rebrand will officially be in place from 23 April, with bed and breakfast rooms priced from £179.

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Featured image: The Manc Group