Plans have been revealed to transform an underused building on the edge of the city’s iconic Gay Village into a 261-room aparthotel.
If it all goes ahead, Boulton House on Chorlton Street will turn into Joyce by The James, delivering serviced apartments to visitors to Manchester.
This exciting new chapter is planned for a 1970s office block in the city centre, which will be redeveloped and extended.
The building was acquired by The James, a family-run developer and operator, last July. They already operate an aparthotel across down close to The Printworks.
It will operate under their short-stay brand Joyce by The James, offering luxury short-term serviced apartments for stays anywhere between one night and 12 weeks.
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Each apartment will ‘combine the comfort of home with the convenience of high-end hospitality’ with an opening date pencilled in for 2027.
Guests would have access to a 24-hour on-site management team, a social lounge, outdoor terrace, business lounge, gym and games room.
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The plans also include ground-floor commercial space to activate the street, step-free access, and a zero-parking strategy to encourage sustainable travel.
Joyce by The James hopes to contribute to the Council’s ambition of being the most visited city region outside of London and a top 20 European destination by 2030.
A Manchester-based team including SimpsonHaugh, Deloitte and Font Comms are advising Joyce by The James, with ambitions to boost the vibrancy of the Chorlton Street, Major Street and Bloom Street intersection.
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The existing site of the proposed Joyce by The James aparthotel in the Gay Village. Credit: The Manc Group
Aron Azouz, Co-Founder at The James, said: “Joyce by The James will give Boulton House a meaningful role in the life of the future neighbourhood.
“Our ambition is that through the creative and dynamic refurbishment of the building as it enters the end of its current life cycle, the Joyce remains as a long-lasting part of the fabric of Chorlton Street and the Gay Village neighbourhood and makes an improved contribution to the area’s energy, character and identity.”
Grant Sulkin, Co-Founder at The James added: “We understand the value of listening to the local community as part of the planning process.
“We want to hear from people who know and love this part of Manchester, their insight will be vital in helping us get this right and we are excited to introduce Joyce by The James to the public!”
The James are now inviting local residents, businesses and community groups to share their views on the plans, with public consultation open until Friday 16 May 2025.
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Joyce’s team will be hosting a drop-in event on Thursday 8 May, 3-7pm at the Boulton House Foyer, 17-21 Chorlton Street, Manchester. There will also be an online Q&A on Tuesday 13 May from 6-7pm – head HERE for more.
Drinks prices revealed as Manchester Airport’s first-ever Wetherspoons pub opens inside T2
Emily Sergeant
It’s official… Manchester Airport’s first-ever JD Wetherspoon pub has officially opened its doors inside Terminal 2.
The 300-seater pub – which welcomed its first customers earlier this week – is named The Belle Vue after Manchester’s historic showground.
Throughout the pub, you’ll spot design features that nod to the city’s sporting heritage – including vintage event posters and memorabilia, a ‘locker wall’ hosting trophies and other sporting exhibits, and a cricket-themed design in the carpets and bar panels.
Creating around 150 jobs in the process, The Belle Vue is the final planned new eatery to open in the airport’s redeveloped Terminal 2, marking one of the final steps in the super-terminal’s decade-long, £1.5bn transformation.
Manchester Airport’s first-ever Wetherspoons pub has opened inside Terminal 2 / Credit: Supplied
According to the MEN, pints are priced from £6.20 for Carling and Coors lager, £6.45 for Budweiser, £6.60 for Guinness, and £6.70 for Poretti and 1664 Biere.
Prosecco is £9.20 for 175ml glass and £37.10 for the full bottle, while spirts and mixers are £6.80 for singles and £10.20 for doubles.
There’s also the classic Wetherspoons tea and coffee machines, where you can refill as many times as you like for just £3.60.
“It’s a proud moment to see the final new retail unit opening in our new-look Terminal 2,” commented Richard Jackson, who is the Retail Director at Manchester Airport.
“To be rounding off this 10-year programme by adding such an iconic name as Wetherspoon to the terminal is particularly special and we know that it will prove extremely popular with passengers. We think they’ll love the nods to Manchester’s heritage in the décor and design – and of course the name.”
The Belle Vue will be open from the first flight to the final flight each day, and food will be served from opening until 10pm.
Featured Image – Supplied
Travel & Tourism
Etihad Stadium showcases City Hall, the new beating heart of Manchester City match days
Lonnie Bowes
There’s a particular kind of Manchester buzz you only get pitch-side. If you’re a seasoned Cityzen this one’s for you – one of three major new hospitality options for your next game day at the Etihad Stadium.
Tucked in the heart of the new Pep Guardiola Stand, directly behind the goal, we have the brand-new City Hall.
City Hall is built for people who actually want to watch football in comfort, and with a massive 500 capacity hall a stone’s throw from the pitch, it’s a hard one to pass up.
Doors open a full two hours before the match, and that early access turns the day into an occasion rather than a scramble.
There’s time to properly soak up the atmosphere in what is a genuinely lively, buzzing bar, and I have to say potentially one of the best I’ve come across on a match day.
Food and drink are where the local flavour really comes through. The street food menu leans into Manchester’s own identity with a modern twist.
The catering is relaxed and doesn’t take itself too seriously, let’s just say having a chip barm and chicken madras pie on the run-up to a kick-off is my idea of heaven.
Every guest gets an inclusive drink as part of your booking, too. You get to pick from a selected wine, beer or soft drink which you can claim at any point during your visit.
It’s a setup that suits everyone, whether you’re in it for a proper pre-match pint with your mates or meal with your family before a day of making pitch side memories.
The little touches matter too. A matchday programme is a nice, old-school addition in an era where so much matchday content has gone digital.
And crucially, the experience doesn’t end at the final whistle: with an hour’s access after the match, there’s no need to bolt for the exits the second the referee blows for full-time. You can sit and finish your drink, and let the ground empty out around you instead of fighting through it.
Put it all together and City Hall feels like hospitality done with an actual sense of place.
Manchester street food, a proper buzzing bar, and one of the best seats in the house, all wrapped around a schedule that respects the fact that match day is about more than just the 90 minutes.
For anyone looking to upgrade how they watch City this season, it’s well worth a look.
Have a look and make a booking at City Hall at the Etihad Stadium HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
28th April 2025 
