The iconic Kimpton Clocktower hotel has unveiled a staggering three-bedroom hotel suite this week – a first for Manchester.
Suite No.51 is about as posh as they come, promising customisable amenities and masses of space for guests.
Do you want a piano popping in your bedroom? A fridge stocked with whatever drinks you fancy? Picking up from the airport and dropped straight at the hotel? You got it!
You can even choose which plants and flowers the room is dressed with for your arrival.
They’re promising that the new suite will offer ‘unrivalled luxury without the fuss’.
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The Kimpton Clocktower Hotel’s new suite is a jaw-dropping beauty, with dark wood-panelled walls, towering double-height ceilings and enormous windows.
In the main living room, there’s a dining space built into the impressive bay window, a marble table, and custom furniture complete with fabrics designed exclusively for this hotel.
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As well as having up to three bedrooms (they can be split to suit each guest’s requirements), four bathrooms, and a huge open-plan living and dining room, Suite No.51 is also kitted out with plenty of opulent extras.
The living and dining space in Kimpton Clocktower’s Suite No.51. Credit: The Manc GroupOne of THREE bedrooms inside Suite No.51 at Kimpton Clocktower HotelThe walk-in wardrobe
There’s a 65-inch 4K smart TV in the lounge and dining area, 50” smart TVs in each bedroom, PS5 gaming and entertainment system, and a Project T1 Record Player with its own private record collection (though if your favourite music is missing, you can request more through the hotel’s Music Concierge service).
Guests will be able to get ready with their own walk-in wardrobe and dressing room, equipped with Dyson hair styling tools, as well as luxury bathrooms with underfloor heating, free-standing bathtub, a double vanity and a wireless music system.
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All three bedrooms have super king-size beds as well as motorised, sound-insulation black out curtains.
This huge three-bedroom hotel suite has been constructed in a former office within the Grade II-listed hotel, a landmark in Manchester previously known as the Palace.
The hotel was originally The Refuge Assurance company headquarters with a history dating back to 1895, but nowadays is home to 270 bedrooms, the Refuge restaurant and bar, and 17 event spaces.
Guests have access to their own dressing room. You can kit out the cocktail cart with whatever alcohol you want in advance. The second bedroom in the Kimpton Clocktower’s newest suite
Original features it’s become so famed for include its glazed brick tiles, stained glass, and Carrara marble staircase, plus of course the iconic clocktower itself which still stands proud in the Manchester skyline.
Guests who choose to stay in Suite No.51 have a dedicated Kimpton Clocktower ambassador available at the click of a button to help with whatever you need.
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Other bespoke extras include in-room check-in, turndown service and complimentary bar and airport shuttle service.
Before you even step foot inside the hotel building, you can have your room filled with your favourite flowers from the Clocktower Florist downstairs, and stock the cocktail bar with whatever spirits, wines and soft drinks you fancy.
Kelly Andreasson, hotel manager at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, commented: “Kimpton Clocktower continues to captivate, and No. 51 is set to be one of the most opulent suites in the city.
“The Kimpton brand is rooted in heartfelt human connections, and we look forward to welcoming guests, where we will provide a next-level service.”
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel’s Suite No.51 is available to book now for stays from August – see more here.
In pictures – The Kimpton Clocktower Hotel unveils luxury suite Suite No.51
Featured image: Rebecca Hope Photography
Travel & Tourism
A groundbreaking new multi-use entertainment and leisure venue is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
A new multi-purpose food, drink, entertainment and leisure destination is coming to Manchester city centre and the Salford border this autumn, and you won’t find many places that roll so much into one spot.
Mancs, get ready to welcome ‘Tangerine’.
Conceived by an impressive collective of local creatives, indies and those with plenty of experience catering to the Northern masses, Tangerine is promising everything from multiple resident kitchens, a live music hall, an arthouse stage, a specialist martini bar and more.
Better yet, after a year in the making and quietly chipping away at the striking space, it opens later this month, so you don’t have to wait long to try it for yourselves.
Located on New Bailey Street, just on the edge of Spinningfields and Salford Central, this groundbreaking new venue features two main platforms (utilising the integrated charm of the historic railway arches), each boasting its own selection of attractions.
While platform one will offer a bakery, coffee roastery, wine store and bottle ship, the ‘Canteen Club’ and even a florist, number two will contain the music hall, arthouse stage and the stylish ‘Grand Departures’ bar – serving seven espresso martini alone – Tangerine will deliver a seamless day to night transition.
Arguably, however, the centrepiece is the ‘Cantina Collective’. The food and drink hall promises seven in-house kitchens, showcasing a variety of cuisines.
The opening line-up already confirmed includes Vanda: a family-run Parisian-inspired Ukrainian bakery; Mexican taqueria, PANTERA, burger joint Juicy, as well as Yo Dutchie (a unique fusion of Dutch-Japanese food) and a new Korean/ramen concept from local sushi favourites, Unagi.
Our stomachs are already grumbling just thinking about it.
CGI renders of the completed space. (Credit: Supplied)
Designed not only by the brains behind Northern Quarter’s beloved Mala hidden garden but WANT STUDIOS, who will be ensuring local artists, independents, and traders will be regularly spotlighted, the site will boast a capacity of well over 300 people.
Artyom Dmitrijev, owner of Tangerine and Mala, said in a statement: “Over a year in the making, we’ve used all our experience in design, interiors, architecture and hospitality to create our dream project. A place for all the independents to come together and thrive.”
Andy Windsor, Director of WANT STUDIOS, added: “Tangerine unites the city’s independent kitchens, bar tenders, bakeries and entertainment specialists. It is a unique showcase of what we do in the city. This is a new space for creativity, food, and culture, and we’re proud to be part of it.”
Debuting to the public with a big Halloween weekender on the evening of Friday, 31 October, with another launch event the following Saturday, you can sign up for exclusive early access for free, which could see you score a few freebies to boot.
Featured Images — Press shots (supplied)/Tangerine MCR (via Instagram)
Travel & Tourism
Passengers warned of ‘disruption’ ahead of more Bee Network bus strikes this weekend
Emily Sergeant
Bus services across Greater Manchester will be disrupted later this weekend as drivers from two companies stage strike action.
In what is the latest chapter in a long-running dispute, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) says it has had confirmation that staff from two operators, Stagecoach and Metroline, will go ahead with further planned strikes this weekend.
If this is the first you’re hearing of the upcoming industrial action, 2,000 workers who were employed by Stagecoach, Metroline Manchester, and First Bus Rochdale – each of which are firms among those that make up the bus part of the Bee Network – walked out in a number of co-ordinated strikes earlier this month amid an ongoing pay dispute.
Unite the Union said each of the firms are ‘highly profitable’ and it’s therefore ‘disappointing’ that workers are being denied a fair wage.
In this case, Unite has confirmed that drivers at First have called off further action after voting to accept a revised pay offer.
Passengers are being warned of ‘disruption’ ahead of more Bee Network bus strikes this weekend / Credit: TfGM
However, both Stagecoach and Metroline staff have opted to proceed with strike action onFriday 10 October, Saturday 11 October, and Monday 13 October.
This means that around 190 services, including some dedicated school buses, will not run on strike days, and TfGM is therefore advising everyone to ‘check before they travel’ and allow extra time to make their journey.
Bus services in Tameside, Trafford, and Stockport are not expected to run, and some services in South Manchester, parts of the city centre, and Rochdale will also be impacted.
Many bus services will continue to run ‘as usual’, however, and this includes services such as the Free Bus in Manchester city centre, as well as the majority of buses in Bolton, Bury, Salford, and Wigan.
The strikes are the latest in an ongoing dispute over pay / Credit: TfGM
“While we are pleased that planned industrial action by First staff has been called off, we encourage Stagecoach, Metroline, and Unite to continue discussions to avert further strike action,” commented Danny Vaughan, who is the Chief Network Officer at TfGM.
“We’ll continue to keep passengers informed and support them to make journeys wherever possible. We encourage everyone to check the latest status of their service before they travel, leave plenty of time for their journey and to get in touch if they have any questions.”
Unite has indicated that further industrial action will also happen on Saturday 18, Thursday 23 and Friday 24 October.
Daisy Jackson -
11th July 2024 
