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’.
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.
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.
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.
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
Plans to expand Greater Manchester’s tram network progress after £6m funding boost
Emily Sergeant
Plans for new tram and train connections across Greater Manchester have taken a big step forward after a £6m funding boost.
Last month, Mayor Andy Burnham and local council leaders pledged for 90% of people in Greater Manchester to be within a five-minute walk of a bus or tram that comes at least every 30 minutes by 2030 – and now, plans to deliver this strategy are one step closer to becoming reality thanks to significant investment.
Transport leaders have now confirmed a pipeline of ‘rapid transit’ schemes for the future.
£6 million of funding was signed-off by the Bee Network Committee earlier last week, following plans being discussed by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).
The work is all part of a wider plan, known as the Greater Manchester Strategy, to link every borough in Greater Manchester up the Metrolink network – with a long-term plan for major expansion of the Bee Network.
Plans to expand Greater Manchester’s tram network have progressed after a £6m funding boost / Credit: TfGM
Some of the major projects this £6m funding will pay for advancing planning towards include finalising strategies for extending the Metrolink to Stockport from East Didsbury this autumn, with construction to begin in 2030, and beginning strategy work on the completion of the Metrolink Airport Line ‘Western Leg’ – which would serve a number of ‘key growth areas’ at the Airport, Wythenshawe Hospital, and Davenport Green.
Another important project the funding will go towards is the preparation of the Strategic Outline Case for expanding Metrolink connections to Salford Crescent and Salford Quays, and out to the north west of the region – including potential options for links to Leigh, Wigan, and Bolton.
Work will also continue on plans for an Oldham-Rochdale-Heywood-Bury tram-train route too – with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) says its leaders are aiming for construction on the scheme to begin in 2028.
Mayor Andy Burnham says the funding with help connect all 10 boroughs to the Metrolink / Credit: TfGM
“This latest funding means we can develop the case for a pipeline of both tram and tram-train new lines and extensions – and ultimately underground infrastructure in the city centre – to make sure we get a public transport system befitting the global city region we are.”
Featured Image – Janus Boye
Travel & Tourism
Manchester Mardi Gras lineup and stage times in full – the ultimate guide to Pride 2025’s new event
Danny Jones
This year’s Manchester Pride festival is nearly here, and with the organisers introducing an all-new addition to the celebrations in the form of Mardi Gras, 2025 is going to be unforgettable.
Promising to be bigger, better and bolder than ever, this new entire sub-section/spin-off/side-event (whatever you want to call it) is designed to up the party atmosphere even further over the long August bank holiday weekend.
For anyone as yet unaware, Manchester Pride 2025 will not just boast the usual parade, Gay Village Party and numerous other specific events in and around Canal Street, but an entirely new series; this year, Mardi Gras is taking over Depot Mayfield and Freight Island too, promising a whole host of shows.
So, without further ado, let’s get stuck into what’s on where and when, shall we?
Now, for starters, you can see the full lineup down below, including the likes of blockbuster headliner Nelly Furtado, who was announced as the final act for the closing night of Mardi Gras 2025 last week.
The are plenty of other big names playing Pride this year – take a look for yourselves.
It’s also worth noting that wristbands for Mardi Gras still grant you entry to all of this year’s Gay Village Party events, too.
Mardi Gras stage times for MCR Pride 2025
Next up are the stage times, and while we can certainly lay everything out for you, as with any festival, having to painstakingly check all of the clashes is up to you.
Anna Phylactic – 2:45-2:50pm N-Trance – 2:50-3:20pm Louis III – 3:30-4pm K-Klass – 4:10-7:10pm Louisa Johnson – 5-5:40pm Banksie – 5:20-5:35pm Tayce – 5:45-18:00 Big Freedia – 6:30-7pm Tulisa – 7:20-7:50pm Olly Alexander – 9:40-10:40pm Nelly Furtado – 11:30pm-12:30am
The former Little Mix star is headlines the night of Mardi Gras.Gok Wan sets always go off.Credit: Press Shots (supplied)
Freight Island
Sat, 23 August
Sun, 24 August
Bongo’s Bingo – 4-5pm Red Bull ‘Dance Your Style’ – 5:15-35pm Yshee Black – 5:35-5:50pm Shanika Sunrise – 5:55-6:10pm Bailey J Mills – 6:15-6:30pm Red Bull ‘Dance Your Style’ (second set) – 7-7:20pm Charity Shop Sue – 7:20-8:05pm Queenz: ‘Drag Me To The Disco’ – 8:15-9pm Dean McCullough’s Pop Machine – 9:15-10:15pm The Danny Beard Show – 11:33pm-12:28am
Bongo’s Bingo – 3:45-4:45pm Lucky Roy Singh – 5:20-5:25pm Tequila Thirst – 5:25-5:30pm Fortune – 5:35-5:40pm Minara el Waters – 5:40-5:45pm Lady Imelda – 5:45-5:55pm DJ – Club Zindagi – 6-6:30pm Singh/Raj/Fortune/Kaan/Awas – 6:30-6:35pm Sitara Malik – 6:35-6:40pm Awais – 6:40-6:45pm Saki Yew – 6:45-6:50pm Raj – 6:50-6:55pm Duniya Dhoom – 6:55-7pm Khaan – 7-7:05pm Buffer – 7:05-7:15pm Zahirah Zapanta – 7:15-7:20pm Amirck Channa – 7:20-7:25pm DJ – Club Zindagi (second set) – 7:25-7:55pm House of MCR ‘Pride Edition’ – 9pm-12:04am
The Garden Stage is often the quieter, more laid-back part of Freight Island, but there’ll still be plenty of entertainment to be found there this bank holiday…
That’s just about everything you need to know ahead of the inaugural edition of Mardi Gras as part of the annual Manchester Pride celebrations.
We hope you all have a wonderful time this weekend – look out for one another, be happy, unapologetically yourselves, and show this city in its best light like you every year.
And last but not least, you can find out everything else you need to know from our complete MCR Pride 2025 guide right here.
Daisy Jackson -
11th July 2024 
