Blogs

The latest set of plans for the redevelopment of London Road Fire Station in central Manchester have just been released. For years the former owners of this Grade II-listed building, Britannia Hotels, were planning its conversion into a luxury hotel - but nothing ever happened.

New owners have now outlined a mixed-use scheme for the building which sits alongside Manchester Piccadilly station.

The basement and ground floors would feature restaurants, bars, a spa, a cinema, workspace and a digital gallery with event space in the external courtyard. The upper three levels would contain a boutique hotel as well as apartments, workspace and a restaurant.

The operator of the boutique hotel element is expected to be named this summer.

The public will be invited to comment on the plans. This will be followed by a formal planning application. In the meantime hotel and meeting bookers still have around a dozen hotels to select, all within a five minute walk of Piccadilly station.

Details: https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/northwest/hotel-only-part-of-london-road-vision-ingall?utm_source=northwest_newsletter&utm_campaign=northwest_news_tracker&utm_medium=property_article

Details: Published: 16 May 2016; Hits: 4285

Roxy Ball Room will open their third site in Huddersfield. It will join Roxy Ball Room bars in Leeds and Liverpool.

Like the Roxy Ball Rooms in Leeds and Liverpool, the new outlet will offer a combination of ping pong, pool, pizza and cocktails. It will also feature a cool, contemporary interior exposed brick and pipe work plus a large outdoor terrace.

Private rooms will be available for corporate hire.

Roxy Ball Room Huddersfield is due to open on Thursday May 26 2016.

Details: http://www.roxyballroom.co.uk/huddersfield-coming-soon/

Details: Published: 09 May 2016; Hits: 4323

The Grand Brighton hotel has launched GB1 Cookery School designed especially for lovers of seafood who are looking to gain, or improve, their skills cooking with fish and shellfish.

Under the guidance of The Grand’s executive chef and seafood expert Alan White, the GB1 Cookery School will offer a unique cooking experience for corporate groups.

The activity includes a seafood cookery demonstration from Alan White followed by preparation time. The delegates then do it themselves and sit down at the end to enjoy the fruits of their labours.

The packages can be combined with overnight trips and other teambuilding excursions around Brighton.

The luxury GB1 Cookery Break also includes a Sunday night stay, dinner in GB1 and breakfast.

Details: http://www.grandbrighton.co.uk/dining_141-en.html

Details: Published: 21 April 2016; Hits: 2892

A new hotel boat, Castlerose Boatstay, has been launched on the canal in the Castlefield area of central Manchester. Its maiden voyage on 7th April took Castlerose from Liverpool’s South Dock to its regular berth in Manchester.

Castlerose is a bespoke 60′ x 13’6″ wide-beam canal boat with accommodation for up to six guests with two bedrooms, en-suite bathrooms, a kitchen, a lounge area with a sofa bed and dining space.

The hotel boat is moored at Castlefield Basin in central Manchester. The operating company will also offer optional cruises along the Bridgewater Canal to Salford Quays, Lymm and Worsley.

Guests can enjoy a skippered cruise, which may appeal to those who want the experience but don’t want the responsibility of driving the canal boat.

With ‘Waxis’, water taxis, expected to arrive shortly, the canal network of central Manchester is set to be rediscovered.

Details: http://www.boatstay.co.uk/

Details: Published: 06 May 2016; Hits: 2905

A new international design competition has been launched by Bespoke Hotels and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

The Bespoke Access Awards 2016’ is an international design competition, which seeks original ideas to improve access and provide an enhanced experience for hotel guests, particularly for those with disabilities. Peers in the UK House of Lords initiated the competition.

It aims to employ good design to re-imagine the welcome that hotels extend to guests with physical disabilities and learning difficulties, with the aim of making the hotel experience more joyful and inclusive.

The scope of the competition is wide-ranging. It seeks to reward the most creative and original ideas in architecture, interior design, product design and service design.
Ideas could address the experience from the front door to any room or service within a hotel, and the process that has to be undertaken before a visitor arrives or at check out.

The competition is international and open to everybody. Individuals, groups and design professionals of any age are all eligible.

The competition organisers welcome particularly entries from designers and architects with disabilities.

Entrants should demonstrate that they have engaged with ‘service users’, including disabled people, in framing their proposals. Entries will be assessed anonymously.

A prize fund of £30,000 will be available at the judges’ discretion. An overall winner (if one should be selected) will be awarded the Celia Thomas Prize, worth £20,000. Other prizes may be offered at the discretion of the judges.

Details: http://access.bespokehotels.com/

Details: Published: 18 April 2016; Hits: 2915

Page 22 of 43

Refurbishment Round-up