Review of Stock Exchange Hotel

Located within the former Manchester Stock Exchange on Norfolk Street in the heart of the city, the Stock Exchange Hotel is just a short walk away from a tram stop and just six minutes’ walk from the National Football Museum, Manchester Cathedral and the medieval Chetham’s Library, a public library dating back to 1653. 

The city’s main shopping areas are close by with all the quality department stores such as Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, whilst a wide range of bars, cafes and restaurants surround the property. Manchester Victoria, Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Oxford Railway Stations and Manchester Metro Link’s are all within easy reach of the hotel. 

Manchester Airport is around 14 kilometres from the property with transfer times around 30 minutes whilst Liverpool Airport is 51 kilometres away. Concierge can arrange luxury transfers, private sightseeing trips and luggage transportation on request. 

There is hotel secure onsite parking and additional space offered by Q-Park.

With a collection of 40 guest rooms, signature suites and a stunning top floor residence, all the guest space can be arranged into a number of configurations ideal for families or large groups travelling together. Exclusive hire is also available. The accommodation is named for the designers of the original 1906 building – Bradshaw, Gass and Hope which is a lovely touch and shows the empathy for heritage from the current owners. 

Each room has been stylishly designed in an urban residential feel with custom contemporary style complementing any restored original features with wood flooring and dark furnishings, a restrained neutral colour palette and layers of textiles with rugs, cushions, drapes and throws to lend additional interest. The highlight hues across the entire hotel are shades of British Racing Green, a neat touch to bind all the spaces of the hotel together. Plush bathrobes, luxury D R Harris toiletries, flat screen televisions, Nespresso Machines and Sky Sports programming are essential amenities. 

Collated into “collections” AKA room categories, the entry level rooms belong to The John Gass Collection with up to 25 square metres feet of space located on the first, second or third floors. The Arthur Hope Collection on the same floors offers up to 35 square metres of space and has additional features such as a stocked Drinks and Snacks Cabinet, black out curtains and Smart televisions. The Bradshaw Collection offers up to 42 square metres of space on the first and second floors with a full bathroom with separate showers and bathtubs. 

Moving on up the category ladder to the suites, The Kent Collection offers up to 46 square metres of space, an open plan layout and for sports fans, BT Sports is added to the satellite channel list. The Norfolk Suite Collection accounts for 55 square metres of living space and are located on the first and fourth floors with a separate seating area to work or to relax and a private outdoor terrace. 

There are two signature suites – The Goldstone Suite and The Boardroom Suite. 

The two-bedroom Goldstone Suite is warm and welcoming spanning 106 square metres of contemporary living and bespoke high-end furnishings. The layout includes a kitchenette, a dining space and a large seating area. History buffs however will adore the 171 square metre Boardroom Suite housed unsurprisingly in the former Boardroom of the Manchester Stock Exchange on the first floor. Accessible via a private staircase from the lobby, the Boardroom Suite is awash with meticulously restored original features such as marble pillars, original wood panelling, an ornamental fireplace and stained-glass windows. Perfect for entertaining, there is a large, open-plan lounge, a dining room accommodating up to eight people, a fitness area with treadmill and free weights and a bar area. The master bedroom enjoys a dressing area and a large en-suite with a steam shower and a free-standing soaking tub. 

The “push the boat out” premium accommodation has to be The House – an enormous and exclusive fully serviced residence complete with its own roof terrace looking out at the Manchester skyline. Spread over 346 square metres of living space, The House provides everything required for both short or long stay residency including three en-suite individually designed bedrooms. The open-plan design of this top floor residence includes a kitchen, two separate lounge areas, a fitness room with treadmill and free weights, a bar and an expansive dining room. 

Accessible rooms, lifts, toilets and adapted bathrooms are available on request. Little ones are also welcomed with open arms with mini bathrobes and slippers, bedtime story books and freshly baked cookies and milk.

Stock Exchange Manchester offers a Residents Lounge for relaxing and a wide menu of services on request, all focused on the personal touch – shoeshine, in-room hair stylists and make-up artists, stylists and personal shoppers on demand and tailoring in-room. There are also over 100 complimentary publications available through their digital application. Private dining is also available.

The art collection of the hotel has been collated by fine arts consultant, Ruth Davies, and is designed to connect the property’s guests with the history of the building. The collection is made up of original photographs, many of which have been hand-tinted and date back to the time the Stock Exchange was actively trading. There are other artefacts including guest cards, dinner invitations, pamphlets and memorabilia. Of particular note is the menu collection – around 150 menus dating from 1906 to the 1970s which gives a superb insight into the dining habits of generations of Manchester’s citizens.

The nearby GSquared fitness facility is available to all guests. They have access to 1000 square metres of health! From an indoor running track to a cardiovascular zone (the “CV Garden”) and a 20-metre sled track to an indoor assault course, GSquared is not your normal fitness centre. It blends professional trainers with state of the art equipment to make a work-out fun and effective. “Indoor assault course” – now the facility is worth a visit just for that!

Stock Exchange Hotel, Manchester is a newly minted boutique gem in the North West hotel scene that can more than hold its own with the best in Europe. The meticulous restoration by JM Architects with the sophisticated interior design by Turkish-based Autoban studio uses a light touch to ensure the detail of the former stock exchange shines through. 

It oozes laid-back cool, both in the subtle colour palette chosen and the minimalist, autumnal - almost masculine feel - of the décor which complements the ornate baroque detailing of the former stock exchange perfectly. Furnishings are contemporary but with a retro feel, the mirrored surfaces of the reception and concierge desks for example, reflecting the black and white marble tiles of the lobby floor to infinity and beyond. These bespoke desks were inspired by the former cashier desks and resemble the detail of a coin’s edge. Such is the attention to detail, even the room numbers were inspired by pegs used by former stock exchange workers. 

The owners of this Northern jewel are former Premiership footballers Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and hotelier Winston Zahra. With sporting careers at the very top level, these gentlemen will be no stranger to the best hotels around the world and they have diffused their preferences into the custom services offered by this property. As they both played for Manchester United for their entire careers, how fitting therefore to restore this beautiful building and give back to the city which has given so much to them. As one might say in football parlance, well played lads.

Stock Exchange Hotel, Manchester offers a fabulous à la carte breakfast but currently has no signature restaurant (formerly the Bull & Bear with Michelin-star chef, Tom Kerridge). The menu ranges from Bloody Marys and Bellinis to Smoked Salmon Bagels, Burford Brown eggs or Wild Mushrooms on Toasted Sourdough whilst Sterling, a luxurious bar located under the hotel, serves vintage spirits, wines, cocktails and light bites alongside live music.

The space also features a private dining room for more intimate and private occasions – The Bank.

From June 2024, the hotel will boast Niall Keating, the youngest chef to ever win two Michelin Stars in the UK, as Executive Chef. 

Stock Exchange Manchester, operated by GG Hospitality, uses a one-stop sustainability platform Zellar to enable the business to become Net Zero by 2030. The innovative platform launched at the Stock Exchange Hotel helps small to medium sized companies to become more sustainable.

The hotel has taken steps to reduce its carbon emissions, recycle waste food and carefully look at its supply chain – to minimise its environmental output.