Football legends Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs team up with Autoban to transform Manchester’s former Stock Exchange into a boutique hotel.

The names Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs will ring a bell with sports fans up and down the country, but mention them in the world of hotels and you may receive an altogether different response. The former professional footballers – both of whom captained Manchester United to success, lifting a combined total of 54 trophies – first cut their teeth in hospitality five years ago with the launch of Hotel Football, an upscale property inspired by the beautiful game that overlooks Old Trafford. And the ex-teammates didn’t rest on their laurels – a trait perhaps inherited from celebrated manager Sir Alex Ferguson – drafting in hotelier Winston Zahra as CEO of GG Hospitality in 2018 and subsequently unveiling plans for the £20million conversion of Manchester’s former Stock Exchange, having acquired the historic Grade II-listed building in 2014.

Situated in the heart of the city on Norfolk Street, the Stock Exchange was originally designed by architects Bradshaw, Gass & Hope, opening its doors in 1906 and continuing to trade until 1979, when it was eventually amalgamated into the London Stock Exchange. Since then, the Edwardian Baroque structure has been used as offices and more recently a restaurant, though its history and heritage have often been overlooked, something that Neville and Giggs were keen to reverse: “We knew the Stock Exchange well from when it was a restaurant, but it was only when we viewed it in its entirety that we realised the extent of the history there,” they recall, speaking at an exclusive pre-opening event. “Most people familiar with the building will know of the domed ceiling above the old trading floor, but there are many other original features that will not have been seen, such as fireplaces, vaults and stained-glass windows. For us, it was critical that this heritage was protected and now sits at the heart of what we hope will be an exciting new concept for Manchester.”

Tasked with breathing new life into the former trading hub was JM Architects and Istanbul-based studio Autoban, the latter reimagining the interior spaces in a palette of subtle colours, pairing bespoke furnishings with original surfaces such as marble, glass and woodwork to channel the building’s deep-rooted history. “Our design concept was built on paying homage to the extraordinary heritage of the space,” say founders Seyhan Özdemir and Sefer Çağlar. “Much of the bespoke furniture for example, including the reception and concierge desks, were inspired by the former Stock Exchange’s cashier desks and resemble the detail of a coin’s edge.”

The narrative begins as soon as guests enter the property – which has opened as a member of Relais & Châteaux – with well-dressed bellboys ushering city dwellers into the aptly named Traders Lounge for a glass of fizz before guiding them upstairs, where a collection of 40 guestrooms across three categories – The Bradshaw, John Gass and Arthur Hope – honour the architects who first envisioned the Portland stone structure. Reinforcing the connection to its trading past are two signature spaces – Suite Nineteen ‘0’ Six and The Boardroom Suite – the first named after the year in which the Stock Exchange was inaugurated and forming part of the newly constructed fourth floor, the second located in one of the most historic and architecturally preserved parts of the building.

Accessed via a private staircase off the main lobby, The Boardroom Suite occupies the original Stock Exchange boardroom and features heritage details such as marble pillars, an ornamental fireplace, stained-glass windows and an original vault. The space can be extended via an interconnecting suite and its own private terrace, while other areas include a large lounge, dining room and walk-in wardrobe.

At the heart of the hotel is The Bull & Bear, an 87-cover restaurant headed up by Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge. Housed beneath a striking domed ceiling on what was the original trading floor of the Stock Exchange, the dining room lends its name to the building in which it resides – which witnessed the ups and downs of bull and bear markets – blurring the lines between elegance and informality with a refined colour palette that takes its cues from Manchester’s iconic worker bee, together with carefully restored Edwardian architecture, elegant green banquettes and comfortable leather armchairs.

“We used British racing greens and brass details, as well as various types and textures of natural stone mosaics combined with patterned parquet, to create a central focus under the dome,” add Özdemir and Çağlar. “On top of that, our blend of modern and traditional craftsmanship is shown in the processed wood cladding used for the bar and couch seating.”

On the menu, Kerridge’s signature style of refined British classics is on show in the form of mouthwatering dishes such as Crispy Pig’s Head with Celeriac Remoulade and Spiced Date Sauce, Chicken Kiev with Maple Glazed Butternut Squash, and B&B Profiteroles with Soured Vanilla Cream – the latter brought up north by the chef after becoming a staple choice for diners at The Coach, his illustrious pub in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.

In addition to The Bull & Bear, Kerridge’s team is in charge of The Bank, offering bespoke dining experiences for up to 16 guests, and The Vault, catering to 120 covers for private events and receptions. The Bank also hosts culinary classes and has its own wine cellar, which guests can enjoy while tucking into Kerridge’s award-winning cuisine.

Having written their names in the history books at Manchester United, Neville and Giggs have undoubtedly captured the hearts of the Northern faithful once again, this time using their entrepreneurial nous to revive one of the city’s most iconic sites, both in style and spirit.

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Words: Ben Thomas
Images: © Bevan Cockerill

This article originally ran in Sleeper 88.