Lexington to welcome first high-end hotel
Launching in Spring 2023 in the Distillery District of Lexington, Kentucky, The Manchester is billed as the first high-end hotel to open in the horse and bourbon capital.
Hoteliers Nik Feldman and Hank Morris, who have worked with numerous celebrated brands across hospitality and real estate, have developed the property on the former campus grounds of Central Kentucky’s first registered bourbon distillery.
Inside, the soulful interiors are rooted in Lexington’s historic rickhouses as well as the rich, earthy tones of the surrounding Bluegrass region’s landscape and rolling hills. The Rickhouse Revival facade features dramatic arches that run throughout the property.
Interior designer Jenny Bukovec was at the helm of the hotel’s on-theme interiors. The guestrooms, residential in feel, feature pays homage to the location’s history, balanced with modern touches – handmade bejmat tiles, amber-toned fluted glass, Bluegrass-inspired barrel vault plaster ceilings and leather detailing that nods to local equestrianism.
Amongst The Manchester’s offering are 125 guestrooms, a bespoke bottle shop and a spirited lobby bar and lounge alongside two distinct F&B spaces: Granddam,a 140-seat restaurant serving a menu of globally-inspired takes on classical Appalachian dishes; and Lost Palm, an Art Deco rooftop bar and lounge that celebrates the nostalgic spirit of 1960’s South Florida horse racing culture, featuring a beverage programme that playfully reinterprets classic American cocktails against an expansive view of downtown Lexington.
The property sits at the nexus of Manchester Street’s Distillery District, a historic urban neighbourhood dotted with bourbon distilleries, breweries, bars, restaurants and event spaces. Paying homage to the rich cultural history of Lexington, while forging its own unique identity, The Manchester seeks to take its place alongside the continually evolving hub of the city.
