Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, the leading global boutique luxury brand from IHG Hotels & Resorts, today opens Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester. It joins Kimpton Fitzroy Hotel in London, Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel in Glasgow, and Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel in Edinburgh as the brand’s fourth hotel to open in the UK. Kimpton Clocktower Hotel brings the brand’s cosmopolitan style, irreverent culture and heartfelt service style to Manchester.
Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is a magnificent terracotta Grade II listed building with a history dating back to 1890, when it first opened as The Refuge Assurance Company headquarters. The grand clock tower at the centre of its striking Victorian architecture is an unmistakable landmark on Manchester’s skyline. All 270 loft-style bedrooms, including 11 suites, were designed to make the most of the stunning, double and triple-height ceilings. Other original period features including glazed brick, tile, faience, stained glass and carved wooden staircases, are combined with contemporary fittings and interiors. In the hotel’s lobby, a three-metre-tall bronze horse by artist Sophie Dickens represents a horse-and-carriage ‘turning circle’ that once stood on the same spot.
Johan Scheepers, General Manager, Kimpton Clocktower Hotel commented on the opening: “Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is the latest addition to the global Kimpton brand. Each Kimpton hotel is an escape from the ordinary, and Kimpton Clocktower Hotel will offer a real ‘wow’ factor stay with a warm Mancunian welcome. Kimpton continues its incredible expansion across the globe with the opening of Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, marking our fourth opening in the UK. The Kimpton brand is rooted in human heartfelt connections and we look forward to welcoming guests and locals in a city world renowned for its warmth, charm and exuberance.”
An unrivalled stay experience
Guest rooms offer an homage to Manchester’s iconic music scene, with vinyl records of the city’s most iconic bands – from the Stone Roses and Oasis to Elbow and Take That – available to play on record players in each room. Each room borrows design inspiration from the spirited and renowned Manchester party and music scene, with vibrant, bespoke textiles designed by Timorous Beasties, which incorporate the iconic Manchester worker bee and bold contemporary graphic prints adorning the walls.
Hotel guests will enjoy Kimpton’s signature perks such as in-room yoga mats and the ‘Forgot It? We’ve Got It!’ service offering important guest essentials. Complimentary tuck boxes of treats in all rooms, as well as fresh milk and mineral water in the fridge enrich the in-room experience. Guests can also expect the brand’s industry-leading pet-friendly amenities and service that’s personal, unscripted and meaningful, fuelled by a hotel team who is committed to delight in surprising ways. A 10-minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly Station, Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is in the heart of the city, opposite Oxford Road Station. Highly visible thanks to its iconic clock tower, it also neighbours the world-famous LGBTQ area of Canal Street, and close to the city’s shopping areas and department stores. For those looking to explore Manchester on two wheels, Kimpton-branded bikes are available for hire free-of-charge.
Restaurants & Bars
Kimpton is renowned for its award-winning portfolio of local, seasonally-inspired restaurants and bars. At the heart of Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is The Winter Garden, a space full of natural light, where guests can sit back and relax for a drink or a meal, whatever the time of day or night. Destination bar and restaurant, The Refuge by Volta, serves globally inspired small plates, craft beers and cocktails curated by the award-winning team from Volta, and has a uniquely curated programme of events. Those wanting to make human connections can meet fellow visitors across socially distanced tables at the nightly Kimpton Social Hour to bond over hosted drinks from 5-6pm.
The hotel also offers 17 meeting rooms, featuring charming Edwardian detailing alongside the latest technology, with capacity from 4 to 1,000 (as current meeting and event restrictions allow) with the hotel boasting the largest hotel ballroom in the northwest of England.
There are currently 72 Kimpton hotels open worldwide with a further 34 in the pipeline to open in the next 3-5 years*. Kimpton Clocktower Hotel closely follows the opening of Kimpton Vividora Hotel which opened its doors in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona this Summer.
