Top 10 hotel openings of 2015
The hotel, located adjacent to Manchester United's Old Trafford ground, launched in February at a cost of £23m and with an impressive publicity splurge that won the Best Marketing Campaign award at the Cateys five months later. The brand is likely to be rolled out beyond Manchester with Singapore-based company Rowsley acquiring a 75% stake in the property for £30m. A surprise move, however, was the departure in October of Stuart Procter, formerly managing director and one of the original founders of the Hotel Football concept, to return to his former haunt of the Stafford London as general manager.
Owners Rowsley, Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs
Operator GG Hospitality
General manager Stewart Davies
Executive chef Brendan Fyldes
Bedrooms 133
Facilities Café Football (185 covers); 11 events spaces; and a rooftop football pitch
Room rates From £80
Bedrooms 99
Facilities Johann Lafer at the Gainsborough restaurant; spa village Bath; the Canvas Room for afternoon tea; and the Gainsborough bar
Acting general managers Paul Mason and Brian Benson
Head chef George Schneeberger
Room rates From £285
Opened in April, Hotel Gotham is located in an Art Deco building on King Street designed by Edwin Lutyens in 1928. Its decadent feel, with theatrical and quirky flourishes, was created by interior design company Squid Inc. The property was named Outstanding New Hotel of the Year at the Independent Hotel Show and is now is expected to be expanded into other UK cites.
Owner Bespoke Hotels (under a 30-year lease agreement with Marshall CDP)
Operator Bespoke Hotels
General manager and managing director Jeff Ward
Head chef Matthew Taylor
Bedrooms 60
Facilities Honey restaurant (68 seats) and the Club Brass private members' club
Room rates From £150
The latest property to join the Hilton Hotels & Resorts brands is owned and operated by Splendid Hospitality. It cost £120m to develop, is located close to the Tate Modern gallery and opened in October.
Bedrooms 292
Facilities OXBO restaurant; the Distillery bar; and a swimming pool and gym
General manager James Clarke
Executive chef Paul Bates
Room rates From £180
The Spanish hotel group launched its contemporary city centre brand into the UK in May, as part of Manchester's First Street North development. Another three Innside by Melia hotels are planned across the country.
Bedrooms 208
Facilities Street On First restaurant and bar; the Wellness Suite; and three flexible events spaces for up to 350 people
General manager Adam Munday
Executive chef Dave Spanner
Room rates From £99
6) The Laslett **
The August opening of the Laslett marked the latest venture from the Living Rooms stable. A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the hotel intends to reflect a stylish friend's townhouse, with inspiration taken from the area's cultural heritage.
Bedrooms 51
Facilities Henderson bar and coffee shop serving dishes supplied by Sally Clarke and her bakery; a library; and a shop
General manager Gill Stringer
Room rates From £199
The 18-storey futuristic design of the M by Montcalm in Shoreditch is influenced by the work of optical-art artist Bridget Riley. It became the sixth property within the Montcalm portfolio of hotels in London upon opening in April.
Bedrooms 269
Facilities Two restaurants: Urban Coterie, created by Searcys in collaboration with Anthony Demetre and Tonic & Remedy; and M Spa Wellness Retreat
House manager Kirby Robson
Head chef Aaron Harris
Room rates From £150
The Seaside Boarding House opened in February. The hotel, which overlooks Chesil beach in Dorset, is typical of many new independent hotels, which are opening with distinctive designs and top-class service. Each space has been designed to frame the stunning sea views to the best advantage. The hotel is owned by Mary-Lou Sturridge, former managing director of the Groucho Club.
Bedrooms 8
Facilities Restaurant (50 seats); and cocktail bar
General manager Jonny Jeffrey
Head chef Craig Whitty
Room rates £180
Set within a 100-acre estate, Soho Farmhouse from Soho House & Co opened in a blaze of publicity in August. The resort-style venture offers accommodation for up to 140 guests, a plethora of eating venues and leisure facilities, and even a Foffa bike for the duration of your stay.
Cabins 40 (one-, two- and three-bedrooms), seven-bedroom farmhouse and a four-bedroom cottage
Facilities Main Barn restaurant; Boat House for casual dining; Mill room pub; Farm Deli; Farm Shack with outdoor wood oven; Cowshed spa; AstroTurf tennis courts; five-a-side football pitch; crazy golf; stables; gym; cinema; and cookery school
Director Nick Caton
Head chef Ronnie Bonetti
Yearly membership cost £1,200
The latest addition to the Zetter Group's townhouse boutique brand - joining two properties in Clerkenwell - aims to create the feel of the "private home of an eccentric relative". The hotel opened in September. While the Townhouse in Clerkenwell is known as the home of Zetter's fictional Great Aunt Wilhelmina, the Marylebone property belongs to wicked Uncle Seymour.
Bedrooms 24
Facilities Seymour's Parlour cocktail lounge, offering light bites
General manager Melanie Older
Room rates From £258
