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Hotel Football: Sneak preview inside the new hotel
Take a look inside the new £24mn four star Hotel Football from Manchester United stars Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs at Old Trafford
Hotel Football is preparing for kick off at Old Trafford - and we've had an exclusive sneak preview of the venue before it opens to the public.
The £24mn hotel, which is the brainchild of former Manchester United stars Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, boasts 133 hotel rooms, a swish restaurant, roof-top football pitch and the “Old Trafford Supporters’ Club” in its basement.
It stands in the shadow of Manchester United’s ground - and bosses say they expect to serve over 3,000 fans on match days across their range of hospitality areas over 12 floors in the hotel.
But they are also keen to stress that it’s not just a hotel for Manchester United fans, and is more a celebration of the beautiful game in general.
Co-owner Ryan Giggs was among the first to test out the shiny new facilities on Tuesday night, ahead of a two-week period of “soft launches” while staff prepare for the grand opening weekend on February 28.
Ryan said: “This has been four or five years in the making so it’s nice to experience it all and see it finally coming to fruition.
“Obviously here we’re right in the shadow of Old Trafford, but Hotel Football is something we hope to take around the UK and eventually around the world, so for us it’s a celebration of football in general.”
The venue is filled with colourful artworks and murals, football photos and even old Panini stickers of footballing greats as wallpaper throughout the hotel.
Managing Director Stuart Procter says: “Hotel Football is about the global fan experience, football brings everybody together, so we wanted to create something here that’s for everybody.
“Football is about fun, and that’s what hotels and restaurants are about too - we’re in the entertainment business.
“We want to see families here with kids’ birthday parties, as well as groups of girls enjoying cocktails, as well as football fans coming here to watch a game in the week or on match days too.”
Here we take a look at the different areas of the hotel, and click through our gallery to see what to expect from the whole hotel.
Post by RyanGiggs.cc.
Cafe Football
The hotel’s main restaurant area is based on the ground floor, with its own entrance next to the hotel reception.
The cafe will be open from breakfast through to lunch and dinner, from 7am to 11pm each day and boasts a full football-themed menu with sections including “The Kick Off” for starters, and “Terrace Food” for mains like fish and chips (£13.95) and chicken curry pie (£14.95). There’s also a “fans’ favourite” section including Giggsy’s red dragon sausage, mash and onion gravy (£9.95) and Scholesy’s steak pudding, chips, peas and gravy (£9.95).
It’s a bright and airy place, with floor to ceiling windows offering those views out over the river to Manchester United. Brown leather booths are supposed to emulate traditional football balls, while decor includes a photo exhibition by Michael Donald picturing every living footballer who has scored in a World Cup Final.
Old Trafford Supporters’ Club
Located in the basement of the hotel, overlooking the River Irwell, this is a huge bar area with capacity for up to 800 people.
It can also be broken into different areas for private hire, including a pool room at the far end, with big screens throughout. On match days, entrance to the club will cost fans £1, which will be invested into local charities.
Its first public opening day will be on Saturday February 28, before the Manchester United home game against Sunderland.
In the summer, there are plans to have outdoor seating to sup your pint while looking out across the river.
Entrance to the Old Trafford Supporters' Club at Hotel Football, next to Old Trafford
Players Lounge
Found on the mezzanine level of the hotel, this has been the most sought-after hospitality area so far with all of its match day packages, priced at £40, sold out for the rest of the 2014/15 football season.
Bookings are already being taken for next season.
Stadium Suite
Offering a spectacular view of Manchester United, this is the premium events space in the hotel, where match day hospitality will set you back £145. But for that price you do get a meet and greet with either Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville or Paul Scholes - who will also host a 30-minute post-match analysis on the game you’ve just seen.
The Stadium Suite, with views of MUFC, at Hotel Football
Bedrooms
There are two types of room - standard or executive - with prices starting at £90, which goes up to a starting price of £240 on match days.
133 rooms are spread over the floors in the hotel, and the price includes free parking, free wifi and a free minibar - which contains fizzy Vimto and retro sweets!
Half of the hotel rooms offer views out to MediaCity, Salford Quays and the city centre, while United fans will clamour to get rooms on the other side of the hotel with its unrivalled view of the Reds ground.
Each room has a different piece of artwork, all handpicked by Gary and Ryan from the works of Salford University students who were asked to picture what football meant to them.
Meanwhile in the bathrooms there’s personalised Hotel Football toiletries - and they’re even numbered after all the players of the famous Class of ‘92.
Bedroom at Hotel Football, next to Old Trafford
“Heaven”
Football heaven is to be found up on the roof of the hotel, an astro-turfed area with retractable roof that can be used for five-a-side games as well as private parties and functions. It will also be open on match days with a BBQ and bar for £40.00 a person.
The menu up here is quirkily title “Food of the Gods” and will include such delicacies as a Salford Bratwurst!
Ryan says: “It’s a great space, you could go up there and get married or have a kids party. Or it could just as easily be transformed into a ministry of sound club night.”
Seven couples have already booked their weddings up in Heaven, I hear!
Heaven on the rooftop of Hotel Football in Old Trafford
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