IT has become the ultimate place for Manchester United fans from overseas to stay.
In 2015, the four-star Hotel Football opened its doors to much fanfare.
It helped that its owners are all Red Devils legends.
Ryan Giggs, Gary and Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, and Nicky Butt all put their hand in their pockets, with the help of the GG Hospitality Management Company.
Boasting 133 rooms, the Cafe Football restaurant, and a five-a-side pitch on the roof, it cost a whopping £24million.
And, of course, it’s next to Old Trafford.
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Rooms start at £89, but on match days can rise to £299.
Finally, it’s beginning to make a profit – with a turnover of around £6.4million.
Early formation
Initially, it was Gary Neville who bought land off a group of Manchester United fans, who had intended to build a club house by the stadium.
By 2011, plans for the design and build of a football-themed park were in place, with the help of former Stafford Hotel in London general manager Stuart Proctor providing that particular expertise.
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The Class of ’92 wanted the hotel to pay homage to the golden era of football pre-1990’s, when ticket prices were more affordable.
In November 2014, the group won planning permission to install an astroturf five-a-side pitch on the roof.
It can be hired throughout the year, except on a game day, when it’s turned into a bar and BBQ area for fans.
How comfortable
A hotel is measured by the comfortability of its rooms.
No expense was spared in ensuring guests, who are certainly football fans, will enjoy themselves.
Aside form the king-sized Hypnos beds, there are walk-in rainforest showers, as well as a complimentary mini-bar filled with retro sweets.
Each room is a suitable reminder of the beautiful game, with football artwork adorning the walls, toiletries shaped like football shirts and aspirational phrases including ‘Dream big’ and ‘Dream of victory’ embroidered on pillows.
Die-hard United fans will request a room with a stadium view.
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As with any hotel, there’s a gym on site that looks over Salford.
Food for a King
Foodies will be impressed by the hotel’s Cafe Football restaurant that offers breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The 185-seat eaterie’s menu was overseen by the two-Michelin-star chef Michael Wignall of the country inn boutique b&b The Angel at Hetton.
A couple of the mains are named after two of the owners.
The Scholesy is a hearty steak suet pudding, chips, mushy peas and gravy.
While the Giggsy is a grilled Cumberland sausage, mash potato and gravy.
Pizzas and burgers are also recommended, and look amazing when you scroll through a social media and catch a glimpse of a plate of someone’s delicious meal, as desirable as it is Instagrammable.
It’s making a profit
Hotel Football is set for a record year financially in 2023.
For the first time since it opens its doors in 2015, the hotel is set to make a profit.
Gary Neville, in a statement included in newly-filed documents with Companies House, said that “all key performance indicators suggest” that the hotel’s revenue will exceed pre-Covid levels by the end of 2023 due to “increasing demand, especially with non-match day revenue streams increasing through accommodation, conference and events and food and beverage sales within the outlets of the hotel”.
Incredibly, its revenue increased from £3.5m to £6.4m in 2022.
While pre-tax losses were cut from £1.1m to £630,158.
The reviews are kind
TripAdvisor can make and break hotels.
Lucky for Hotel Football, the reviews on there are glowing.
Over 2,472 visitors have left their thoughts about the Class of ’92’s establishment.
And they have rated it at 4.5 out of five.
One punter wrote: “We had the most wonderful stay at Hotel Football. The rooms were modern and clean, the restaurant was great for breakfast, and the hotel staff went above and beyond to make our stay special.
“A big thank you to Catherine who made our day by making sure we were able to meet Manchester United legend Wes Brown when he stopped by the hotel for a Q&A as part of the hotel’s excellent game-day hospitality suite.”
Another commented: “Outstanding hotel, clean warm and very comfortable. The bed and pillows were exceptionally comfy along with the staff who are all outstanding.
“Evening meal was very good, as was the breakfast. Great views of Old Trafford Stadium, Trafford Park and Salford Quays, depending on which side of the hotel your room is on.
“I would highly recommend this hotel whether you are a football fan or not. Great all round facilities and a very enjoyable stay.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
