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.
Hotel Football is a four-star hotel owned by Man Utd legends
Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs are co-owners of Hotel Football
Rooms are football themed
The fact that its owners are all legendary Red Devils helped.
Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt, Gary and Phil Neville, Ryan Giggs, and the GG Hospitality Management Company all reached into their pockets.
It cost an incredible £24 million and included 133 rooms, the Cafe Football restaurant, and a five-a-side pitch on the roof.
And, of course, it’s next to Old Trafford.
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.
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
Prices for Rooms cost up to £299 on a match day
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.
In addition to the king-sized Hypnos beds, there are walk-in rainforest showers and a free minibar with vintage candies.
The football-themed wall art, football-shaped toiletries, and embroidered phrases like ‘Dream big’ and ‘Dream of victory’ on pillows serve as a fitting tribute to the beautiful game in each room.
Die-hard United fans will request a room with a stadium view.
The Class of ’92 artwork features in one of the rooms
Inspirational quotes from United’s greats are scribbled on the wall
A five-a-side pitch can be found on the hotel’s roof
On a match day the five-a-side pitch is turned into a bar
As with any hotel, there’s a gym on site that looks over Salford.
Food for a King
Cafe Football brings in punters on match days
Fan can enjoy the extensive bar menu
Foodies will be impressed by the hotel’s Cafe Football restaurant that offers breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The 185-seat eatery’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.
Tasty burgers can be ordered
Healthy lunchtime meals are also available
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.
Hotel Football was opened in 2015
Some eight years since opening, Hotel Football is finally turning over a profit
Punters are delighted with Hotel Football