Manchester’s Great John Street Hotel traded
Trinity North, an investment company backed by Westshield managing director Patrick Waldron, is the new owner of the grade two-listed boutique operation.
The buyer has taken on the assert from MCL GJS Propco for an undisclosed sum, and is on the hunt for a “luxury lifestyle operator” with a distinctive concept for the site’s future, as a revamp programme is lined up.
Funding for the off-market deal was provided by Manchester-based specialist property lender, Together, which has an £8.5bn loan book. Jenics also advised on the deal.
Great John Street Hotel sits between Spinningfields and St John’s, close to Atherton Street’s cluster of assets such as Soho House, Versa Studios and Mollie’s.
Built in 1912, the former school building sits within the Castlefield Conservation Area and extends to 30,537 sq ft. It has around 30 bedrooms and suites.
The hotel’s former rooftop playground provides a setting for a bar and terrace familiar with many in the Manchester business community.
Trinity North believes the deal, its first major acquisition, will give fresh momentum to the next phase, completing the work needed to create an exceptional hotel and enable a leading operator to realise the site’s exciting potential.
Patrick Waldron is managing director of Westshield, the regional construction group founded in 1977, working in civils, construction, housing and development, with clients including Kier, Kellen and Elan Homes.
A collaborating director is Kay Tierney, who has more than 20 years hotel experience across operations, asset management and investment, with spells at IHG and JLL on her CV.
Waldron said: “We are looking forward to delivering something truly special. We are immediately focused on driving the next phase forward and engaging leading hotel operators who have a distinctive concept and bold vision for the property in 2027.
“It is a beautiful and distinctive site in the heart of the city and it’s the perfect time to bring this Manchester icon back to life. All the previous owners have been great custodians of this historic site and we want to build on what makes it special and deliver a hospitality experience that stands alongside the best in the world.
“We are already opening conversations with operators who share that ambition to bring something bold and exceptional to our city. We know it is a high-profile platform for a hotel brand that can compete on the international stage and significantly strengthen Manchester’s hospitality offer. We’ll be sharing more exciting news about the hotel in the coming months.”
Ritchie Watson, corporate sales director at Together, added: “Trinity North has secured one of the many jewels in Manchester’s crown and we are delighted to have supported the acquisition of this landmark hotel in Manchester.
“It’s an exciting opportunity for a new highly experienced operational team to deliver one of the region’s most sought-after hospitality offerings.
“As a lender with deep roots in the North West, we’re beyond proud to support investment that contributes to Manchester’s continued regeneration and growth. The city has a fantastic track record of reinventing and repurposing its property, and landmark buildings like this have an important role to play in its next chapter.”
