Relentless lodges Sir Ralph Abercromby plans
Gary Neville’s business has filed proposals to overhaul the historic Manchester pub and link it to the 43-storey hotel and residential block within the St Michael’s project.
Relentless said that the proposals will see the pub undergo a substantial refurbishment with strategic features retained and repurposed to honour the building’s heritage.
This will include the retention and refurbishment of window frames, brickwork and external doors where feasible, or replacements in keeping.
A glassed walkway will be added, integrating the pub with the 43-storey tower set to play host to the high-end W Hotel and W Residences.
The pub, dating back to the 1800s and said to have provided shelter during the Peterloo massacre, is located between Jackson’s Row and Bootle Street, and has remained operational as construction of the £400m flagship St Michael’s development progresses – indeed, the continued existence of the pub was a point of contention in the scheme’s controversial early iterations.
Subject to planning approval, work could start in the coming months aiming for a planned completion in summer 2027. Heritage specialist Levrant is working with Relentless.
No.1 St Michael’s opened in November 2025, delivered by Relentless and private equity giant KKR.
Construction of the No.2 St Michael’s tower is underway which will provide 75,000 sq ft of office space alongside the 162-room W Hotel and 217 W Residences.
Gary Neville, director at Relentless Developments, said: “The Sir Ralph Abercromby is one of Manchester’s most treasured pubs and an important part of the city’s social fabric. A big part of our ambition for St Michael’s has been to celebrate Manchester’s heritage and restoring this iconic building is central to that vision.
“Our proposals carefully retain and enhance the features that give the pub its character while sensitively integrating it into the wider St Michael’s scheme. We’re proud the pub has been able to remain open throughout construction and this next phase will secure its future for generations to come – ensuring it continues to serve the community while sitting confidently alongside a truly world-class development.”
At the time of writing, the plans have not been validated on Manchester City Council’s planning portal.
Was there no way of just leaving it as it currently is?
By Anonymous
Why does the pub need to be connected to the tower? Seems a bit odd. Can’t the posh people living there use the tradesmen’s entrance at the front like everyone else 🙂
By Steve
Is this the same G Neville who wanted to demolish it a few years ago?
By Ralph
Local lad doing a great job.
By Anonymous
May as well destroy it. Going to price the regulars out and kill it anyway. Architecturally it is nothing.
By Anonymous
Application number?
By Allergic to Squirrels
It hasn’t been validated yet, so no ref number allocated. We’ll monitor situation. Thanks, Neil.
By Neil Tague
‘Retain and enhance’ a pub’s character by converting it into hotel bar/ lobby/ break out area.
By Anonymous
Good the building is being preserved, but it doesn’t sound it’s going to carry on being “one of Manchester’s most treasured pubs” though, rather the bar of a super-luxury hotel, no doubt with prices to match.
Hopefully Gary will be resisting any sort of Peterloo Massacre theme in this context?
By Rotringer
What is it with the recent fashion of black hi-viz? The clues in the name- high visibility! Reflective panels are no use during the daytime. Anyway, good to see SRA being maintained but I really hope they dont dilute the character and Manchester Planners don’t kowtow to Mr Neville
By JB
So he finally gets his way and is turning into a theme pub because he can’t knock it down?? How long before it mysteriously collapses altogether or some such rubbish. Make no mistake, he doesn’t care about heritage. Who the hell thinks a glass walkway is complimentary to a 200 year old pub!
This man in relentless in his pursuit of having his own way. Shame on you Neville, and everyone whose let you getting away with it!
By LJC
Have heard it will no longer be a pub but be converted into co-working space for the posh people in the tower… goodbye locals?
By Co-working
Why cant Gary just leave the pub alone? This all seems very unnecessary.
By Mr Mcr
It’s always dead, You see more old men in Alberts Schloss than in this boozer.
By Anonymous
Essentially this will be a unique lobby but in the style of a quaint English pub. Wealthy residents will love the pristine environment without ever having to mingle with locals.
By Pete
Awful pub, needs to go
By Anonymous
“It’s always dead, You see more old men in Alberts Schloss than in this boozer.” – not been on match day then??
By False info???
Gary Neville should be ashamed
By John
Great old pub , drank and ate there many times when at meetings in Manchester. . Important these buildings are preserved to retain to character in new developments
By George
Why cant he just leave it alone give it a little spruce up and thats it! Otherwise it just wont be the same pub! Thats the draw the historic little pub in the middle of all the shineiness! Ffs Gary can you be a little less relentless about this!
By Lizzy Baggot