Work has begun on the upper floors of the Royal Buildings in Manchester’s Piccadilly Gardens with plans to open a hotel by Spring 2026
Criterion Capital recently secured planning permission to convert the upper floors of the city’s Royal Buildings into a 187-bedroom hotel across four floors
Jay Patel, planning director at Savills, who submitted the planning on behalf of Criterion, commented: “The addition of a high quality and affordable hotel is welcome news for Manchester and its ever-growing tourism economy.
“In keeping with the concept of the brand’s other four existing sites in London, the new hotel will focus on promoting quality sleep, positive health and holistic wellbeing. With a very different focus to Manchester’s current hotel offering, Zedwell Hotels use a nature-inspired décor with calming colours, natural or recycled materials, and no TVs in cocoon-like rooms to promote deep rest.”
Aziz added: “Bringing Zedwell to Manchester was always in the plan and now we have found the perfect location. It was important that we worked with a local team and the plans for the hotel have been designed by Manchester-based Buttress Architects.
“The new Zedwell Hotel will be targeting short-term stays and people travelling through Manchester using the excellent transport links of both Piccadilly Gardens and Piccadilly station.”
Zedwell Hotels currently operates three sites in London and Zedwell Manchester represents the brand’s first property out of the capital.
The site once housed the Royal Hotel which was demolished in 1909
