Manchester’s Great John Street Hotel has been bought by property investment company Trinity North from MCL GJS Propco Limited for an undisclosed sum, with the new owner planning to speed up renovation work and bring in a luxury lifestyle hotel operator.
Built in 1912 as a school, the Grade II listed building sits within the Castlefield Conservation Area and extends to 30,537 sq ft. Its former rooftop playground provides the setting for a bar and terrace with views across the city’s skyline.
The hotel, currently closed for refurbishment, occupies a prime position between Spinningfields and St John’s, where Manchester’s business district meets its growing creative quarter.
Trinity North wants an operator with a distinctive concept and a bold vision for the property, and its selection process is already under way. The purchase is the company’s first major acquisition, and it says the deal will give fresh momentum to the next phase of work needed to create the hotel.
Trinity North is the property investment company backed by Manchester-born Patrick Waldron, managing director of Westshield, the North West construction group founded in 1977. Kay Tierney, a collaborating director with more than 20 years’ hotel experience across operations, asset management and investment, is seeking a luxury lifestyle operator for the site.
“We are delighted to have acquired Great John Street Hotel and 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.
Patrick Waldron, Managing Director, Trinity North
“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.”
Funding for the deal came from Manchester-based specialist property lender Together, which has an £8.5bn loan book, while Jenics also advised on the transaction.
“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.
Ritchie Watson, Corporate Sales Director, Together
“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.
“By continuing to back experienced businesses with funding to invest in these assets, together, we can help unlock potential and support the continued development of Manchester as a place to live, work and visit.”
The hotel sits within a neighbourhood of culture, hospitality and leisure, a few minutes’ walk from Aviva Studios, the Science and Industry Museum and Castlefield Bowl, as well as Enterprise City, home to Booking.com, WPP, dentsu and Cloud Imperium Games. Nearby neighbours include Soho House, Mollie’s and VERSA Studios at the former Granada Studios site, alongside restaurants including Hawksmoor, The Ivy, Sexy Fish, Caravan and Fenix.
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