It’s the Manchester hotel that celebrities are flocking to at the moment. Nicki Minaj, David Beckham, Liam Gallagher and Olly Murs have all stayed at the luxurious Stock Exchange Hotel in recent weeks.
She even booked the entire hotel for a week with her entourage when she chose the city to rehearse for the opening of her world tour in October.
Fashion house Chanel also booked the entire hotel for its superstar guests when it went to Manchester for its Metier D’Arts fashion show in November. Bosses booked rooms at the hotel for their VIP guests for the show – including film stars Hugh Grant, Tilda Swinton and Kristen Stewart.
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So what makes the Stock Exchange Hotel such an A-list hit? Of course, it has all the modern conveniences you would expect from a five-star luxury hotel in the center of Manchester.
But perhaps more importantly for the superstar clientele, the hotel can also offer an extra level of discretion and privacy, such is its boutique style and design. With 40 bedrooms inside, it is also the ideal size for a buyout for a superstar and their entourage.
The hotel has won an army of fans since opening – and has a 5-star rating on TripAdvisor, making it the fourth best hotel in Manchester in the current rankings.
It also has a famous owner in the form of Manchester United legend Gary Neville, who knows all too well the level of service VIPs expect from a venue like this.
Luckily for us mere mortals, Gary has also made it clear that EVERY guest is treated like a VIP when staying at the Stock Exchange hotel.
So what better time to put all that to the test and check in yourself at this in-demand hotel? Here’s how I got on – and I even saw a famous face at breakfast while I was there.
The warm welcome
It’s just after 3pm that I arrive at the Stock Exchange Hotel after braving the hustle and bustle of Market Street. It is located on the adjacent Norfolk Street, which, on the other hand, is completely quiet despite its central location.
Formerly the Manchester Stock Exchange, the beautiful Edwardian Baroque building dates back to 1904. It was transformed into this five-star hotel in 2019 following a multi-million pound transformation by Neville, along with fellow United veteran Ryan Giggs.
A neatly dressed young man greets me as I walk through the sliding doors where you first see the breathtaking interiors. After checking my reservation, he takes my bags and guides me to the luxurious lounge at the front of the building for a welcome drink.
The fact that they offered me a glass of cold champagne was about the warmest welcome I could wish for. So far, totally VIP – and that is standard for all guests arriving at the hotel.
The bedrooms
After finishing my fizz, I was taken to my bedroom on the second floor. There are 40 bedrooms in the hotel – ranging in price from £185 to £1,750 per night for the enormous and luxurious penthouse suite called The House.
That particular suite is so sought after, however, that you’ll never see it available for booking, and you’ll have to inquire through the hotel itself to get one. The suite has been home to Nicki Minaj, Madonna and Ed Sheeran in recent months, and it features an outdoor terrace with sweeping views across the city’s rooftops.
Minaj famously posted photos from the balcony while she was staying there on the night of her ill-fated Manchester concert, which had to be cancelled at the last minute after she was delayed in Amsterdam. She posted to X in the early hours of the morning for her fans, encouraging the “Barbz” to head to the hotel to meet her.
My room for the night is a deluxe king room which is absolutely huge. It has a king size bed with a TV at the foot of the bed in a cabinet that you can slide in or out depending on your mood.
Since I was only going to spend the night here, I made the most of my freedom and spread my arms out on the bed to watch some TV before heading out.
There are plush green velvet chairs and a leather chaise longue, as well as a desk and cabinet with a fancy coffee maker on top. There is also a wooden bowl filled with treats such as fancy chips and chocolate that you can purchase as extras during your stay.
I also loved the large bathroom with both a roll top bath and a large shower with one of those giant shower heads that will wash your hair in no time. The size of the room made me understand exactly why superstars like Madonna have the entire hotel booked out – to ensure that all their cast and crew get a luxurious stay.
As part of my stay here I later met up with friends to go to the recent Take That concert at Co-op Live. The hotel just launched its new “Stay with the Music” packages, which includes concert tickets and transportation to and from the arena, which was incredible.
This was definitely a VIP way to experience a gig, with prices for this package starting from £300, including the concert tickets. This package can be booked by speaking to the hotel directly and is limited depending on which concert you wish to attend.
Breakfast – and a famous guest
After a wonderful night’s sleep in that gigantic bed, it was time to experience the hotel breakfast. And an epic feast it was.
I of course opted for the Full Stock Breakfast, and particularly liked that it consisted of two giant potato fritter-like things, as well as sourdough toast that came ready-buttered.
There’s a full breakfast menu, divided into “Keeping it Light,” which offers options like a wake-up granola cup or a sunrise salad, and “Hearty Start,” where you’ll find cooked options like All American pancakes, omelets, or “Oeufs on Poofs,” a range of Eggs Benedict-style options.
You can also opt for a barley bun, a bagel or a mashed avocado with eggs of your choice.
Breakfast was also when I had my first superstar sighting of my trip. Just as I finished my coffee, I almost stuttered when I saw the tanned legs of a pop star coming for his breakfast.
It was none other than Olly Murs – who stayed here after supporting Take That. He had previously posted on his Instagram Stories how he had accidentally dropped his bright blue swimming trunks from the balcony onto the roof while staying in one of the hotel’s terrace suites!
The new restaurant
The restaurant space in the hotel is an area that many Mancs will be familiar with. I remember when it was a Stock Italian restaurant about 20 years ago, and being dazzled by the beautiful glass dome roof inside.
With its beautiful arched windows it really is one of the best dining rooms in Manchester. And now it has been taken over by a new owner, with former two Michelin star chef Niall Keating at the helm of Tender.
The name is a nod to the loving care they put into their menus, but also a pun on money, given the history of the stock exchange.
The restaurant opened to the public earlier this month and is already proving popular. Sunday lunch is one of the busiest days, and Liam Gallagher was even spotted here last Sunday before performing in front of 23,000 fans at the Co-op Live Arena on Sunday evening.
The cellar bar
The last part of the hotel worth exploring is the cellar, home to the award-winning Sterling bar. This is open to the general public for bookings, as well as hotel guests.
It’s home to the acclaimed Schofield brothers, who have won just about every award they can think of since opening their Schofield’s Bar across town three years ago. Cocktails are, of course, king here and you can browse their acclaimed menu, which includes the “Untouchables” from £13 – and rare vintage cocktails for a cool £95 a glass.
The whole thing takes place in a dark, bar-like setting in the building’s former bank vault, which creates a very atmospheric ambiance.
It has also been the venue for show business after-parties for a number of A-list stars who have booked the venue in recent months.
Travel Facts File
Dianne was a guest at the Stock Exchange Hotel with the new overnight package ‘Stay with the Music’. This package starts at £300 per night, including an overnight hotel stay, breakfast and premium tickets to a selected show at one of Manchester’s premier concert venues. It can be booked directly through the hotel on 0161 470 3901.
Hotel prices start at £185 per night for standard rooms, but on booking.com we also found weekday deals from £160.
The Stock Exchange Hotel is located at 4 Norfolk Street, Manchester, M2 1DW. It is just a short walk from the nearest tram stop at Exchange Street and the nearest central station at Manchester Victoria.