The Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is located on Oxford Street in Manchester city centre.
The Kimpton Clock Tower Hotel is a Grade II*-listed building that dates back to 1890. The building was originally The Refuge Assurance Company headquarters.
The Grade II* listed description given by Historic England reads as follows;
"SJ8497NW OXFORD STREET 698-1/32/268 (East side) 03/10/74 Former Refuge Assurance Company Offices (Formerly Listed as: OXFORD STREET Refuge Assurance Company Offices)
GV II*
Insurance company offices. 1891 by Alfred Waterhouse, extended 1910 and 1912 by his son Paul Waterhouse, and further extended in 1930s. Steel frame, clad in red brick with liberal dressings of deep brown and buff terracotta, and grey Dalbeattie granite to base of tower. Irregular plan formed by original square block on corner of Whitworth Street, block to south of this added 1910 (triangular at rear), tower between and linking these added 1912, and rectangular block added to east end of original Whitworth Street range in 1930s. Very large and ornate eclectic design with French Renaissance accent and some Baroque features. Four storeys with basements and attics, the first block with a large corner element and then 6-bay facades to both streets, next the tower flanked by deep 1-bay re-entrants, with 3-bay porch in front, and a 6-bay range beyond this; with brick piers, enriched bands between floors, undulating parapets, tiered shaped gables to the end bays and a tiered octagonal turret with domed roof between those at the Whitworth Street corner, and a very tall square clock-tower, pilastered and banded, with a prominent cornice and Baroque cupola. Large closely-spaced cross-windows to the first 3 floors, coupled 2-light mullioned windows to the top floor, all with elaborate terracotta surrounds including twisted columns, pierced aprons (etc) and those at 2nd floor with decorated segmental pediments. The corner element has a round-headed doorway with richly-ornamented terracotta surround carried up to 1st floor and finished with a toy-sized fort; various small rectangular windows in the right-hand side, and a mullioned and transomed window in the left side tiered through 4 floors. Main entrance at base of tower in single-storey 3-bay porch of white granite in Baroque style, with round-headed central arch in projected surround of engaged Tuscan semi-columns, broken segmental pediment (etc), flanked by square-headed openings with Ionic columns, and swagged bulls-eye windows and balustraded parapets above. Interior: inside porch, enclosed forecourt surrounded by massive arcades and colonnades in buff glazed terracotta, with doorways, niches (etc) in Baroque style; other parts believed to be of similar quality, but not inspected. Very conspicuous landmark, and probably the apogee of "Manchester style" late C19 commercial architecture.
Listing NGR: SJ8414597533"
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The building was converted into a hotel in 1966 by Richard Newman at a cost of £7 million. It was owned and operated by the Principal Hotel Company and was named the Palace Hotel.
In 2001 Nomura International Plc bought Principal Hotels and the hotel was rebranded as Le Méridien Palace Manchester.
In 2004 a reconstituted Principal Hotels bought the hotel back and again renamed it the Palace Hotel.
In 2016 Principal Hotels decided to brand all their hotels with their corporate name, and the hotel was renamed The Principal Manchester. The current glass dome in the reception area was taken from a Scottish railway station during the conversion to the hotel.
In May 2018, the hotel was sold to the InterContinental Hotels Group. It was renamed the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel InterContinental Hotels Group's Kimpton Hotels brand, and reopened under the Kimpton name on 1st October 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were lifted.
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"Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is a magnificent terracotta Grade II listed building with a history dating back to 1890, when it first opened as The Refuge Assurance Company headquarters. The grand clock tower at the centre of its striking Victorian architecture is an unmistakable landmark on Manchester’s skyline. All 270 loft-style bedrooms, including 11 suites, were designed to make the most of the stunning, double and triple-height ceilings. Other original period features including glazed brick, tile, faience, stained glass and carved wooden staircases, are combined with contemporary fittings and interiors. In the hotel’s lobby, a three-metre-tall bronze horse by artist Sophie Dickens represents a horse-and-carriage ‘turning circle’ that once stood on the same spot.
Johan Scheepers, General Manager, Kimpton Clocktower Hotel commented on the opening: “Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is the latest addition to the global Kimpton brand. Each Kimpton hotel is an escape from the ordinary, and Kimpton Clocktower Hotel will offer a real ‘wow’ factor stay with a warm Mancunian welcome. Kimpton continues its incredible expansion across the globe with the opening of Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, marking our fourth opening in the UK. The Kimpton brand is rooted in human heartfelt connections and we look forward to welcoming guests and locals in a city world renowned for its warmth, charm and exuberance.”
Guest rooms offer an homage to Manchester’s iconic music scene, with vinyl records of the city’s most iconic bands – from the Stone Roses and Oasis to Elbow and Take That – available to play on record players in each room. Each room borrows design inspiration from the spirited and renowned Manchester party and music scene, with vibrant, bespoke textiles designed by Timorous Beasties, which incorporate the iconic Manchester worker bee and bold contemporary graphic prints adorning the walls.
Hotel guests will enjoy Kimpton’s signature perks such as in-room yoga mats and the ‘Forgot It? We’ve Got It!’ service offering important guest essentials. Complimentary tuck boxes of treats in all rooms, as well as fresh milk and mineral water in the fridge enrich the in-room experience. Guests can also expect the brand’s industry-leading pet-friendly amenities and service that’s personal, unscripted and meaningful, fuelled by a hotel team who is committed to delight in surprising ways. A 10-minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly Station, Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is in the heart of the city, opposite Oxford Road Station. Highly visible thanks to its iconic clock tower, it also neighbours the world-famous LGBTQ area of Canal Street, and close to the city’s shopping areas and department stores. For those looking to explore Manchester on two wheels, Kimpton-branded bikes are available for hire free-of-charge.
Restaurants & Bars
Kimpton is renowned for its award-winning portfolio of local, seasonally-inspired restaurants and bars. At the heart of Kimpton Clocktower Hotel is The Winter Garden, a space full of natural light, where guests can sit back and relax for a drink or a meal, whatever the time of day or night. Destination bar and restaurant, The Refuge by Volta, serves globally inspired small plates, craft beers and cocktails curated by the award-winning team from Volta, and has a uniquely curated programme of events. Those wanting to make human connections can meet fellow visitors across socially distanced tables at the nightly Kimpton Social Hour to bond over hosted drinks from 5-6pm.
The hotel also offers 17 meeting rooms, featuring charming Edwardian detailing alongside the latest technology, with capacity from 4 to 1,000 (as current meeting and event restrictions allow) with the hotel boasting the largest hotel ballroom in the northwest of England."
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"In Manchester city centre itself, one of the most haunted places listed is the Kimpton Clocktower.
Now a fancy hotel with stunning interiors, there are reports of ghostly goings-on in room 261, where guests have reported hearing the sound of children playing in the middle of the night.
The amazing old marble and bronze staircase (which was only accessible to men in the past!) is said to be haunted by the ghost of a grieving war widow who threw herself down the stairwell."
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