FORMER MANCHESTER UNITED legends Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs have embarked on a number of business ventures together and they’re set to open their second hotel in the next few months.
The pair bought the historic Manchester stock exchange for £1.5 million in February and have since received planning permission to transform the listed building into a boutique hotel.
However, a group of squatters moved into the premises at the weekend in what the Manchester Evening News describe as a ‘renewed attempt to create a community hub for rough sleepers.’
The campaign group, the Manchester Angels, had been occupying the Norfolk Street building since Saturday, claiming the legal right to do so under squatter’s right.
Normally in such a situation, the landlords would go to court to obtain an order to have them evicted – but Neville and Giggs have shown pure class with an incredible gesture.
The former footballers have decided to allow the homeless group sleep in the building during the winter before work begins on revamping the site.
In a post on their Facebook page, the Manchester Angels campaign group said:
“I’m crying… Just go off the phone to Gary Neville…He’s letting us stay for a few months over the winter period and he’s gonna help us with intervention
“I’m shaking here. TheGraftPaysOff.”
The Grade II-listed building will be transformed into a 35-bedroom five star hotel with a gym, spa and a roof-top terrace.
It will be the latest hotel the pair add to their growing portfolio after the opening of Hotel Football, which is located across the road from Old Trafford.
