A Harrogate property company, which began as a specialist in the development of small unit commercial space, is expanding its offering across the Pennines with a celebrity chef-led restaurant and hotel.
BH Group, headquartered in Harrogate, is behind the restaurant, café and 187-bed hotel currently being built in the heart of Manchester, conveniently next to Victoria station. Previously known as City Buildings, the project is the gateway site to the NOMA development, an £800 million, 20 acre (eight hectare) mixed-use redevelopment scheme in Manchester that is focused on revitalising and opening the northern area of the city centre.
James Houlston, founder and managing director of BH Group, said:
Several years ago we made a significant shift in strategy away from the small business unit market and diversified into two new sectors: renewable energy, via our sister company BH EnergyGap, and hospitality. Our development in Manchester, which is on track to open in September 2018, is one of a number of projects we are currently developing, and forms part of our overall long term strategy to create a portfolio of hotels and other income-producing assets.
This is not BH Group’s first foray into Greater Manchester, having completed developments at The Embankment in Stockport and Christie Fields in South Manchester.
When finished, the development, which incorporates the Grade II listed City Buildings, will be 14 storeys high and will provide 187 bedrooms, with a large restaurant and bar. The name of the celebrity chef, and details regarding the restaurant and café, are being kept under wraps until next year.
BH Group has another hotel currently being developed in Blackpool with joint venture partners Creative Development, and is working on a number of similar deals throughout the UK.
