Hotel Football, Old Trafford, Manchester

Sitting directly opposite Manchester United’s ground, this new football-themed hotel fronted by ex-players Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville is cleverly targeted at fans. Look away now if you don’t find the game at all beautiful

from my window, I feel as if a certain brand of lager really does do football dream hotels
I’m one of those much-derided London-based “Cockney Reds”, and often have to book a hotel in Manchester for evening games. So once I work out that my season-ticket seat is actually two minutes’ walk from the lobby, I’m in heaven … though I’ll soon discover that an actual Heaven is much closer to my eighth-floor room than I think.

Hotel Football is a new four-star, 133-room property from a team fronted by former Manchester United players Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs, with support from their “class of ’92” cohorts Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and Philip Neville. It’s not just meant for United supporters such as me though; it’s attempting to welcome all fans, with nine floors of cleverly targeted facilities.

For a start, there is a 750-capacity basement bar, called the Old Trafford Supporters Club, with pool tables, TV screens and terrace-themed food such as pie and peas. Entrance is £1, with the fee earmarked for investment in local community projects. I’m staying on a match day (when only home supporters with a match ticket are allowed in), and the place is bubbling with energy. You certainly wouldn’t want to arrive with a paperback and hopes of a quiet nook in which to sup your craft beer (£3.50 a pint).

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