Nobu, the global luxury lifestyle brand backed by Hollywood legend Robert De Niro, has agreed to open a hotel, restaurant and its first UK apartments at Salboy's £360 million Viadux 2 development in Manchester.
The 76-storey Nobu Hotel Manchester will be the tallest building outside London, measuring 246 metres, and will contain 160 hotel rooms and 452 Nobu residences, its luxury apartments brand, in addition to event spaces and a restaurant and bar.
Amenities available to Nobu residents staying at Viadux 2 will include a swimming pool, spa, podium garden and gym. Apartment users will also have access to Nobu dining and room service.
Since the opening of the first Nobu Hotel in Las Vegas in 2013, the brand's portfolio has expanded to include 46 hotels and 20 residences. Its existing UK restaurants are all in London and on Old Park Lane, Portman Square and in Shoreditch.
The signing of a Nobu hotel and restaurant, alongside its first apartments in the UK, is a major coup for the city, which last week was in focus at the Mipim real estate conference in Cannes after Premier League team Manchester United Football Club outlined its plans for a new £2 billion stadium, read here.
Regions' tallest building
Manchester-based developer Salboy submitted plans for Viadux 2 in April, read here, comprising two high-rise structures of 76 and 23 storeys. They will hold around 1,000 apartments in the Deansgate area of the city, next to the Manchester International Conference Centre.
The developer's 246-metre tower would be the largest by height outside of London, matching some of the capital's loftiest structures, including One Canada Square (235 metres) at Canary Wharf and 122 Leadenhall (22 metres) in the City. For comparison, The Shard in London, Western Europe's tallest building, measures 95 storeys, or 310 metres.
Salboy is also working with Gary Neville's Relentless Developments property firm at the office-led St Michael's scheme, also in Manchester, with the first building, Number One, fully let to tenants including tech firm ARM, Channel 4 and law firm Pinsent Masons.
Phase One of the wider Viadux scheme is a 40-storey residential tower comprising around 370 apartments. Plans for Phase Two were submitted in April.
Global destination
Nobu Hospitality CEO Trevor Horwell said in a statement that the arrival of Nobu in Manchester, where he grew up, would help the city's "evolution as a global destination for luxury hospitality".
He added: "Manchester is home to world-class developments, a thriving culinary scene, and a growing demand for high-end lifestyle experiences. None of our locations are cookie cutter; we wholeheartedly embrace the spirit of each destination. We are delighted to be working with Salboy to blend the Nobu experience with the essence of Manchester."
Salboy co-founder Fred Done said: "I'm truly excited to welcome the Nobu team to Manchester. As a businessman, I understand why Robert De Niro and his partners chose to invest in Nobu. It is about more than just money; it is about bringing this level of class to Manchester and celebrating what it means for the city."