Hollywood A-lister Robert De Niro is backing Nobu Manchester, a 76–storey tower rising beside Deansgate-Castlefield tram stop, developed by Salboy and set to be run by Nobu Hospitality, where the 82-year-old actor holds a stake.
For those not in the know, Nobu began life in New York back in 1994, launched by De Niro, film producer Meir Taper and chef Nobu Matsuhisa. Manchester marks only their second UK site, three and a half decades after London.
The plans for the new site are to pack in 452 apartments, a sleek restaurant and a 160-room hotel. Add a pool, spa, gym and garden and you get an 807ft landmark expected to become the UK’s tallest building outside London.
De Niro said Manchester had 'real character [and was] creative, passionate and strong' and promised: 'I look forward to coming back when it is finished, if not before'. He admitted he hadn’t seen much of the city yet, but added: "Everyone is very nice, we’re having a very nice time. It’s great being here in Manchester because it has real character, we’re proud to be part of it."
Salboy boss Simon Ismail has called the upcoming development a sign of the city’s momentum, saying Manchester has been booming for more than a decade and keeps growing. He said bringing in Nobu 'iin terms of quality and brand and exposure' is huge and a catalyst for more to come.
There’s more on the way too. A second, smaller tower on Great Bridgewater Street will add 133 affordable apartments across 23 storeys. Council leader Bev Craig called the whole thing a marker of Manchester’s global pull.
"It’s not everyday you watch Robert De Niro take out an apartment in Deansgate is it?" she said. "It is a boost - we've said for a long time we wanted to be a world-class city and if you want to be a world-class city you've got to get global names.
"The fact we are seeing global names - not just actors - but global businesses that only go to cities where they will be successful is a big boost for Manchester."
The first phase of Nobu Manchester - a 40-storey tower with 362 apartments built above a series of Victorian railway arches - wrapped in 2024 on the site of the old Manchester Central station. That was a 40–storey tower with 362 apartments built over the Victorian railway arches at the former station.
And, now, it appears as if the real giant is about to rise.
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