Bob W, the tech and AI-focused hospitality operator, has signed a long-term lease agreement with Bloom Street Hotel for a new 83-unit aparthotel in Manchester city centre.
CGI of the proposed Bob W Manchester
The new-build development will transform a former ground-level car park on Bloom Street into Bob W Manchester City Centre, scheduled to open in summer 2027.
The property will comprise 83 self-contained studio apartments across almost 26,000 sq ft alongside shared amenities.
The signing follows Bob W’s recent expansion into Northern Ireland as the company targets growth across key urban markets throughout the UK and Europe.
Philip Grace, chief development officer at Bob W, said: “Manchester is one of the UK’s most dynamic and fast-growing cities, with strong demand from both business and leisure travellers. Securing a prime city centre site for a ground-up development is an exciting milestone for us as we continue to scale our presence across Europe and the UK.
“This project reflects the range of what Bob W can deliver, from repositioning existing buildings to bringing new developments to life from the ground up. We look forward to working closely with our partners to create a property that meets the expectations of modern travellers.”
With a portfolio of more than 100 assets and some 7,000 apartment units and hotel rooms across Europe and the UK, Bob W said it aimed to continue to expand through a mix of leases, conversions and new-build opportunities.
James Broadhurst, partner in the corporate team of international law firm Charles Russell Speechlys said the deal is as indicator of where the UK hotels market is heading in 2026.
“It is worth taking a moment to appreciate the broader backdrop: following a particularly encouraging 2025 — in which UK hotel investment reached approximately £5bn and London recorded its strongest transactional year since 2018 — confidence across the sector has continued to build,” he said.
“Private capital remains an active and discerning participant, and the demand outlook, supported by both leisure and corporate travel recovery, continues to provide a sound foundation for that optimism. Against this backdrop, extended-stay and aparthotel formats have emerged as a focal point for investor interest. The structural shift towards longer-stay, more flexible accommodation is not a passing trend; it reflects a meaningful evolution in how both individuals and organisations approach travel and temporary residence. Deals of this nature are, in that sense, very much in step with where the market is going.”
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