New Treehouse Hotel to open in Manchester with restaurants, rooftop bar and ‘secret hideaway’

Designed to appeal to the child in all of us, the Treehouse hotel brand is playful, curious and nostalgic.

Part of the new openings and things to look forward to in Manchester 2024, the hotel concept is taking over the former Renaissance hotel on Deansgate.

Part of SH Hotels & Resorts, who operate a portfolio of spaces in North America, Asia Pacific and Europe, the new Treehouse Hotel Manchester will follow Treehouse Hotel London as its second hotel in the UK. 

Dream food and drink team at Treehouse Hotel Manchester

There will be two restaurants, as well as a panoramic rooftop bar and a secret hideaway to explore.

And in charge of the food and drink offering will be a stellar line-up of highly regarded local chefs and restaurateurs.  

The first, Mary-Ellen McTague, has over 20 years of experience in hospitality, spanning multiple sizes and styles of operation including Manchester Art Gallery Cafe and the much-lauded Creameries in Chorlton.

Mary-Ellen’s outstanding career in hospitality began in the then-Michelin starred Sharrow Bay Country House hotel, followed by four years spent working with Heston Blumenthal, firstly as Sous Chef at the 3 Michelin-starred Fat Duck, then as Research and Development Chef, working on historical food for Blumenthal’s Hind’s Head and Fat Duck menus.

A true pioneer in sustainable kitchen practises over the last six years, Mary-Ellen will bring this ethos of sustainability in modern cuisine to the venture. 

Mary-Ellen will be curating the offerings in the ground floor restaurant of Treehouse Hotel Manchester, beginning her menus with fresh pastries and hot and cold sandwiches to start the day.

The all-day menu will change seasonally, with a focus on utilising produce sourced from local farms, with a carefully crafted biodynamic wine list. 

Mary-Ellen, who was born and brought up in Bury, says her focus is about seasonality and sustainability.

“It’s what I love doing.” says Mary-Ellen.

“The zero-waste approach is very evident in all the dishes, because that’s just how I cook.

“I just want people to feel like they’ve got something really simple, but really delicious.”

Sam Grainger, who will run the hotel’s 14th floor destination restaurant and stand-alone bar, is collaborating with ex-Refuge curators, Luke Cowdrey and Justin Crawford.

Sam has gained praise from all corners of the food industry as chef owner at critically acclaimed Belzan in Liverpool, and the revered Madre.

Sam is known for his eclectic mix of dishes, with a focus on British produce interwoven with Japanese and European ingredients and cutting-edge Mexican Taqueria dishes. His focus will be on elevated South East Asian menus.

Sam has also opened Carnival with Hawksmoor founder, Richard Turner.  

“This Treehouse concept is really influenced by my travels,” he says.

Luke Cowdrey and Justin Crawford began their path in the suburban hotspot of Didsbury, with Volta.

The duo then opened what was then one of the most eagerly anticipated restaurants Manchester had seen in decades, The Refuge by Volta.

Their initial approach was to bring Volta’s award-winning formula of crafted and beautiful small plates and grills to the city centre, but on the scale of a 139-cover restaurant.

The following success they managed to achieve truly lifted Manchester’s reputation of exceptional dining experience to a whole new level.

The Refuge by Volta has been globally recognised as an unparalleled experience of glorious food, music and cultural happenings in a way that reflects Manchester’s forward-thinking mentality.

The pair, who have recently left The Refuge, will be partnering with Sam Granger to work on the food offering, beverage and music program of the 14th floor restaurant, and they will also curate activations in the Rooftop bar and the ground floor restaurant.  

“Our partnerships have always been about curating spaces,” says Justin.

“That’s what we enjoy. And one thing we do really like is hotels, because it combines all those elements of food, drink, music and hospitality.”

Luke says he and Justin “fell in love with food” growing up – at at time when Manchester didn’t have much to offer in terms of a culinary scene.

“We’re probably right at the beginning of a world that wasn’t that interested in food,” says Luke.

“To get good food decades ago in Manchester, you probably had to be part of the rich, it was only certain places. That has changed so much – and we’ve been part of that.

“When we first started Volta, small plates was an interesting concept; 10 or 12 years ago, people said, ‘I don’t want to share plates, I want my own food’,” he laughs.

“Now, when you talk to chefs in London, Manchester is a place they want to go.”

As the city’s food and drink scene continues to expand, we couldn’t be happier about that.

Rooms at Treehouse Hotel Manchester

The hotel will have 224 welcoming and colourful guest rooms and suites. Each guest room will boast ‘its own quirky flair and perfectly imperfect charm with cosy fabrics, playful patchwork and prints, and vibrant colours that spark spontaneity and curiosity.’

Room types have childish names such as Fort King, Lookout King, City King, Skyline King and Cabin House.

All rooms at Treehouse Hotel Manchester are pet friendly with blackout blinds, free WiFi, HD smart TV, digital newspapers, filtered water taps, rain shower, Treehouse mobile app, as well as mini bar and room service.

Private hire space Treehouse Hotel Manchester

Celebrate and entertain in thoughtfully designed event spaces housed on the hotel’s first floor. Perfectly placed in the heart of the city, Treehouse Manchester will host private events and parties of all sizes of up to 400 people.

With a spacious screening room and local farm-to-table fuel curated by Mary-Ellen McTague, the opportunities are immense. Designed to make you feel like you’re up in the trees, each space is sure to inspire connection, spark imagination, and dare you to dream bigger. You can request details and book in advance here.