Three popular Northern Quarter bars to be transformed as part of hostels takeover

A large swathe of Manchester’s Northern Quarter is being taken over by one of the world’s fastest growing hospitality brands as part of a planned £70m expansion into the UK.

The Hatters hostel group has been snapped up by Latin American-based company Selina, which will take over the Newton Street and Stevenson Square hostels and switch up popular bars The Patron, The Corner Boy and Holdfast NQ.

At the heart of the new development will be the Green House, which will see the space above Holdfast NQ transformed into a juice bar and cafe focused around wellness.
Designed to encourage relaxation and encourage a healthy, balanced lifestyle, the food offering here will be wholly organic with an emphasis on superfoods and feel-good drinking and dining.

The Green House will be designed as an adaptable space, which can be cordoned off to create dedicated areas for various workshops and activities, and will host workshops on wellness and nutrition, led by in-house experts, alongside a range of fitness activities.

Underneath, in what is currently basement bar Holdfast, there are plans to create a wellness studio that will offer yoga and meditation sessions. The group are also considering making space here for a new night club, which will pay homage to Selina’s Latino roots with a distinct Manc twist.

Over on Stevenson Square, The Patron will remain as a bar, keeping its relaxed atmosphere but with a slightly brighter feel and a lot more artwork.

Working with Hidden event promoter Anton Stevens, The Patron’s downstairs space will be fitted with a brand new sound system and, once ready, become home to an exciting calendar of events spanning everything from salsa classes to eclectic art and club nights.

As part of the refurb, the company, which places a huge emphasis on being sustainable and environmentally-conscious, will be working with local artists to upcycle existing furniture, fixtures and fittings.

They will be setting up a workshop for designers, builders, craftspeople and artists to meet and work together to realise a vision for the new sites, creating new furniture and tailor-made fixtures, and installing murals and beautiful lights to transform the buildings, ensuring that nothing is thrown away. The workshop is already set up in Manchester and has several craftspeople upcycling this.

Selina has 50 urban, beach, jungle and mountain-side locations across Latin America and Portugal and is currently expanding across Europe and the United States. It expects to grow to 400 locations and 100,000 beds by 2023.

“Selina will bring amazing accommodation solutions to fit every budget, and its food and beverage outlets will be a hub of activity with a welcoming social atmosphere,” says a comoany spokesperson.

“Our experience programme will showcase everything from creative craft workshops to yoga sessions, and will offer a space for local creatives around the city to engage and host events both big and small.”

Watch this space.