Radisson Hotel Group has officially opened the 401-room Radisson Blu Medlock Hotel, Manchester, introducing a major new hospitality property at the heart of the city’s expanding Etihad Campus. The upper upscale hotel opened its doors on September 7, 2026, becoming the first completed development within Medlock Square and marking the first project delivered through a partnership between Radisson Hotel Group and Manchester City Football Club. The opening adds significant new accommodation capacity to an area that is increasingly developing beyond its traditional identity as a football destination.
The new property of Radisson is closely aligned with Manchester’s growing reputation as a destination for sports, live entertainment, business events and leisure travel. Its location directly beside the Etihad Stadium and Co-op Live places visitors within immediate reach of some of the city’s largest sporting and entertainment venues. By combining a large hotel operation with nearby attractions, restaurants, event facilities and public transport connections, the development is designed to capture demand from visitors who travel to Manchester for football matches, concerts, conferences and city breaks, while also supporting the wider growth of the city’s visitor economy.
Prime Location Connects Visitors With Major Manchester Attractions
The Radisson hotel’s location gives it a particularly strong position within Manchester’s visitor infrastructure, as it sits immediately beside both the Etihad Stadium and Co-op Live. This allows guests attending major football fixtures and concerts to stay within walking distance of the venues rather than relying on longer journeys from accommodation elsewhere in the city. The property of Radisson is also served by a Metrolink stop located next to the Radisson hotel, providing direct public transport access to Manchester city centre in approximately 10 minutes and making it easier for visitors to combine Etihad Campus activities with attractions in central Manchester.
The surrounding Medlock Square development is expected to further increase the area’s appeal as a destination in its own right. A range of additional facilities is scheduled to open later this year, including restaurants, bars and cafés, a new immersive Manchester City museum experience, a stadium roof walk and zip wire, as well as a 3,000-capacity covered events space. Once these facilities become operational, visitors will have access to accommodation, dining, entertainment and cultural experiences within a closely connected area, creating a broader destination offering around the Etihad Campus rather than relying solely on individual sporting or entertainment events to attract visitors.
401 Rooms Offer Accommodation For Leisure And Business Travelers
The Radisson Blu Medlock Hotel features 401 guestrooms and suites, providing accommodation across several categories to meet the needs of different visitor groups. The property includes Standard, Premium and Deluxe Rooms, along with distinctive Pitch View Rooms, One Bedroom Suites and a high-end two-storey Penthouse. The range is intended to accommodate everyone from visitors attending individual sporting or entertainment events to corporate travelers and guests seeking a more premium stay while visiting Manchester.
Among the property’s most distinctive accommodation options are its Pitch View Rooms, which provide views toward the stadium and can be converted into hospitality suites on matchdays. At the top of the hotel’s accommodation range is a 153 square metre Penthouse, featuring two bedrooms, two bathrooms, panoramic views across the city and a private 25 square metre terrace. The hotel has incorporated Manchester-inspired design elements throughout its rooms and public areas, drawing on the city’s industrial heritage while providing contemporary facilities aimed at both domestic and international visitors.
Dining, Events And Business Travel Expand The Visitor Offering
The Radisson hotel is also being positioned as a wider social and dining destination rather than simply a place for visitors to sleep. Its current food and beverage facilities include Three Rivers Brasserie & Bar, an all-day dining venue, Blend Cafe Bar, which offers coffee and light refreshments, and Little Beast Restaurant. Further additions are planned for the autumn, including Brickworks Market Hall and Zadie’s Sky Bar, which will introduce additional dining, drinks and social options while providing views across the Etihad Campus and Manchester skyline.
Business and events tourism forms another important part of the hotel’s role within the development. Guests and event organizers will have access to more than 30 flexible event spaces across the Etihad Campus, together with premium hospitality facilities at the Etihad Stadium and the planned outdoor activation space at Medlock Square, which can accommodate up to 3,000 people. The combination of substantial accommodation capacity, event facilities and convenient transport links makes the property particularly suited to conferences, exhibitions, incentive travel, corporate hospitality and large-scale entertainment events, potentially helping Manchester attract and accommodate visitors who stay for more than a single event.
New Development Expands Manchester’s Integrated Visitor Economy
The opening of Radisson Blu Medlock Hotel comes as the Etihad Campus continues to evolve into a broader visitor destination combining hospitality, sport, entertainment, dining and culture. Manchester has established a strong international profile through its football clubs, music scene, cultural attractions and business activity, and developments such as Medlock Square are increasingly linking these different elements together. The hotel provides the accommodation infrastructure needed to support this expansion, particularly during periods when major matches, concerts and events generate increased demand for rooms across the city.
The property’s transport connections also strengthen its potential to serve visitors arriving from outside Manchester. The city centre is approximately five minutes away by car, while Manchester Airport can be reached in around 20 minutes by car or approximately 40 minutes by public transport. With further attractions and event facilities planned for Medlock Square, the hotel is positioned to become an important part of the area’s emerging tourism infrastructure, giving visitors the opportunity to combine accommodation, entertainment and cultural experiences within one integrated destination while adding further capacity to Manchester’s expanding hospitality sector.
