The Beetham Hilton Tower Symbol of the New Manchester
The Beetham Hilton Tower is the most prominent new landmark on the skyline of Manchester.
It’s widely regarded as a symbol of the recent regeneration of Manchester and proof of the city’s recent economic resurgence. Its location is symbolic, on the site of one of the Victorian railway arches that served the Great Northern Goods Warehouse. It’s only a couple of hundred yards from where Manchester’s Roman settlement was, and it rises up at the end of main roads, many of which, like the A56, follow the line of Roman roads.
The Beetham Hilton Tower is ground-breaking in many respects. It’s the tallest residential tower in the UK and the tallest tower of any UK city except London. From the top there are views of the Pennines, the Welsh mountains, Blackpool Tower and Liverpool. And to prove it I have a photo of Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral, seen from the 35th floor.
The Tower, also known as 301 Deansgate, is rather like two buildings stacked one on top of each other. The lower section from floors 5 to 23 is a 5 star Hilton hotel with 285 beds, the upper part from floors 25 to 47 is a residential block, with penthouse apartments further up. Crowning the building is a huge split-level penthouse with its own conservatory and tree. This dream residence will be occupied by the architect of the building, Ian Simpson. The south facade is extended upwards with a rooftop ‘blade’ consisting of glass vanes mounted on a metal frame.
And now for some statistics: The Beetham Tower is 561 feet (171m) high from street level to the top of the blade, 515 feet to roof level, that’s three feet and nine inches shorter than the total height of Blackpool Tower, my benchmark since childhood for tall buildings. The Beetham Tower is 174 feet, or nearly 1.5 times higher than the CIS Tower, which at 387 feet (118m) used to be the tallest building in Manchester. Planning permission was granted in late 2003, and construction began in February 2004, with completion expected during 2006.
The Beetham Hilton tower is an impressive and daring structure by Manchester and British standards. However it’s important to keep things in perspective. Placed next to the Empire State Building - 1252 feet (381m) tall - it is less than half the size, and far smaller than the Burj Dubai, expected to be tallest building in the world at somewhere in excess of 2460 feet or 750m. The glass box design isn’t the most innovative, though its side profile is silm and elegant. The 4 metre overhang at the 23rd floor is an innovative feature, though I don’t think it’s possible to look down through a glass floor - that would have made a nightclub with a difference!
I’ve visited the Beetham Hilton tower three times now, and have taken photos from the top. The view is breathtaking in every sense. Liverpool can clearly be seen, and it should possible to see Blackpool tower in Lancashire to the north and the Wrekin in Shropshire to the south, though only in very clear weather. South facing apartments and hotel rooms enjoy a wonderful panorama of south and west Manchester, and from the north side, the view over the city centre is unequalled, as you’re looking north west, with the sun behind you.
It’s a pity there isn’t a top level observation area, though the public will be able to visit the 24th floor Skybar. If you want to go higher and enjoy the best view of Manchester city centre there is, you’ll need to have some highly placed residents as friends, or be one yourself. Flats in the tower have been quoted as starting from around 100,000 pounds for the smallest, with the penthouse apartments going for up to 3 million.
The Beetham Hilton Tower has radically altered the cityscape of Manchester, which first rose above the height of the Victorian town hall between 1960 and 1970. Now the upward trend is back, and, barring a property crash, is set to continue.
I have to admit, I have not been able to take my eyes - and camera - off the Beetham Hilton Tower since it first appeared. Until some newer, taller and perhaps curvier structure comes along, it will continue to be the most eye-catching feature on the Manchester skyline.
The Beetham Hilton Tower is a project of the Beetham Organisation a family-owned property development company with head offices in Liverpool. Visit their website at http://www.beethamorganisation.com. The site is owned by Hilton Hotels.