{"id":467413,"date":"2026-03-10T08:10:19","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T08:10:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/467413\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T08:10:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T08:10:19","slug":"he-wanted-to-knock-it-down-but-now-gary-neville-wants-to-install-a-massive-glass-skybridge-at-the-sir-ralph-abercromby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/467413\/","title":{"rendered":"He wanted to knock it down, but now Gary Neville wants to install a massive glass skybridge at the Sir Ralph Abercromby"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The revamp will create a glass walkway from the 19th century boozer to 21st century skyscraper<\/p>\n<p>19:47, 09 Mar 2026Updated 20:13, 09 Mar 2026<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2_DB_MEN_070621pub_06jpeg.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Sir Ralph Abercromby pub, Bootle Street, Manchester, one of Manchester's oldest pubs dating back to 1811\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Sir Ralph Abercromby pub, Bootle Street, Manchester, one of Manchester&#8217;s oldest pubs dating back to 1811(Image: MEN)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Gary Neville has committed to restoring Manchester\u2019s only pub which witnessed the Peterloo massacre \u2014 a decade after he tried to demolish it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Sir Ralph Abercromby is still in the same spot as the day of the 1819 disaster, when cavalry charged at protesters and killed 18, injuring hundreds. Some of the wounded from St Peter\u2019s Field were treated in the pub, which is commemorated by a mural inside the boozer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">But its storied history looked seriously under threat in 2014, when <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk\/all-about\/gary-neville\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Gary Neville<\/a> announced plans to redevelop the site, land next door, and former Bootle Street police station with towers and a public plaza under his \u00a3400m \u2018St Michael\u2019s\u2019 project. The plan was met with uproar by regulars, heritage groups, and CAMRA which organised a petition against the move that attracted 3,500 signatures.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Get MEN Premium now for just \u00a31 <a aria-label=\"HERELink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk\/subscribe\/\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">HERE<\/a> \u2013 or get involved in our WhatsApp group by clicking <a aria-label=\"HERELink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/I185InYeKqOLydUg3TjGzw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">HERE<\/a>. And don&#8217;t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters <a aria-label=\"HERE.Link opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk\/newsletter-preference-centre\/?utm_source=newslettersignupheader\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">HERE.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Campaigners <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk\/news\/greater-manchester-news\/only-way-save-sir-ralph-11753462\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">even tried to move the Abercromby<\/a> brick-by-brick in 2016, but the move never came to fruition because United legend Neville<a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk\/news\/greater-manchester-news\/sir-ralph-abercromby-pub-saved-13316813\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\"> abandoned his original \u2018flawed\u2019 proposals in 2017.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The redesign kept the pub and created a public square sandwiched between two skyscrapers. The first, No. 1 St Michael\u2019s, opened last summer as a 41-storey office block with restaurants and coffee shops.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Taller No. 2 St Michael\u2019s is currently under construction, with the 43-storey tower set to be home for an ultra-luxury W Hotel and W Residences apartments. Now, Neville\u2019s Relentless Developments has unveiled its plans for the pub next door.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"View from above of Gary Neville's proposed St Michael's development on Jackson's Row\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1_St-Michaels.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"View from above of Gary Neville's proposed St Michael's development on Jackson's Row\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">View from above of Gary Neville&#8217;s proposed St Michael&#8217;s development on Jackson&#8217;s Row(Image: Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It will undergo \u2018a substantial refurbishment\u2019, which will \u2018retain and purpose\u2019 its \u2018strategic features\u2019 including \u2018the retention and refurbishment of window frames, brickwork and external doors where feasible, or replacements in keeping with the original elements\u2019.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Intriguingly, a glass walkway will connect the 19th century pub to 21st century hotel skyscraper, in a move Neville said will \u2018enhance\u2019 \u2018one of Manchester\u2019s most treasured pubs\u2019.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The United legend announced: \u201cThe Sir Ralph Abercromby is one of Manchester\u2019s most treasured pubs and an important part of the city\u2019s social fabric. A big part of our ambition for St Michael\u2019s has been to celebrate Manchester\u2019s heritage and restoring this iconic building is central to that vision.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cOur proposals carefully retain and enhance the features that give the pub its character while sensitively integrating it into the wider St Michael\u2019s scheme. We\u2019re proud the pub has been able to remain open throughout construction and this next phase will secure its future for generations to come \u2013 ensuring it continues to serve the community while sitting confidently alongside a truly world-class development.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Relentless submitted a planning application to Manchester council on Friday afternoon (March 6), which is still yet to be processed, the Local Democracy Reporting Service understands. Should it be approved, construction should commence in the coming months ahead of a planned completion in summer 2027.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The revamp will create a glass walkway from the 19th century boozer to 21st century skyscraper 19:47, 09&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":467414,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[84,33718,59,2951,3531,4037,229,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-467413","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-gary-neville","10":"tag-gb","11":"tag-manchester-city-centre","12":"tag-manchester-council","13":"tag-manchester-development","14":"tag-politics","15":"tag-uk","16":"tag-united-kingdom","17":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/467413","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=467413"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/467413\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/467414"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=467413"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=467413"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=467413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}