Cristiano Ronaldo is set to open a luxury hotel with rooftop bar overlooking Piccadilly Gardens

In an unusual turn of events, Cristiano Ronaldo has plans to bring a brand new luxury hotel complete with rooftop bar to our very own Piccadilly Gardens.

The plan comes courtesy of a collaboration between Ronaldo and Portuguese leisure brand Pestana, with the idea to bring a ‘high end lifestyle hotel’ to overlook the Gardens, located on the corner of Piccadilly and Newton Street.

According to the Manchester Evening News, the Pestana CR7 Manchester is subject to planning permission but is scheduled to open in 2023, making it the seventh hotel from the chain branded with CR7 – named after the former Man United star’s shirt number.

Gordon Flood / Flickr

Pestana said on its website: “It couldn’t be more appropriate – after all, this is the city where Cristiano Ronaldo started his international career in Man United back in 2003 and where he first used number 7”.

The plans submitted to the council would see the Grade II-listed Halls Building at 69-75 Piccadilly redeveloped, with £27 million pumped into the development.

The empty building next door is earmarked to be demolished, with a new 11-storey tower built in its place, and across both buildings would be the new four-star hotel with 151 bedrooms. On top of that, there would also be a bar and cafe, gym and roof terrace.

Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios / Manchester City Council

The site is currently home to The Piccadilly Tavern pub, which will be refurbished as part of the plans, and is set to remain a pub with no current plans to close it, the MEN reports.

There will also be a new outdoor seating area on Newton Street, with widened pavements to accommodate this and trees planted, on top of new leisure and retails units.

The planning application adds: “Pestana are now keen to expand their brand into the regions and Manchester’s economic and regeneration context and visitor attraction presents a fantastic opportunity to establish their brand and second hotel in the UK.”

The proposed scheme is set to go before a planning committee on September 9th, after the consultation period ends.