Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs have told a group of squatters occupying their new £1.5m hotel that they can stay in the building over the winter.
The former Manchester United players are turning the old Manchester stock exchange into a plush boutique hotel, with extensive renovations set to take place over the next few months.
On Sunday, a group of homeless activists known as the Manchester Angels moved into the property after Neville told them: “From my point of view I’m quite relaxed about this.”
The chief organiser of the Manchester Angels, Wesley Hall, said that the activist group now intend to create a safe environment for homeless people where they can have a roof over their head, hot food, and health and benefits advice.
“We are going to do everything properly,” Hall told the Guardian. “We have already drawn up rotas for cooking, cleaning and staffing the gate. Everyone will be able to have their own room and each person will be able to lock their bedroom door.
“We were expecting that as soon as Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville found out that we had occupied the building that they would try to get us evicted and that we would have to look for another building.
“Having a few months during the winter to work with homeless people without the threat of eviction hanging over our heads is brilliant.”
