City centre bar launched by ex-Manchester Utd stars closes after less than a year

Manchester city centre bar Mahiki – the tiki brand brought to the city by former Man United stars Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs – has closed less than a year after opening.

Ex-Manchester United star-turned-property-mogul Neville signed a 20-year lease on a building in the historic Albert Estate in 2016 to launch the bar.

Neville and Giggs’ GG Hospitality helped open the brand in Manchester but stepped away from its management shortly after.

The club featured Mahiki’s staple tiki décor , signature cocktails, which Neville said “bring a little piece of “paradise” to the heart of Manchester.

At the time of the launch Neville said: “I think this city turns its back on things that are pretentious, and Mahiki is nothing like that, in fact it is the very opposite of pretentious.”

Mahiki first opened its doors on Dover Street in London in 2006.

Earlier this month, it was announced that Michelin starred chef Michael O’Hare is to part company with Neville and Giggs’ hospitality firm.

Michael O’Hare announced he is to step down from his role as creative director for GG Hospitality.

The chef has said he wants to concentrate on his Michelin starred restaurant The Man Behind the Curtain in Leeds.

O’Hare has been with GG Hospitality for the last two years and he opened The Rabbit in The Moon in the Urbis building in central Manchester.

The GG Hospitality brand includes three UK Café Football sites, the 133-bedroom Hotel Football Old Trafford, and GG Events and Catering.

Singapore based Rowsley acquired a 75% share-holding in GG Hospitality in 2015, with Neville and Giggs retaining a minority stake.

Giggs and Neville are planning to open their second hotel in Manchester hotel later this year.

Work has already started on a 40-bedroomed boutique hotel in the former Stock Exchange building.

Mahiki Manchester has been approached for comment.