Coronavirus: Gary Neville offers his hotels to health workers and vows not to lay off any staff

Manchester United and England legend, Gary Neville is set to temporarily close his two Manchester hotels, allowing NHS staff free access to the rooms to sleep amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Hotel Football, located near Old Trafford, and The Stock Exchange hotel in the city centre are owned by Gary Neville and fellow Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs through their GG Hospitality group and the 49 year old Neville announced the kind act will start from Friday.

Neville has also promised staff at both hotels that no member of staff will be laid off or asked to take unpaid leave over the next few months.

He said: ‘I just wanted to update you with some news on GG Hospitality and our two hotels: Hotel Football and the Stock Exchange,’ Neville said in a Twitter video.

‘We’ll be closing both our hotels over the weekend, and in particular on Sunday. It’s obviously been a difficult time for the whole of hospitality industry and the most important thing as priority is the health of our staff and our guests.

‘We’ve taken this decision with that foremost in our minds. The second most important thing is our staff and our team members and that they retain their income over the next few months.

‘We will not be making anybody redundant or asking anybody to take unpaid leave. We’re working now on a package with our staff to ensure their income. They are our most important people and are the lifeblood of our business.

‘And the third thing is that over the last week we have been in consultation with the health services in the Greater Manchester area and particularly the Manchester University National Health Services Foundation Trust and our 176 beds will be occupied by National Health Service workers and medical professionals from Friday onwards.

‘It’s from this moment in time that I think the whole of our industry needs to show solidarity, not just for our staff in these uncertain times but obviously for those who need the accommodation most in the coming months.

‘It’s something we’re delighted to have come into agreement with. It will operate free of charge and our staff will operate the hotels as normal.

”The health workers will be able to stay there without any cost whatsoever in these next few months when they need isolation away from family members who may be affected by what’s going on.

”It’s obviously very difficult times and we hope that we can grow out of this stronger as a hotel business and beyond. But for the time being stay safe and we wish everybody all the best. he concluded