“Are you talkin’ to me? Are you talkin’ to me?” Well, if it’s about a new Hollywood-backed residential venture in Manchester, then yes I am.
The proposed Viadux 2 building, situated in the city’s Deansgate district, has received serious heavyweight Hollywood backing from none other than Raging Bull and The Godfather star, Robert De Niro.
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De Niro, 82, has been in the city this week to ceremonially break ground on the development in conjunction with the project’s partners, the developers Salboy, which will make it the nation’s second-tallest tower outside of London upon its slated completion in 2031.
It will also be home to the famed Nobu Hospitality group’s first branded residences in the UK – a group that the silver screen A-lister De Niro is co-founder of.
The £360 million project represents Nobu Hospitality’s ambitious expansion strategy into one of Britain’s fastest-rising metropolitan markets, yet somewhat bashfully, one the actor admitted he “didn’t know much about.”
A development demanding Hollywood stature
Standing at 76 storeys high, Viadux 2 will eclipse every UK skyscraper beyond London when it completes in 2031, becoming the country’s fourth-tallest building overall, after The Shard, 1 Undershaft, and 22 Bishopsgate – all of which are in London.
The tower positions Manchester firmly within the elite tier of European cities commanding ultra-luxury hospitality and residential propositions.
At the heart of Viadux 2 sits a 160-room Nobu hotel, alongside 452 luxury apartments marking the brand’s debut in UK residential real estate. The project is being developed by Manchester-based Salboy in partnership with Nobu Hospitality, the global lifestyle brand co-founded by De Niro, chef Nobu Matsuhisa, and producer Meir Teper.
The development represents more than architectural ambition. Salboy has threaded the city’s industrial past into the project’s DNA by situating the signature Nobu restaurant within Grade II-listed Victorian railway viaduct arches at ground level.
A visual identity embodying Manchester’s heritage
The juxtaposition of 19th-century brickwork with contemporary Japanese minimalism speaks to Manchester’s broader identity as a city reconciling heritage with forward momentum.
Residents will access an ecosystem of premium amenities: an exclusive swimming pool and spa, podium gardens with panoramic city views, a state-of-the-art gym, and priority access to Nobu dining and in-room service.
Sales of studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments are expected to launch in early 2026, with entry prices understood to start at £500,000 (US $658,000) – positioning the development firmly within Manchester’s emerging ultra-prime segment.
A city ascendant
Manchester’s luxury hospitality market has matured rapidly over the past decade, drawing blue-chip brands and Michelin-calibre dining. Nobu’s arrival – joining an ecosystem that already includes The Lowry Hotel, Hotel Gotham, and upcoming W Hotel Manchester – signals the city’s evolution from regional powerhouse to international contender.
Simon Ismail, managing director of Salboy, described Viadux 2 as “the new Manchester landmark” and emphasised the broader implications of securing Nobu’s commitment. “To entice the likes of Nobu, and all they bring in terms of quality, brand, and exposure, is enormous,” he said. “It’s the catalyst to really push on and do more in the city.”
The development also addresses housing across the spectrum. Adjacent to the 76-storey tower, a separate 23-storey building will deliver 133 affordable homes – a first for a Manchester city centre project of this scale.
Combined with the 40-storey Viadux Phase 1 tower completed in 2024, the full scheme will add nearly 1,000 new homes to central Manchester.
Design and execution
Designed by Manchester-born architects SimpsonHaugh, Viadux 2 is elevated above ground with foundations constructed beneath retained Victorian archways – a feat of structural engineering that required “vision, pioneering approach, and innovation,” according to co-founder Ian Simpson.
Construction partner Domis, which delivered Phase 1 on time and on budget, will begin work this year. The project targets completion in 2031, positioning Nobu Manchester to capture demand as the city’s professional population and global visitor base continue expanding.
For a city that built its identity on textiles, trade, and transformation, Viadux 2 represents the latest chapter in an ongoing reinvention.
Whether Manchester can sustain ultra-luxury demand at the scale Nobu and Salboy are betting on remains to be seen. But with Robert De Niro symbolically planting his flag this week, the city’s ambitions have never been clearer – nor taller.
