Soho House / Mollie’s Motel, Manchester
Craftmanship and technical expertise across timber, screed, resin and carpet installations within a landmark Manchester development.
Objective
Our work at Mollie’s and Soho House Manchester formed part of a series of carefully designed interiors where material choice, atmosphere and attention to detail play a defining role in the finished space.
Located on the historic site of the former Granada Studios, Soho House Manchester brings new life to a building steeped in creative heritage, while Mollie’s introduces its own distinctive character within the development. Across both projects, the flooring package needed to support the design intent while delivering the durability required for spaces that are used and enjoyed throughout the day and evening.
Our teams delivered a comprehensive flooring and specialist package across guest areas, circulation spaces and back of house environments, combining detailed timber installations with precision screed and resin works.
Screed
Screed works were undertaken to prepare the existing structure for the new floor finishes throughout the development.
Our specialist team installed flowing screed systems to achieve the required floor levels and ensure smooth transitions between the various flooring materials used across the buildings. A screed product capable of being installed between 0 mm and 50 mm in depth was selected, allowing the team to accommodate variations within the existing structure while achieving fine tolerances to SR1 standard.
Precision setting out was particularly important in areas where fixed furniture and architectural elements were being installed, ensuring the finished floor levels aligned accurately throughout the spaces.
One of the more distinctive elements of the project involved screed installation to the rooftop pool surround. A slurry bonded polymer screed was laid between 50 mm and 100 mm in thickness with carefully formed envelope falls designed to align with the tiling joints. Cross falls were created to ensure surface water was directed effectively towards the drainage system.
The works presented several logistical challenges. Materials had to be crane lifted onto the roof before being mixed locally and placed within a restricted working area shared with other trades.
Resin
Durable resin coatings were installed to back of house staircases, providing a robust and slip resistant finish suited to service areas with high levels of use.
These works were carried out within a live environment, requiring careful planning and coordination. Access to the staircases had to be programmed outside of normal hours to minimise disruption to the building.
Timber
Timber played an important role in shaping several of the interiors across the development.
At Mollie’s, reclaimed oak was installed in a traditional herringbone pattern within Studio IV on the lower ground floor. Once laid, the floor was hand sanded, stained and oiled on site to achieve the final finish.
At Soho House Manchester, reclaimed oak panels were installed and similarly hand finished on site. On site finishing allowed the tone and appearance of the timber to be carefully refined to complement the surrounding interior palette. Within bedroom areas, Havwoods engineered timber flooring was installed over acoustic matting and a 22 mm tongue and groove plywood subfloor system, supporting acoustic performance while delivering a durable and high quality finish.
Additional
Alongside the timber installations, a range of other floor finishes were delivered across the buildings.
Axminster carpet was inset within a timber border along the Level 6 corridor, requiring precise detailing to achieve clean transitions between materials. Carpets were installed throughout circulation areas, while vinyl flooring was applied to staircases and back of house spaces where durability and ease of maintenance were key considerations.
Logo entrance matting was installed at key access points, contributing to the overall presentation of the entrances.
Results
The completed flooring installations contribute to interiors where material quality, detail and performance are equally important. From reclaimed timber installations and detailed carpet insets to specialist screed works and robust service area finishes, the project demonstrates the breadth of flooring solutions our teams are able to deliver.
Through careful planning, precise installation and close coordination with the wider project team, the flooring package supports spaces designed to be both visually distinctive and highly functional.
