Inside Gary Neville's 'luxury' Manchester squat

Updated
Inside Gary Neville's 'Luxury' Manchester Squat
Inside Gary Neville's 'Luxury' Manchester Squat


What used to be Manchester's Stock Exchange has suddenly become one of the most famous squats in the UK, all thanks to former footballers, Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs.

The footballers, who both used to play for Manchester United, own the building and have agreed to let the squatters stay and spend the winter there.

One of the squat's residents said: "When we got the phone call off Gary, saying that we were allowed to stay here, it was buzzing. Unbelievable, I wouldn't know how to describe it. Best feeling ever."

Another said: "We look after the place, definitely, because we don't want to lose it!"

Nathan Newman is one of the group's leaders, and agreed to grant the The Guardian exclusive access inside the building.

He said: "It's not a utopia, this isn't the end of homelessness. This is simply a short-term solution to which so many people are coming together to try and create solutions to the wider picture."

Wesley Hall, another squatter, said: "I researched 12 or 13 buildings in Manchester that were Grade II listed buildings that were empty and this was the second one that we were going to."

He explained that the recent media circus around the building and it's occupants can be used positively to raise awareness and do something good.

The video shows the bathrooms, community hub, kitchen and even a small library at the far end of one of the rooms.

Nathan Newman said: "The key is that this place is a breathing space for people who are having difficulties and who want to try and do something about their situation."

The footage also shows some of the smaller rooms in the building where televisions, DVD players and a number of other amenities have been donated to the squatters.

But, just a few hundred metres away, another sort of homeless settlement has appeared in the middle of one of the city's shopping centres.

One man said: "There's about 80% more homeless this year than there was last year. We're stuck in a dead end circle."

The people living in this area believe they would have more chance of getting help if they could also live in the former stock exchange.

Hall speaks of wanting to begin support programs for between 10 and 20 people at a time, helping them get back on their feet and into housing before starting on another set of people.

The footage ends with another of the squatters speaking about his experience in the building, saying: "This is like a dream come true, this is like a mansion. Everyone would love to live in a place like this."


Giggs and Neville Allow Hotel Squatters to Stay
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