Manchester's top luxury hotels have ALL been booked out in unprecendented mass bookings for the big Chanel fashion show that is heading to the city for the first time in December. Work is already underway in the Northern Quarter to transform Thomas Street into what appears to be an extraordinary outdoor catwalk for Chanel.

And the MEN has learned that all of Manchester's five star hotels are completely booked out on the night of December 7 - when Chanel's Métiers d'Art runway show will take place in the city centre. The evening before on December 6 has also seen hotels block booked.

The prestigious fashion show is set to draw style experts, A list celebrities. models and VIP guests from across the world in what is set to be a huge boost for the local economy in December.

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The event from the French luxury fashion house is shrouded in secrecy. Chanel bosses have not publicly commented about their plans aside from confirming December 7 as the date and Manchester city centre as the location for the Métiers d'Art show.

Many businesses involved in the event in Manchester say they have signed Non Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) agreeing not to talk about it, including top hotels that have been booked out for VIPs connected to the catwalk extravaganza.

But the MEN has learned that hotels including the five starred Radisson Blu Edwardian, Stock Exchange Hotel, Hotel Gotham and The Lowry Hotel in Salford are completely booked for December 6 and 7. As are the four star deluxe Dakota, Kimpton Clocktower and King Street Town House hotels in the city centre.

Booking.com shows a red message saying: "This property has no availability on our site from December 6 - 8" for almost all of the hotels mentioned above.

A hotel insider has told the MEN: "It has been quite extraordinary. Chanel has booked out the city centre's best hotels, and on December 6 and 7 any rooms that are still available are selling at a premium."

The insider added that many rooms have been booked under pseudonyms to protect guests's privacy. It suggests major A list stars are preparing to head to Manchester for the Chanel runway show, considered one of the most prestigious on the fashion calendar.

Adrian Ellis is the general manager of Salford's five star Lowry Hotel and is also chairman of the Manchester Hotels' Association. He says Chanel coming to the city is a "huge boost" for the hospitality sector.

He told the MEN: "We are very pleased to see Chanel take out not only our hotel but also a number of other hotel beds during the course of their programme in the city.

"It's great for the whole city, it's fantastic news. On behalf of the Manchester Hotel Association we are really pleased to see Chanel being in the city in December and taking over several properties, several bedrooms over a couple of days.

"The key date is the 7th and we are very pleased to see them here and very grateful for their business and the opportunity to expose Manchester in the best light."

Single hotels have been block-booked in the past for big stars, including most recently when Madonna block booked the Stock Exchange in Manchester in October for a week to rehearse in the city. Taylor Swift famously booked out The Lowry Hotel when she performed here back in 2018.

But Lowry manager Adrian said it was unusual for one brand to take out so many top hotels in one swoop. He said: "You do get bigger events that block book hotels, especially if it's something like a conference at Manchester Central they'll block several hotels for their delegates coming in. So it's not the first time it's happened, but it's the first time someone like Chanel has taken up several hotels with a lot of accommodation like this.

"It's really positive that they're using the city to conduct their business in December, at a time when we all benefit the most from the extra business.

"The city's hotels are all quite busy on the food and drink side with restaurants and banqueting for Christmas parties. But on the hotel occupancy side December tends to be a slightly softer month, so it's great timing for all of us.

"And it's shining a positive light on the city which is great news for the city and all the hoteliers."

Works are continuing at pace along Thomas Street in the Northern Quarter. Huge metal structures are being put in place to "frame" the street known for its weavers cottages and historic warehouses.

Transparent sheets are being placed on top to presumably weather proof what they have planned along the street. The huge works will see the road closed off for almost a month.

The Chanel Métiers d'Art show is an annual event to celebrate the artisinal houses that contribute to fashion. And it's thought the Northern Quarter has been chosen to host the prestigious event due to its links to the Industrial Revolution and the city's "rag trade".

The Chanel show pays tribute to the artisanal skills of the 600 embroiderers, feather workers, goldsmiths, shoemakers, milliners, glove makers, tanners and leatherworkers who work in Chanel's Paris headquarters. Last year the Métiers d'Art took place in Dakar, Senegal for the first time.

A listers in attendance on that occasion included supermodel Naomi Campbell, music star Pharrell Williams and Princess Caroline of Monaco.