The striking suite

Among the seven premium suites introduced at the expanded four-star Hilton Garden Inn in Manchester is The Farokh Engineer Suite. These suites on the top floor have been named in honor of "Lancashire legends,” past and present, who have made a name in the sports field winning nearly 1,200 international caps. Each suite, designed after consulting the player, has a unique look and feel in honor of the cricketer whose name adorns the entrance.

"Lancashire Cricket have bestowed on me the greatest honor by not only specially building an executive suite in my name with enlarged photographs of my playing days, etc in the Hilton Garden hotel which is part of the world famous Old Trafford Ground and Stadium, they have also named a new stand in my name for posterity... I’ve had many great honors come my way but... (this) would certainly be very high up on the list,” remarked Engineer when Parsiana sought his inputs. To be officially elected as one of the "Greatest Lancashire Legends,” Engineer considers "a truly humbling experience... A huge honor indeed for me; my family; my Parsi Zoroastrian roots (I say my kusti prayers every day to Ahura Mazda) and my wonderful parents who sacrificed their lives for us.”

Clockwise from top l: glimpses of The Farokh Engineer Suite

at the Hilton Garden Inn; Sir Clive Lloyd, Paul Allot,

Farokh Engineer and James Anderson

The new premises were officially launched on November 13, 2023 by Lancashire and England’s outstanding bowler James Anderson. Besides Engineer, the 120 special guests invited to the event included a number of high profile former and current Lancashire and England players, Club partners, and business representatives from the wider Trafford and Greater Manchester area.

"Welcome to my suite… I hope you like it because I do,” smiles Engineer in a video where the viewer gets a chance to see the two-room suite. The room with twin beds has three framed close-up photos of Engineer in his prime days as a wicket keeper and batsman. Yet another large image of Engineer dominates one wall in the living room that is covered with wallpaper showing Engineer at the pitch, bat in hand.

Another wall has framed images of statistics proving Engineer’s outstanding performance: 329 Lancashire appearances (175 first class and 154 List A), 8,785 runs for Lancashire, 1,968 times awarded Lancashire cap. Additionally 51 India appearances (46 Tests and five one-day international matches), 2,725 runs for India, 16,444 career runs. Each room has one giant sized television to enjoy a game from the comfort of the Suite, numbered 577. The Suite overlooks Emirates Old Trafford. Tapping the fridge, the portly Engineer announced, "I can keep my beer in here.” Equally happy was he with the coffee machine. He ended the virtual tour offering "Scotch or champagne?”

The other six suites have been named in honor of cricketers Wasim Akram, Michael Atherton, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone, Neil Fairbrother and Sir Clive Lloyd. Along with the top floor of suites, the new extension has increased the overall capacity of Hilton Garden Inn to 250 premium bedrooms. The inaugural event in November saw the unveiling of a plaque to recognize the completion of the new facility, the culmination of a £75 million (Rs 789.18 crore) investment over 15 years that has transformed the stadium into one of the leading multi-purpose venues in the world, notes the hotel website.