The new George Best Hotel in Belfast is preparing for its December opening with the recent acquisition of a number of the player's rare and unseen personal items.

George Best Hotel's General Manager Damian Gilvary and Head of Sales Gareth Milligan met with George's sister and brother-in-law Barbara and Norman McNarry to secure unique memorabilia of the Northern Ireland and Manchester United legend.

The new £15 million hotel will house a collection including a bespoke painting of George Best, a Northern Ireland jersey - signed at his funeral by Sir Alex Ferguson, Eamon Holmes, Alex Higgins and many others - the very first George Best Ulster Bank £5 note, pieces of his most famous clothing, his personal book collection, awards, diaries, trophies, and unseen photos.

Damian Gilvary said: "It was a very surreal and amazing experience to see all of these incredible items that Barbara and Norman have agreed to share with the hotel and guests. It was very overwhelming to meet the people who knew George so well and being able to discuss and touch George's personal effects, possessions, clothes and diaries. This just merely enhances the exciting prospect and vision of what the George Best Hotel will be, simply the best."

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Whilst the Belfast City airport was named in George Best's honour, the new hotel in Donegall Square will be the only place in Northern Ireland showcasing his own personal memorabilia.   

Mr Gilvary added: "George Best was the David Beckham of his day. Even back then he was a worldwide brand that defined the celebrity status of a footballer renowned for his good looks, sense of fashion and style. But most of all he left a legacy in football that will never be forgotten, even Pelé described him as 'the greatest player in the world'.

The project is a joint venture between Lawrence and Katie Kenwright's Liverpool based award winning Signature Living Hotel Group and the family of George Best.

The development of the listed former Scottish Mutual building will be the first of four hotels and an £80 million pound investment into Belfast by Signature Living. The substantial investment into the City includes the £25 million redevelopment of the historic Crumlin Road Court House to create a 150 bedroom hotel along with the Waring Hotel, the former War Memorial Building on Waring Street. 

The George Best Hotel opens phase one of its development in December 2018.  

(CM/MH)