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The site will be Boxpark's fourth in total. Credit: via Carousel

Boxpark picks Liverpool for first site outside London 

Due to open in late 2023, the 16,000 sq ft leisure complex will be located in the historic Canning Hall, part of the Cains Brewery Village estate. 

Boxpark, which operates from three locations in London, has signed a 15-year lease on the Liverpool site, which will be transformed into an all-day dining and entertainment venue through a £3.5m investment. 

“We are thrilled to announce such a fantastic location for our next Boxpark venture,” said Boxpark chief executive Simon Champion. 

“Our team has searched extensively for sites in Liverpool since 2016, having considered multiple locations across the city but we believe the Cains Brewery Village is perfect for this scheme.” 

Boxpark Liverpool will feature a food hall and a large internal space with units set over the ground floor, a small internal mezzanine, and a 5,430 sq ft external terrace for al fresco dining. 

The complex will accommodate 400 internal covers plus 200 external covers and feature 10 kitchen units, three internal bars with additional external bars.  

Boxpark’s decision to plump for Liverpool ahead of other regional cities is a “perfect illustration of the city’s significant appeal to investors”, according to Cllr Sarah Doyle, Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for development and economy. 

“The news that Boxpark is setting up its first non-London operation in Liverpool is exciting…[it] will be a strong, high-profile addition to the Liverpool dining and leisure scene.” 

Earlier this year, Liverpool City Council refused planning permission for a similar scheme put forward by Baltic Entertainment. 

The developer proposed building an 18,000 sq ft leisure venue out of shipping containers within the Cains Brewery Complex. 

The scheme was refused due to the city council’s concerns about the impact it would have on highways. 

Cains Brewery Village managing director Harj Dusanj added: “We are incredibly excited to be welcoming the first Boxpark-branded venture outside London to Cains Brewery Village. 

“Boxpark shares our passion and enthusiasm to showcase the best independent street-food businesses in the heart of Liverpool’s creative quarter.” 

Property and regeneration consultancy AspinallVerdi advised Cains Brewery Village on the deal.

Andy Delaney, director and head of AspinallVerdi’s Liverpool office, said: “As a long-standing advisor on this outstanding site, I’m genuinely delighted that Boxpark chose Cains as the location for its first branded Boxpark outside of London.

“Its ground-breaking pop-up mall in Shoreditch was one of the key inspirations behind the regeneration of the former brewery and I’m sure the two organisations will create something even more special at this unique location.”

Place North West reported in July 2021 that Boxpark was in talks with Allied London over a site within the developer’s Enterprise City development. 

However, that deal is now understood to be off the table. 

Boxpark opened its first site in Shoreditch in 2010. A further two London venues have launched in the intervening years, one in Croydon and one in Wembley. 

Your Comments

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great stuff
welcome to liverpool

By Anonymous

Fantastic welcome to Liverkewl

By Anonymous

I thought the first site announced was in Manchester

By Anonymous

A great addition,shame it won`t be ready for the Eurovision Song Contest though, also they need to speed up building the Baltic station.

By Anonymous

Good news but I think the reference to the late great MP is pushing it. It’s where the beer was literally – canned.

By LEighteen

This is good news for Liverpool of course but they are pretty much ten a penny these days

By Goodnews

Very Welcome news, known about it since a webinar with the founder of BOXPARK in the summer, he is planning another 10 or so around the country. These venues are very popular for all types of reasons, this is definitely a major boost for the leisure and hospitality sector in Liverpool, upwards and onwards and with recent other development plans being revealed Liverpool seems to be turning a very big corner:)

By Liverpolitis

Bad mistake from Allied to not house a BOXPARK at Enterprise City. Enjoy Liverpool a fantastic addition to your fantastic city! Hopefully Manchester/Salford gets one one day!

By Verticality

I too thought that they had announced a site for Manchester. Did that fall through? Anyhow, good news for Liverpool.

By Elephant

Has the Manchester one been scrapped then? It was due for St John’s

By Dave

I thought they’d announced a site in Bristol a few months back?

By Ardy

It literally says in the article “Boxpark was in talks with Allied London over a site within the developer’s Enterprise City development. However, that deal is now understood to be off the table.”, but people are still questioning it.

By Read

Bit sad that folk are getting excited about a London brand name hosting a food hall – there’s plenty of evidence in the NW that we can manage our own very nicely! Duke Street, the GPO, Mackie Mayor, Alty Market…

We don’t need to be anointed by exports from Croydon and Wembley to have a decent food and drink offering (or even performative football-beer-throwing).

By Northern Powerhouse

Plenty of fantastic venues in Liverpool but also great to see that this developer see’s their investment in Liverpool just LIKE Eurovision did .

By Anonymous

The Allied London Boxpark probably fell through because there are already six or seven similar places in Manchester City Centre.

By ALL

Liverpool getting the Eurovision would be great. it wasn’t go to go to Manchester, because Manchester is like London now, if it gets anything, the rest of the country shout.

By Elephant

Good news for Liverpool, Boxpark is far superior to any of the Manchester offerings

By GHD

That’s true ALL, with another under construction near Piccadilly.
Either way, decent addition for Liverpool. Thumbs up!

By Anon

@Elephant All major cities where offered to place their bid for Eurovision incl Manchester , Manchester wanted this as they did with MTV awards but the best city got it .
Liverpool outweighs Manchester in regards to these events as well as our music catalogue and the judges clearly seen that , also they need a city to showcase the UK to the rest of the world and Liverpool is a fine looking city .

By Anonymous

You keep telling yourself that anonymous 11-18…..it might rub off on the leaders over there. I know us mancs rub your noses in it with the scale of our economy and the quality of our development, none of which you can deny. But unless we all get beyond parochial thinking then our region won’t reach its full potential. We need to think about the north west and the north. I hope Eurovision goes to Liverpool cos it’s great for our region and would strengthen our brand if people could get beyond the small town mentality. Thanks

By Funny

I think the musical heritage Anonymous is pretty even. Liverpool had the Beatles and Manchester the Bee Gees and then both cities had a few moderately big bands. I think on moderately big bands, Manchester has the edge. I hope Liverpool gets it and as you say, a great waterfront for the opening shots.

By Elephant

Hey folks! Going forward, let’s keep the discussion on Boxpark and leave Eurovision and music heritage debates for another day. – Julia

By Julia Hatmaker

Get a local brewery involved!

By Disgruntled Goat

Boxpark wanted to occupy the current , surface car park at the front of Baltic Market but got refused by LCC, that is a really prominent site which surely shouldn`t remain like that, maybe a developer is eyeing it for flats ,as there is a big site next to it with construction well advanced.

By Anonymous

    Hi, the recent refusal was for a boxpark-style venue. Those plans were lodged by Baltic Entertainment. Cheers,

    By Dan Whelan

I’ll be a bit more excited when a decent sized company brings a few jobs or builds some offices here. Food is nice but let’s face it there are loads of places to eat here.

By Tom

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