Heaton Group to launch £3m competitive socialising at Cotton Works

Around 15,000 sq ft on the ground floor of a former 19th-century mill at the Eckersley Mill complex will be converted into a “large-scale social playground”, according to the developer.

Heaton Group has announced that Factory Floor will open at its Cotton Works development this spring following a £3m investment to transform the space, once home to around 1,700 cotton looms.

The competitive socialising complex will offer darts, shuffleboard, pool, karaoke, skee ball, basketball and beer pong, alongside retro arcade machines around a central bar, the developer said.

In 2024, Wigan Council approved plans for a 15,000 sq ft food hall in the space. That is still the vision long-term, with the venue expected to “evolve into a food hall-style venue, with selected games making way for independent food traders” over time.

In the meantime, food at Factory Floor will be provided by the team behind Super Fry Guys, a familiar name to visitors of Cotton Works’ Feast at the Mills, which will deliver a new concept to feed hungry competitive socialisers.

Once complete, Factory Floor will accommodate around 350 guests.

John Heaton, managing director of The Heaton Group, explained: “Factory Floor is all about bringing people together for shared experiences in a setting that feels both exciting and rooted in Wigan’s history. Eckersley Mill has an incredible story, and we’re proud to be part of its next chapter.

“This investment allows us to create something completely new for the town; a place where you can play, eat, drink and celebrate under one roof, from daytime socials through to late-night parties. The Cotton Works is already building a strong community, and Factory Floor will add another major layer to that, strengthening it as a destination venue in the North West.”

Cotton Works is one of the largest brownfield regeneration sites in the North West under single ownership. It was awarded £25m in the first round of allocations for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Good Growth Fund.

Once complete, Cotton Works will provide 80,000 sq ft of workspace, and more than 800 apartments in converted mills and new-build blocks.