Major Manchester leisure scheme progresses
Hospitality company Very Inc has lodged a planning application to create a 3,000-capacity venue, featuring a beer hall and night market, at the former Presbar Diecasting Foundry on Store Street.
Very Inc, which was behind popular hospitality concepts including Alberts Schloss, Rudy’s and Ramona, is working with architect JSA Design and planning consultant Deloitte, to develop its vision for The Foundry.
The proposals would see the four-acre site transformed into a mixed-use entertainment, enterprise and cultural hub for a period of three years.
The site previously operated as an aluminium diecast factory and distribution centre until it closed last year.
The Foundry would have “a community and creative ethos, which aims to create an environment and combination of uses that will offer amenities for local residents as well as for visitors to the city,” according to a planning statement prepared by Deloitte.
Key features of the scheme include:
- Office and creative spaces for art and technology start-ups
- A beer hall selling a large variety of beers from small local breweries
- Night market – designed to be an immersive experience that includes a mixture of immersive entertainment, with circus and theatre performers and themed market stalls
- A garden featuring two shipping container bars, four pergolas, and a 1,550 sq ft tent
- A bakery
- Seven spaces for small retailers
- A gym featuring free weights, CrossFit and boot camp sessions
- Private hire function room
- 29 new electric vehicle charging points
- Improvements to Paradise Walk between Store Street and Ducie Street.
The Foundry would be split into two parts. Diecast would feature the beer hall and night market, while Diecast Studios would include the gym, and offices.
The scheme, which could create around 1,000 jobs, aims to boost the leisure provision in order to serve the area’s growing population.
The area around Great Ancoats Street and Piccadilly Basin is seeing several large residential developments come forward.
On the opposite side of Store Street, Property Alliance Group’s 500-home Oxygen was completed last year, while there is a raft of projects coming forward in the emerging Piccadilly East neighbourhood.
In addition, The Foundry site abuts Stocktons furniture shop, which fronts Great Ancoats Street and is earmarked for redevelopment into around 850 homes.
The city center is being stretched out all of the time with schemes like this. Great to see. It wont be long until it is all the way up to Etihad Campus.
By Bob
1,000 jobs? Really? Clearly not FTEs. I wish there was more scrutiny and interrogation of the often ludicrous job numbers bandied about.
By Anonymous
Where has that figure of 850 homes for the Stocktons site come from?
By Anonymous
Hi, the figure was provided by the agents marketing the site. Thanks
By Dan Whelan
The city is dead post 6pm Monday to Thursday post covid, I don’t think allowing more venues to open will help.
By Dan
Miles Platting, New Islington, Ancoats etc. are booming. Loads of money and activity being pumped in here. Bring on the HS2 station.
By Miles Platting
That’s just not true, Dan. This is a great addition the the cities busy night life
By Jim
Which city is dead after 6pm Mon-Thurs? It’s not Manchester that’s for sure.
By Anonymous
The residents of the city need amenities that aren’t commercialised / food & drink. It’s cliché, boring and depressing. Where are the actual human spaces, proper culture, art?
By AR