Allied adds gin distillery and bars to Bonded Warehouse

Allied London will introduce a gin distillery, a craft brewery, a fitness studio, a restaurant, and a coffee shop at the Bonded Warehouse at St John’s in place of previously-consented offices as it prepares to open the building later this year.

The developer has submitted a change-of-use application to flip some of the 128,000 sq ft office to café, restaurant, retail, industrial, and leisure uses, primarily on the ground, first, and second floor.

Allied London plans to switch around 4,480 sq ft at level one, which occupies a series of arches, to a gin distillery and bar, including a stilling room, a sampling room, and a “speakeasy-style” tasting bar. Allied said visitors would be “encouraged to book in advance to encourage a managed and curated experience”.

A further 2,040 sq ft at level one has been earmarked for a gym and fitness suite, and a smaller unit on level one will be given over to a design workshop.

On level two, 6,240 sq ft has been earmarked for café and restaurant use, split between a restaurant and a coffee roastery, with a further unit of 2,150 sq ft set aside as a craft brewery with a tap room and shop, all accessed via Grape Street.

There will also be a smaller unit of 840 sq ft given over to café, restaurant, or shop use on level three. Access to the building comes via level two to the north of the site, while the main reception to the office space will be from the building’s south side on level three.

Allied said it had tenants lined up for each of the units and is proposing the restaurants and bars will be open between 7am and 1am between Monday and Saturday, and 7am and 11pm on Sundays and bank holidays.

The developer said the change of use would “promote activity throughout the day and evening, helping to create a vibrant new neighbourhood within the city centre”.

In a statement to Place North West, an Allied London spokesperson added:“The Bonded Warehouse presents an amazing opportunity to create a truly mixed-used experience at the heart of St. John’s.

“Its rich industrial past and heritage will provide a platform for modern industry as part of Enterprise City.

“Allied London are developing unique spaces for creative, tech and digital businesses; the diversity of the Bonded Warehouse inventory will greatly enhance the Enterprise City offering and create a vibrant destination for Manchester.”

OBI is the retained agent for the office space at Bonded Warehouse, which is primarily co-working space. Level four includes nine office units ranging between 1,000 sq ft and 2,500 sq ft, while the majority if level three is dedicated to office space.

Levels five and six are also both given over to office use.