GALLERY | Printworks revamp revealed
A range of images detailing the £9m refurbishment of Manchester’s Printworks have been revealed as part of a planning application submitted to Manchester City Council.
This refurbishment of the 385,000 sq ft leisure complex in Manchester city centre would be the first major investment in the site since it launched 20 years ago.
DTZ bought the Printworks in 2017 for £108m from Land Securities. The multi-let building includes a Vue cinema, Wagamama, Wetherspoons, Eden, and Hard Rock Cafe.
The revamp includes work on the historic facade, as well as the addition of digital signage, and improved lighting around its three entrances.
As part of the venue’s bid to increase interaction with its visitors, central to the project will be a 13,000 sq ft full-span digital ceiling screen, which DTZ has said will be the largest in Europe. This will be used to control ambience, lighting and sound and display tailored content.
DTZ Investors said it plans to continue to diversify its tenant mix away from a predominantly late-night offer, “to fully reposition Printworks as the premier destination for both daytime and night-time entertainment in Manchester”.
Click any image below to launch gallery
- Plans for a £9m overhaul of the Printworks were approved in 2020. Credit: via planning documents
Very smart!. The frontage looks less messy now, with brand signage put around the top of the building. But personally, I would love to see the return of the big neon Hard Rock Cafe guitar that use to be on the outside of the Printworks building. It could be seen on the right hand side of the main entrance, taken down a few years ago during a signage revamp, and never returned. In my opinion, it would look better than before with the clutter of brand signage moved up top.
By Phil
All it looks like they’re doing is stripping the advertising from the building. I don’t see any real changes. It’s a bit like taking all the signs down from Piccidilliy Circus and saying… hey, so much better. I don’t know. Manchester is quite a dark city at night compared to others… the phrase, “heading to the bright lights of the city” don’t really mean much for Manchester and redusing the bright lights is not going to help. Anyway, if it is cleaned up a bit, that would be positive. I wonder what it will look like inside?
By EOD
Omg it is unrecognisable!!!!
By Jasper
Phil – The guitar was removed when the Hard Rock Casino closed down years ago. They are not going to advertise a business which isn’t in there anymore.
Very boring plans to be honest…so basically a bit of a clean and some new LED signs…..great!
By Steve
Thanks Steve for your comments. True. The Hard Rock Casino has closed down but the Hard Rock Cafe is still open. So the big Guitar that was removed some years ago could be returned to the facade to advertise the Cafe. And give the the facade a bit more life and colour too.
By POhil
The guitar was there years after the Casino. The Hard Rock Cafe here though is one of the worst in the world
By Dan