Spaces arrival confirms Tea Factory’s revival
New Regus brand Spaces, aimed at creative industry occupiers, has agreed to lease 10,300 sq ft in Urban Splash’s Tea Factory in the Ropewalks area of Liverpool.
Spaces was founded in Amsterdam a decade ago and acquired in spring 2015 by Regus as part of its multi-brand strategy to appeal to cooler businesses. Spaces Liverpool is due to open next January. It will occupy the second and third floors of the 64,000 sq ft Tea Factory. Spaces said the open-plan design with 120 workstations will be aimed at encouraging community and shared ideas. There will also be private meeting rooms and cellular offices.
Typical Spaces interior
Spaces’ UK expansion has so far seen it open in London’s Oxford street and it is due to open in Glasgow and Gerrards Cross, South Bucks later this year. Internationally, the company has a presence in the Netherlands, USA and Australia and is due to open in Mexico, Japan and Singapore this autumn.
Martijn Roordink, co-founder of Spaces, said: “By providing social and inspirational environments with a real focus on community, Spaces is redefining what it means to be ‘at work’.
“Liverpool is a dynamic, world-class city where culture, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit thrive and the site is a perfect fit for the Ropewalks area, with its design-led, urban village atmosphere. Spaces gives members the opportunity to work alongside and meet fellow professionals who believe in the power of a collaborative approach to ideas generation and business growth.”
Spaces said it will host a regular programme of business and networking events.
Urban Splash completed the renovation of Tea Factory in 2000 and it became a popular office at the heart of the regenerated Ropewalks district. From its peak the building’s fortunes fell sharply as companies including design agency Liquid, the NHS and architecture organisation RIBA relocated to Baltic, Mann Island and elsewhere in the city centre, leaving the building almost empty two years ago. Splash has since refurbished Tea Factory, adding new communal breakout spaces and has completed a series of lettings in the past 12 months including 4,000 sq ft to nightclub giant Cream following its departure from Wolstenholme Square ahead of Eliot Group’s development there. Tea Factory is now 86% occupied.
Hitchcock Wright & Partners and CBRE are the letting agents. CBRE advises Regus globally.
