Published: March 16, 2023

Everything except a beach? 8 venues transforming Manchester

Written by Amber Furr
Therme Manchester

Gaining global recognition for its food, culture and lifestyle offering, Manchester is ranking among international cities such as New York, Barcelona, and Melbourne as a top travel destination for 2023. Recently acclaimed by heavy hitters – National GeographicLonely Planet, and TimeOut, Manchester exceeds its hard-earned reputation as the Capital of the North and stands independently of London’s shadow.

Building on a proud legacy of world-class musicians, entrepreneurs and people that changed the world, Manchester continues to innovate in the arts, culture and lifestyle space. As Ian Brown, lead singer of Manchester-bred band The Stone Roses famously said, “Manchester has everything except a beach.” A few decades later and sandy footprints are coming for the northern city, which has just announced an all-season urban beach starting construction this year and set to open in 2025 .

Another string to Manchester’s bow of world-class attractions, the beach is a larger-than-life symbol of the city’s limitless potential. Here are 8 game-changing venue openings attracting people to live and work in Manchester in 2023.

1. Therme Manchester

Therme Manchester

You read it right. Therme wellbeing resort will bring an all-season beach to Trafford City, as well as a ‘next generation’ waterpark, thermal bath and wellness spa. The resort will adopt the very latest technology to deliver an urban oasis, prioritising sustainability and wellbeing to create an ‘integrated experience to benefit physical and mental health.’ Opening in 2025.

2. Soho House

Soho House

The global private members’ club founded in London has chosen Manchester as its next landmark destination, making it the first Soho House in the North of England. Renowned for modern-classic interior design, understated doorway entrances, and ‘if you know you know’ member-only culture, Soho House is a huge deal for Manchester’s emerging luxury scene, just a stone’s throw from the highly acclaimed Spinningfields.

A sign of the growing appetite for luxury living in Manchester, the announcement will come as welcome news for young professionals or creatives considering Manchester as their next move. Aptly located in the former Granada television studios, Soho House draws on Manchester’s creative legacy to create an intimate hangout for people to inspire and be inspired.

3. Factory International

Factory International

This world-class cultural and arts venue will transform Manchester into a global centre for arts and culture. Costing £211m, the venue is set to “reshape the city’s cultural output and standing, while hoping to attract 850,000 people a year to the city and bring in £1.1bn to the economy over a decade.”

Also located on the site of the former Granada Studios, the venue will be home to a 2,200-seat theatre, a concert venue with a capacity of 5,000 people and international exhibition space enabling large-scale artistic work to premier in Manchester before travelling the world. Now to be the permanent home of Manchester International Festival starting on 30th June 2023, Factory’s opening is a huge deal for Manchester’s residents and tourists.

4. Re-opening of Manchester Museum

Re-opening of Manchester Museum

Cited by Lonely Planet and National Geographic as a key driver for Manchester’s international recognition this year, the re-opening of Manchester Museum has elevated the city’s position as a centre for history and culture.

Although the museum is home to relics of the past, according to Esme Ward, Director of the Museum, the re-opening signifies new beginnings for Manchester. The centre closed in August 2021 for an ambitious £15m transformation, with a new mission to be ‘more inclusive, caring and imaginative.’ Achieving that mission, the free exhibitions appeal to a diverse audience, and include the ‘Golden Mummies of Egypt’, ‘Lee Kai Hung Chinese Culture Gallery’ and an already iconic new dinosaur display.

5. The Alberton offices

The Alberton offices

Supporting Manchester’s wider mission to be a city for live, work, and play, landmark offices with a rooftop pool have been approved near the Lowry hotel. Embracing the modern-day approach to flexible working, the development will revolutionise the workplace, featuring a ‘holistic wellness centre’ at rooftop level, including a swimming pool, a hydrotherapy vitality pool, a state-of-the-art gym, treatment rooms, fitness studio, yoga terrace, physio room, and changing and shower facilities.

This level of amenity will help employers offer a first-class working environment, encouraging a return to the workplace while still promoting a healthy work-life balance. Drawing on Manchester’s industrial history, The Alberton will occupy the site of the first Manchester Gas Works – a full-circle moment for Manchester’s thriving job market.

6. Mayfield Park

Mayfield Park

Another key driver for Manchester’s many accolades in 2022-23, Mayfield Park is Manchester’s first city centre public park. An ‘urban square with a buzz of activities’, Mayfield Park boasts biodiverse ecological areas, open greens for lawn sport, floodable meadows, adventure play areas and quieter spaces for escape and contemplation.

“Mayfield Park is the heart of this new urban neighbourhood and people’s wellbeing is a top priority. To keep the park clean, well maintained, curated, impressive and secure 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, it will be a privately managed estate under single private ownership.”

7. Hamilton the musical

Hamilton the musical

Although this isn’t a venue opening, it deserved a mention. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s multi award-winning cultural phenomenon, Hamilton, is coming to Manchester Palace Theatre later this year from November-February.

Released on Disney+ in 2020, Hamilton is the story of America’s Founding Father, Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the Caribbean who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War starting in 1776. The first-of-its-kind musical blends hip-hop, rap, jazz, R&B and Broadway – the story of America then, as told by America now.

8. DIECAST MCR

DIECAST MCR

A new creative neighbourhood from the team behind Manchester’s iconic food, drink and entertainment hotspots, Ramona and The Firehouse, DIECAST MCR will take over Manchester’s largest factory and metalworks to create ‘one of the most exciting destinations on the planet’ – opening in summer 2023.

The former 250,000 square foot factory dates back to 1870, celebrating Manchester’s industrial history by regenerating unused Brownfield sites to create exciting, new communities to drive the city’s core strengths of creativity and innovation.

Given all the exciting places attracting more people to live and work in Manchester than ever before, it’s no surprise that the city is topping the growth forecasts for rental and house price growth over the next five years.

To find out about our most iconic Manchester development to date, One Port Street, get in touch with a property expert today.

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