New northern hub for lifestyle entrepreneurs

By Jarod Lawley

A new home to retail and lifestyle entrepreneurship is opening in Manchester this spring, bringing successful London businesses to the north.

London Warehouse, located on Manchester’s Ducie Street, will be a new space for restaurants, fitness studios and hospitality, hosting both chic brands and unique enterprises.

The converted mill will be home to the first northern branches of Blok, an east-London workout studio, Bistrotheque, a popular restaurant from Bethnal Green, Apart-hotel chain Native and many others.

London Warehouse is the latest development in a new trend for the British retail sector, which sees a variety of boutique brands combined for an all-in-one-place customer experience.

The impressive industrial facade of London Warehouse. Image courtesy of Capital & Centric

It follows in the footsteps of Boxpark in London and Birmingham’s The Custard Factory.

Neil Brenson, account director at food and drink marketing agency Jelly Bean Creative believes that these enterprise-spaces are riding on a growing trend.

“With shopping on the high street seeing a downturn and many retail shopping malls experiencing reduced footfall, Indie retail markets and entrepreneurs are helping to breathe new life into city centres” says Brenson.”They give consumers more reasons to visit and spend their time and money there.”

“It’s important for entrepreneurs to bear key trends in mind when establishing their products,” adds Brenson. “Don’t be afraid to be brave and be bold.”

Manchester has a rich history of entrepreneurship as a leading post-industrial city after experiencing significant investment and gentrification in the 1990s.

The Ducie Street destination for entrepreneurs now looks to build on the city’s reputation as a hub for innovation and creativity.

Manchester's Northern Quarter is home to many indie retailers. Image courtesy of Heather Cowper

Adam Higgins, co-founder of London Warehouse developers Capital & Centric said: “It’s about getting enterprise into what is an awesome old Manchester building, which will link the two districts of the Northern Quarter and Piccadilly.”

Consumer wants and needs are very much at the forefront of this new location, “The marble and plastic plant filled foyers of most Manchester hotels are the last places you’d want to spend a night out. London Warehouse will change that” says Higgins.

Fitness studio Blok have said they are also excited about the new opportunities.

After the success of their two east London branches, this will be the first enterprise in Manchester for founding partners Ed Standbury, Max Oppenheim and Reema Stanbury.

Reema Stanbury said: “Manchester was a natural choice- we are drawn to the creative hubs and the London Warehouse will be a genuine destination.”

Blok and the other enterprises will begin business in Manchester when London Warehouse opens this spring.

Learn more about the development of London Warehouse in this video from Manchester's Finest