Blackfriars roof terrace transformation

Landmark Manchester building, Blackfriars House, has been granted planning permission for a spectacular new rooftop restaurant and events space.

Located just off Deansgate in the Parsonage Gardens Conservation Zone, the roof terrace will become a city centre haven complete with a garden and outdoor meeting spaces, encouraging customers to work ‘al fresco’ and soak up the atmosphere.

As well as opening a new restaurant with 360 panoramic views over the city centre, the rooftop area will also host a packed programme of events including yoga classes and movie screenings. Open to the public and accessed via a new, dedicated lift, the restaurant and event space is scheduled to launch in summer 2020.

The rooftop transformation, designed by architects MgMa Studio and fit-out specialists DragonFly, is set to include a garden filled with grasses and flowers, as well as seating, lighting and shelter created specifically for the space.

As part of the building’s wider refurbishment plans, there will be an independent coffee shop, which opens up into a relaxed lounge. There is also a bookable events and auditorium space; and coworking areas will also be introduced to create a collaborative hub for creative and digital businesses offering flexible workspaces of all sizes with unique style. Work has already started onsite to transform the ground floor space.

The exciting transformation at Blackfriars is part of Bruntwood Works’ £50m Pioneer refurbishment project to invest in a number of its landmark buildings to create an enhanced environment with a true focus on wellbeing and collaboration.

Ciara Keeling, CEO of Bruntwood Works, said: “Offering outstanding amenities for our customers is just one of the key themes of our Pioneer programme and we’re extremely excited to have our plans for the rooftop at Blackfriars approved. We can now start to bring our vision to life and create an outstanding space where customers and guests can enjoy not just the restaurant, but a creative space to hold meetings, team catch-ups or simply socialise with the wider Bruntwood community.

“We’re committed to continually disrupt the market and create vibrant communities in which our customers can thrive. That’s why having a range of workspaces at Blackfriars is essential. Inspired by the building’s heritage, the overall transformation will create a variety of unique, flexible workspaces, designed to fuel creativity and collaboration, meaning businesses can select the space that’s perfect for them, at the right time, and flex with us as their business changes.”
Standing on the banks of the River Irwell, Blackfriars House is an impressive testament to Manchester’s industrial heritage.

Bruntwood Works’ Pioneer project focuses on providing innovative environments with the ‘wow factor’. The programme centres on enhancing six key themes, from technology and sustainability to biophilia, wellbeing, amenity and art. It also highlights Bruntwood Works’ commitment to creating connected communities within its regions, helping customers to build strong networks across neighbouring buildings to fuel growth.

It will be rolled out at selected buildings across Bruntwood Works’ portfolio Manchester, Cheshire, Liverpool and Leeds and Birmingham.