Campfield, one of Manchester’s oldest market halls, is starting a brand new chapter. After years of reinvention, resilience and sitting empty, the Grade II-listed buildings on Liverpool Road have been brought back to life as a creative hub in the heart of the city.
Now rebranded as ‘Campfield’ and ‘Campfield Studios’, the former Lower and Upper Campfield Market Halls have been transformed into modern spaces for work, ideas, and culture. Inside, you’ll find offices, hot desks, a café-bar, meeting rooms, and even the new home of Blue Peter.
But Campfield’s story is much bigger than its latest chapter. These buildings have seen Manchester through everything – from war and industry to fire and rebirth.
A building that’s been part of Manchester for nearly 150 years
Campfield sits on land that used to be known as ‘Camp Field’. It hosted fairs and markets in the 1800s, before Manchester Corporation decided to build two covered halls in the 1870s. The design was chosen through a competition, and architects Mangnall and Littlewoods won.
The Lower Hall opened in 1878, followed by the Upper Hall a few years later. But it wasn’t an instant success. The markets didn’t take off, and by 1900, the Lower Hall had shut down. A few years later, it reopened as the Manchester City Exhibition Hall and hosted everything from motor shows to fruit auctions.
During the First World War, the halls were used to train soldiers. In the Second World War, they became a barrage balloon factory.
Later, exhibitions returned – but by the 1970s, the building was in bad shape. Then in 1977, a major fire ripped through the Lower Hall. It was nearly demolished.
Instead, it became the Manchester Air & Space Museum in the 1980s. The famous blue post box outside was painted to match the flying machines inside. In 1985, it became part of the Science and Industry Museum and stayed that way until 2021, when the museum left the site due to the building’s condition.
As council leader Bev Craig put it: “Campfield is an exciting initiative which will see these two heritage buildings help play a dynamic part in Manchester’s future, giving innovative businesses an affordable place to flourish and helping to create the jobs of tomorrow.”
A £17.5m transformation backed by the council and government
After the museum closed, it was clear something needed to happen. The buildings had been left behind.
As one local put it: “Let’s be honest, it’s been overdue for a bit of love for a while now.”
That love is finally here. Manchester City Council teamed up with developer Allied London to restore, refurbish, and repurpose both halls. They secured £17.5m in Government Levelling Up funding to support the project.
The result is Campfield – a new workspace aimed at start-ups, media companies, and creative businesses. It’s part of the wider St John’s masterplan and managed by All Work & Social, who run flexible workspaces around the UK.
Inside, there’s 83,000 square feet of space, including 400+ hot desks, private studios, meeting rooms, and event areas. It’s designed for both permanent tenants and those who just want to drop in. Castlefield House next door is also being redeveloped to support growing firms in the area.
Campfield also forms part of Manchester’s Culture In The City programme. Nearby heritage railway arches will become a creative talent centre, operated by HOME.
And yes – it’s licensed. On 8 January, the venue got approval to serve alcohol and late-night refreshments inside the co-working space.
What it feels like inside the new Campfield
The halls are bright, airy and full of original character. Large windows and restored roofing let in loads of natural light.
Tanya Grady from Allied London said: “It’s like being in a solarium. It makes you feel good being here.”
She added that Campfield could return to its roots with weekend markets: “We are going to do well-curated markets at weekends. It will be a bit more curated than a maker’s market. It could be a flower market or night market.”
Council leader Bev Craig said it’s a reminder of why protecting Manchester’s heritage matters: “In the week we lost Hotspur Press, it’s good to show what our history means to us.”
“Manchester has always been a city of innovation and creativity. Campfield will help ensure it continues to be.”
Campfield is part of Manchester’s growing population
At the launch event on 25 June, Allied London’s chair Mike Ingall spoke about the role Campfield will play in the city’s future.
He pointed to the city’s rapid growth, saying: “Our forecast was by 2025 there will be 100,000 people.”
“Fifteen years ago I’m on the record saying that Manchester city centre’s population will get to 100,000. In 10 years time there could be 250,000.”
He said Campfield was at the heart of that growth. “The tank of petrol is full in Manchester and the engine is ready to start. Greater Manchester is not quite on that journey. Our vision is to spread Campfield into the region.”
A big idea: rebranding Greater Manchester as ‘Manchester, G.M.’
At the same event, Ingall floated an idea to rebrand Greater Manchester as “Manchester, G.M.” – just like how the American capital became Washington, D.C.
“The energy politically has gone from Greater Manchester to Manchester,” he said.
“There’s a city in Colombia called Medellín, which was in 2013 the most innovative city in the world after Escobar’s destruction. They did it through public buildings in strategic locations.
If we are all into growth, there’s no reason to say in 10 years’ time Manchester, G.M. could be the most innovative regional city in Europe.”
Craig didn’t comment on the renaming idea, but praised the vision: “I can’t think of a better representation of the history, present, and future of Manchester than this building.”
Campfield today: a new purpose for a proud old building
Campfield has always reflected Manchester’s spirit – adapting, rebuilding, and moving forward. It’s been a marketplace, a library, an exhibition space, a military site, a museum, and now a centre for innovation.
What started in the 1800s as a place to trade is now a place to create. And it’s ready for the next generation.
Whether you’re a start-up founder, a freelancer, a local resident, or just someone who loves Manchester’s history – Campfield has something to offer.
You can visit the Campfield website here
