Spectacular new rooftop garden, restaurant and cinema revealed for iconic Manchester building

Manchester is to get a spectacular new rooftop garden, restaurant and cinema space at the top of one of the city’s landmark buildings.

Bruntwood, owners of Blackfriars House just off Deansgate, have been granted planning permission to create the new restaurant and events space which they say will become a “city centre haven” complete with a garden and stunning views across the city.

Images of how the rooftop will look have been released today – and it looks like a stunner.

As well as opening a new restaurant with 360 degree 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, will 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.

Work has already started to transform the ground floor space.

Standing on the banks of the River Irwell on the corner of Blackfriars Road, Blackfriars House is set within the Parsonage Gardens Conservation Zone and is an impressive reminder of Manchester’s industrial heritage.

Designed in 1923, it’s an imposing white brick building that is currently leased by Bruntwood as office space.

The transformation 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 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.”