Called DieCast, it occupies Manchester's largest city centre factory, which is over 250,000sq ft and which is located between Store Street and Ducie Street in the Piccadilly area of the city.
When complete, it will be home to a Night Market, Brewing Co., Warehouse Restaurant, and a Festival Stage as well as what is said to be Manchester's biggest beer garden and a creative Hub.
The venue will have a striking industrial aesthetic in keeping with its origins, and will be suitable for events, parties, shoots, and film locations.
“We’re taking all our learnings from Ramona and The Firehouse, but this time it’s on an industrial scale. It’s more than a venue. It’s an area within itself,” says Joel Wilkinson, DieCast director and owner.
“The Factory floor is available for creative events, filmmakers, musicians and event producers to use. This is the first part of establishing DieCast as a new creative resource for the city. We’ve had venues before, but never a whole neighbourhood.”
Ancoats based Detroit-style pizzeria and margarita bar Ramona launched in 2020 in a former garage. In 2021 the team behind it opened The Firehouse next door in a renovated former warehouse. The combined space has a capacity for more than 250 people are was the venue for last year’s R200 Awards, which are run by Restaurant magazine.