Printworks in Manchester is repositioning itself as a community-focused, family-friendly destination after a £21 million revamp, following the closure of several major tenants. This comes as the final two nightclubs on Deansgate Locks shut for good in July, marking the end of what was once the city's go-to nightlife strip.
The Printworks, which includes a giant IMAX cinema screen, opened on November 9, 2000, with a star-studded launch. Two months earlier, the Hard Rock Cafe had opened in a prime spot on the building's front. Over the years, many bars, restaurants, and nightclubs have called the building home, but many have since departed.
Both the Tiger Tiger nightclub and the Waxy O'Connor's Irish pub were open for almost 20 years before closing. New openings in the old Tiger Tiger unit proved short-lived, and it now sits empty beside the former Hard Rock Cafe, which closed earlier this year. Chiquito, Bierkeller, and O'Neills have also closed their doors in the last year.
Council concerns over 'domino effect'
Drawing parallels with Deansgate Locks, long-standing councillor Pat Karney, Manchester city centre spokesperson, told the Manchester Evening News he would not want to see a 'domino effect take its place' which could harm the Printworks' reputation. "If a place gets a reputation for being dead, it just hastens the decline of it," he added.
It is understood that Manchester council's economic team met with Printworks bosses earlier this year to discuss future plans. Challenging trading conditions for major nightclubs and restaurant chains, which have traditionally filled the Printworks' units, were key factors discussed, amid the cost of living crisis and changing customer trends. Printworks bosses are now believed to be shifting focus towards a more community-focused, family-friendly venue, with further council discussions planned.
£21m investment and new openings
One factor in Printworks' favour is a huge investment by its owners. A £21 million revamp in 2024 included a large digital screen on the ceiling, while the Vue cinema has also been modernised. In contrast, Deansgate Locks venues were hit with damp and leaks, with concerns raised about the state of the buildings in the strip's final years.
Following the 2024 renovation, a Printworks spokesperson said: "Printworks has not just been refurbished physically to support next-generation leisure customers, but continues to deliver its other strategic objective to diversify the tenant-mix toward a balance between daytime family-led use and night-time wet-led entertainment."
Coun Karney is hopeful for the site's future. He said: "The Printworks was one of the biggest attractions in Manchester, but like everything else, times change. I'm glad to hear that they are now thinking about repurposing the site to fit in with what's going on in hospitality. We will meet with them to offer full support from the council."
In May, a Manchester Evening News feature explored the future of Printworks following the closures of Hard Rock Cafe and Chiquito. At the time, a spokesperson insisted that footfall was 'high and in growth', pointing to 'advanced stage discussions with numerous exciting new brands' to open inside the complex.
Since then, one new restaurant has opened - seafood restaurant Shrimp Shack, which chose the complex for its first venue outside London. It joins the Big Lick's, Boom Battle Bar, Gameface, Nando's, Nuffield Health, Treetop Golf, Vue, Wagamama, Walkabout, and Wetherspoons inside, plus Dave's Hot Chicken, Tenpin, and Wagamama outside.
Printworks says it saw an increase in footfall this summer compared to the previous year, with new openings possibly announced soon. A spokesperson said: "Printworks has had an exceptionally strong summer with visitors up 3.6 per cent versus the previous year. Strong cinema releases, the opening of Shrimp Shack and our free summer safari event all contributed to this success. Advanced stage discussions with new operators continue and we hope to make announcements very soon." Asked whether new openings could take place before the end of 2026, the spokesperson reiterated that Printworks hopes to make new announcements 'very soon'.
