Cains Brewery in Stanhope Street has been producing beer for more than 150 years but production was stopped since June due to company’s debts of more than £8m, which resulted in subsequent loss of major contract.
The owners of Cains submitted plans for the site redevelopment to Liverpool City Council and are seeking partners and operators to be involved in the hotel, supermarket and independent cinema elements of the project.
The development scheme involves the restoration of the grade 2-listed brewery building, which will not only house the new Cains brewery, museum and events centre but also a ‘Sky Bar’ in the roof with exclusive views over the city and the river Mersey.
The building will incorporate a 94-room boutique hotel, courtyard bistro bar and a number of restaurants with a massive open plan retail area for artisan food producers to make and sell their products.
Amongst the proposals are a four-screen independent art-house cinema, a supermarket, health/beauty and fitness centre, 775 high quality homes or 2,500 student rooms and a car park with a capacity of more than 500 spaces.
It is expected that the first phase of the 1 million square feet renovation project in Liverpool’s Baltic Quarter will be finished by summer 2016.
The scheme is predicted to create up to 800 jobs and have a total cost of £150m. According to the Managing Director of Cains Brewery Village, Sudarghara Dusanj, the new brewery will attract 2.5m visitors per year, thus boosting the city’s economy by £25m.
“We are going to create a major new tourism and leisure asset for the city which will secure the future of the Cains beer brand and the grade II listed brewery for decades to come.
“We are now seeking development partners and operators for the cinema, hotel and supermarket to help take the scheme forward. We are particularly keen to speak to upmarket quality supermarket operators who want to take advantage of what is a clear gap in the city market.
“We’d like to thank the city’s planning and regeneration team for all their help in bringing this forward as well as our Baltic Triangle neighbours who have been extremely supportive and have bought into our vision.”
Liverpool Mayor, Joe Anderson, said: “The Cains Brewery Village scheme will transform one of the city’s most important historic buildings and create a new tourist destination capable of holding food, craft and cultural events which will complement the city’s existing retail and leisure offer.
“It will also be a perfect neighbour to the vibrant cultural community in the Baltic Quarter. We’re delighted this scheme is progressing.”
Photo: BBC