Built in 1896, The Courthouse has been part of the fabric of Manchester for well over a hundred years. Historic buildings like this will never be built again, and so it was imperative to retain its many historical features and to protect its one-of-a-kind character.
Laid out across four floors, a variety of options were considered for The Courthouse’s future use before HBD took it forward, securing planning for a mixed-use renovation and extension project, including high spec office space and ground floor retail and leisure units.
Collaborating with Stephen Levrant Heritage Architecture HDB carefully restored The Courthouse retaining as many original features as possible and sensitively adding new ones. In fact when HBD acquired the former county court building it was still laid out for its judicial purpose – to this day the original judges’ microphone is in pride of place on the reception desk!
Today, across 13,320 sq ft of the upper floors, are the headquarters for the Oddfellows Society, who proudly laid their foundation stone with The Lord Mayor of Manchester.
The lower floors were reimagined as a curated collection of restaurants, bars and shops and include the highly popular restaurant Hawksmoor’s, the chain’s first venue outside London.
Hawksmoor is joined by Rosa’s Thai Café and One Eight Six, a hybrid barber cum nightclub which occupies 5,600 sq ft, providing and an eclectic mix of tenants within The Courthouse.
Not only was this HBD’s first foray into urban regeneration, this hugely significant historic Manchester building was also in HBD’s guardianship, and the development was coming forward against some very challenges market conditions with the financial crash of 2008.
HBD set out to work creating the upper floor offices and ground level and basement units fitted out for retail and food and beverage use.
Working carefully with our contractor Mowlam to retain as many historic features as possible, the building was levelled up and HBD completed one of the city’s most impressive refurbishment programmes.
