Article by Kieran O’Brien, General Manager at Department at Bonded Warehouse
I’ve been General Manager for Department at Bonded Warehouse for 2 years and worked within the building for just under 4 years. In that time I have seen our community grow and evolve into one of the most dynamic and creative communities in Manchester.
From global creative and advertising agencies all the way through to marketing freelancers and consultants, Bonded Warehouse has become a hub for those leading the way in the creative and marketing landscape. We are proud to be the home of global agencies such as McCann, Dentsu, Open Partners and Weber Shandwick. These companies sit alongside some amazing home grown companies like Mount Digital, Viv-ID, Lightbulb Media and many more.
Amenity and Hospitality for a creative community
The wider St. John’s community is also flourishing all around us. WPP at Globe, Soho House, Versa Studios and Aviva Studios are all right on our doorstep. Combine this with the hospitality, residential and leisure offerings in the area, St. Johns has truly become the place to be with Bonded Warehouse at the very centre of this. Just outside Bonded Warehouse is The Green, a vibrant outdoor space where you can sink into a deckchair on your lunch break, catch a live sporting event on the big screen, or simply decompress with a drink after work. It’s the kind of neighbourhood amenity that reminds you there’s a life beyond the laptop.
A Manchester landmark
Bonded Warehouse is a Manchester landmark. The building dates as back as 1867 and has been carefully restored into a thriving hub for the creative industry. Its heritage is impossible to ignore: original red brick, period signage, and the doors and windows that have stood for over 150 years all tell the story of what came before.
From 1982 to 2013, the building formed a key part of the ITV Granada estate, used for filming, wardrobe and production storage. It housed the iconic Coronation Street set, including the external façade of the Rovers Return pub.
That creative spirit never really left. It just found a new home.
Community events for marketing agencies and freelancers
The one thing that keeps members here however, is undoubtedly the community we have created. Each month we put together a varied events programme as a real value-add for our members. From wellness and gym sessions to social events and networking, and of course our famous Doggy headshots, it’s these events that our members really buy into and love. We put real thought into the events because we want them to be worth people’s time. In June we hosted a breakfast event on how brands win visibility when search changes, with a guest speaker from the PR industry who are actually living these questions right now. That’s the kind of session where our members leave the room with something useful. And those moments, where the community learns together, debates together, that’s what makes this place feel like more than just a desk to sit at.
If you are marketing freelancer looking for a community-driven coworking space, we’d love to welcome you to Bonded Warehouse. You can try us out just for the day with our Day pass, available from £20 ex VAT. This gives you the chance to really experience what makes Department at Bonded Warehouse so special – a place alive with people, community and culture. If you’re looking for something more permanent, then our Hot desk memberships start from £195 ex VAT.
