CGIs show impressive brand-new creative workspace with ‘Northern Quarter energy’

A new workspace and hospitality hub is set to open in the Northern Quarter this autumn – and based on the CGIs released so far, things are going to be quite impressive.

The Hive is heading to Lever Street in October, a whopping 22,000 sq ft workspace along with Dahlia, a huge new two-storey Latin BBQ restaurant.

The Hive, which comes from X+why, wants to be a workspace with real ‘Northern Quarter energy’, promising to bring people, ideas, food, music and culture together under one roof.

Based inside Grosvenor’s 47–51 Lever Street building, The Hive will offer flexible workspace, private offices and meeting spaces, but it’s the activity around them that could make the biggest mark on the neighbourhood.

A programme of talks, workshops, breakfast meet-ups, wellbeing sessions, socials and cultural collaborations will run throughout the year, bringing together Manchester’s growing mix of entrepreneurs, creatives, independents and businesses.

As well as Dahlia, which will have open-fire, Latin American-inspired cooking, a Liquorita bar, and a music-led space built around a bespoke sound system, there’s a second major food and drink opening in the works.

The result should be a place that changes character as the day goes on – somewhere to work in the morning, grab food in the afternoon and stick around for drinks, music or an event later on.

The Hive’s interiors are being designed with the Northern Quarter in mind, using timber, reclaimed materials and work from local artists to reflect the area’s independent, industrial character.

Rupert Dean, CEO and co-founder of x+why, said: “Manchester has an extraordinary combination of creativity, ambition and community, and the Northern Quarter captures that energy better than almost anywhere else.

“The Hive is much more than a collection of offices. We are creating a place where work, hospitality, culture and community can exist together naturally, somewhere businesses can establish themselves, meet new people, share ideas and become part of the wider life of the city.

“The arrival of Dahlia and the wider food and drink offer will be an important part of that. Combined with our own programme of events and experiences, it will help The Hive feel active throughout the day and into the evening, creating a destination with a genuine relationship to the neighbourhood around it.

“Our growth journey has shown us that people want to feel connected to the places where they work and to the communities around them. The Hive gives us an opportunity to build on everything we have learned across the x+why network while creating something unmistakably rooted in Manchester.”

Fergus Evans, Office Portfolio Director at Grosvenor Property UK, said: “The Hive is a fantastic example of our regional offices strategy in practice, taking a landmark building in an exceptional location and repositioning it around the evolving needs of modern businesses and communities. Together with x+why, we’re creating a distinctive destination that builds on the energy of the Northern Quarter and supports the building’s long-term future.

“Manchester continues to perform strongly, supported by its deep talent pool, inward investment and growing digital and creative economy. Our investment in The Hive reflects sustained demand for well-located, high-quality, flexible workplaces that combine design, sustainability, hospitality and amenity.”

The Hive will open in October 2026 at 47–51 Lever Street, Manchester M1 1FN.

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Featured image: X+why