All of a sudden, several years after Debenhams closed in Manchester for good, work has suddenly ramped up on its landmark former home.
The magnificent Grade II-listed building overlooks the busy Market Street in Manchester city centre, and has done since 1932.
This art deco icon was home to Debenhams until the department store collapsed into administration in 2020, closing forever the following year.
Work to transform the building seemed to stall for a long time with it ending up covered in graffiti and becoming an eyesore as of last year.
But it’s now a bustling building site again and the start of its next chapter is well underway.
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The vision of developer AM Alpha is to bring this beauty back to its glory days, once again called Rylands.
The ambitious project of works will include the full redevelopment the existing building.
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The upper floors of the building are to be converted into high-quality office space, while a shopping arcade is also to be created on the ground floor.
AM Alpha has also revealed plans for a four-storey extension to be added to the current building, which would eventually mean that Rylands boasts 10 whole floors of mixed-use space for business, commercial, and leisure use.
It was initially set to complete in 2025 but that – obviously – now seems unlikely.
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But as the months tick on we’ll see new life trickle back into this significant corner of Manchester.
A massive bowling, games and entertainment bar is coming to Manchester next year
Danny Jones
A popular bowling and table games bar that has already proved a hit in Liverpool is coming to Manchester for the very first time next year.
If you’re from the North West, PINS Social Club may not be a new name to you; nevertheless, this will be its Manc debut, with the location not only their first beyond Merseyside but just their second site to date.
As the name would suggest, PINS is primarily about bowling and socialising, but there is plenty more going on at this social club as you’ll find out soon enough.
Scheduled to open in late spring 2026, Manchester and our nearby neighbours in Liverpool are about to strike up a firm party partnership.
CGIs of PINS Social Club Manchester (Credit: Supplied)
Selecting the shifting face of Sunlight House for the space – already home to the likes of Schofield’s Bar – the 25,000 sq ft unit will span three whole floors, offering a next-generation social and entertainment experience in one of Manchester’s most stunning buildings.
A Grade II-listed, Art Deco structure, Sunlight House is undergoing a major £35 million refurbishment, with ‘grade A’ offices set to take up a significant chunk, but it’s soon set to house the latest PINS venue.
Sitting on Quay Street, just off the main Deansgate strip, the busy Peter St corner, and adjacent to Spinningfields, PINS Manchester is springing up right in the midst of arguably the city’s busiest stretches for nightlife.
Promising not only bowling, darts, and table games like pool, shuffleboard and beer pong, but karaoke, live music and all the biggest sporting events on the box, PINS Social Club really does aim to be a one-stop shop for all your needs on a night out.
For instance, their food offerings will run all the way from breakfast through to the late evening, and PINS Manchester is also set to feature a main stage on the ground floor for “electric half-time shows”, with the gaming mezzanine looming just above.
Not only is this going to be PINS’ biggest venue yet, but it’s well and truly on track to be one of the biggest hospitality openings coming in the next 12 months.
Headed up by MD Daniel Kelly, who has also been helping run the resurrected Almost Famous brand here in Manchester, the team knows all about this city. Speaking on the announcement, Kelly said: “Manchester is a city that thrives on energy, culture, and community – everything that PINS is about.
“This new venue will be our biggest yet, offering a bold and exciting social space that’s purpose-built for entertainment, competition, and ultimately, having a great time. We can’t wait to bring our concept to Manchester’s incredible social scene. Keep an eye out for more details coming soon.”
Julien Buronfosse, Managing Director at Karrev (the estate company who have leased the building to the business) added: “The PINS offering is diverse, dynamic and will provide tenants and the local community with an unparalleled leisure experience.
“We wanted to work with an operator that understood our vision of breathing new life into a historic building, contributing to the new era that Sunlight House is entering. The building has ambitions to be much more than Grade A office space, with a specific emphasis on community building. The addition of PINS to Sunlight House will contribute greatly to that.”
Consider us here at The Manc GroupVERY excited for this one.
As you can see, they’ve got plenty of room to work with. (Credit: Calmafftaylor via Wikimedia Commons)
Featured Images — CGIs (supplied)/Wikimedia Commons
Property
An incredible boat house right on the water’s edge in the Lake District has gone up for sale – for a whopping £2.25m
Daisy Jackson
A rare chance to buy a house that isn’t just waterside, but literally on top of the water, has hit the market – and this piece of Lake District history could be yours for a cool £2.25m.
The Boat House is a charming two-bedroom house that stands on top of the mighty Lake Windermere, with its own wet dock beneath heading right out onto this iconic lake.
The home’s main attraction is, obviously, its setting, at the heart of one of the UK’s most treasured national parks.
The house has massive windows that offer panoramic views of the lake itself and the surrounding fells.
The Lake District boat house stands in the grounds of the Pullwoods Bay Estate, where there are also mansion house apartments and a gatehouse along with this converted boat house.
While the outside is in keeping with the property’s age, inside is a much more modern story.
Views across Lake Windermere from the boat houseInside the Lake District boat house for saleThe wet dock at the Lake District boathouseCredit: Fine & Country Windermere
Expect two double en suite bedrooms, a modern open-plan kitchen and living room, and a contemporary interior.
It’s a compact home but the location and character go some way to justifying its £2,250,000 price tag.
The Boathouse is currently used as a holiday let, and can be sold fully furnished with all advance bookings.
It’s located between the hotspots of Ambleside and Hawkshead and on the north western shore of Lake Windermere.
You can see more on this amazing Lake District boat house HERE.
Daisy Jackson -
29th November 2024 
