Co-working giant WeWork has announced the shock closure of its flagship space in Manchester, an enormous unit in the heart of Spinningfields.
Those who rent desks or offices within the space have been served notice to move out by the end of the month.
It’s understood that WeWork’s three remaining locations in Manchester are unaffected.
The US-based workspace company first moved into the 60,000sq ft unit at No.1 Spinningfields in 2017, offering flexible solutions to businesses of varying sizes.
But in the last few years it’s faced major financial difficulties, with WeWork eventually filing for bankruptcy in the States.
It was previously valued at $47 billion before its bankruptcy overseas.
On the closure of its huge Manchester office, a WeWork spokesperson said: “As part of WeWork’s efforts to achieve a sustainable capital structure and profitable business to serve our members for the long term, we have made the decision to stop operating at No1 Spinningfields in Manchester.
“We look forward to continuing to provide our members with flexible space solutions across our other locations in the city and the rest of the UK, which remains a key market for us.”
An email sent to tenants said: “After carefully evaluating our offerings in Manchester, we have made the decision to stop operating at WeWork No 1 Spinningfields… the move out will occur by 31 May 2024.
“We understand this may cause disruption to your business and are very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.”