The Printworks

The Printworks is an urban entertainment complex at the junction of Withy Grove and Corporation Street in Manchester city centre. It is close to Exchange Square, Manchester Arndale and Manchester Victoria station, and forms part of the wider leisure and visitor economy of central Manchester. Its current offer combines a large multiplex cinema with an IMAX auditorium, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, bowling, arcade gaming, indoor mini golf and a health club. The site is therefore operated less as a single-product brand than as a managed destination whose appeal comes from the concentration of multiple entertainment formats in one historic building complex. The name preserves the site's long association with newspaper publishing and printing. The property developed from the newspaper businesses established by Edward Hulton in the nineteenth century. His son, Sir Edward Hulton, expanded the family's publishing interests in both Manchester and London before selling the business when he retired in 1923. Newspaper ownership later passed through the Allied Newspapers and Kemsley Newspapers groups and, subsequently, to Roy Thomson. The buildings accumulated several names during this period, including Withy Grove Printing House, the Chronicle Buildings, Allied House, Kemsley House, Thomson House and Maxwell House. Kemsley House was developed progressively from 1929 and became one of Europe's largest newspaper printing facilities. Printing continued on the site until 1988. After Robert Maxwell acquired the property, the printing operation was closed, and the complex remained unused and increasingly derelict for more than a decade. The condition of the site became part of the broader challenge of regenerating Manchester city centre. Following the 1996 IRA bombing in Manchester, the city pursued major redevelopment intended to strengthen the centre's commercial, cultural and leisure offer. In 1998, Shudehill Developments, a joint venture involving the Co-operative Wholesale Society and Co-operative Insurance Society, acquired the derelict property and adjacent land for £10 million. The partners commissioned a £110 million conversion into a leisure destination, retaining the historic Portland-stone frontage while adapting the interior for modern public use. Elements of the former newspaper infrastructure, including an internal railway and its newspaper-transport turntable, were incorporated into the redevelopment. The building was renamed The Printworks to connect its new role with its industrial and publishing history. The venue opened in 2000, with the launch associated with Sir Alex Ferguson and Lionel Richie. Its early concept brought together clubs, restaurants, leisure facilities and cinema under one roof. The cinema originally operated as thefilmworks under UCI, later became an Odeon, and has been operated by Vue since 2017. The cinema now contains 20 screens over three storeys. Its IMAX auditorium opened in November 2000 and was later upgraded to laser projection while retaining the ability to show 70mm film. The auditorium has also been used for high-profile film presentations, including selected 70mm screenings of Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer. The entertainment mix has continued to change. Treetop Golf opened in 2018 with two rainforest-themed 18-hole indoor courses, a café and a bar. Tenpin opened in 2020 in the basement with bowling lanes, arcade games, karaoke and additional social games. In 2024, the complex underwent a £27 million improvement programme. The enclosed internal street received a 1,000-square-metre digital ceiling, while the exterior frontage was substantially remodelled and supplemented with large LED displays. These changes modernised the visitor environment while preserving the building's role as a landmark leisure destination. As of July 2025, occupants and attractions include Vue Cinema and IMAX, Tenpin, Treetop Golf, Nuffield Health, Bierkeller, Big Licks, Chiquito, Dave's Hot Chicken, Hard Rock C…

The Printworks occupies a site whose identity was shaped first by Manchester's newspaper industry and later by the city's regeneration programme. Edward Hulton established newspaper interests in Manchester in 1873. His son, Sir Edward Hulton, expanded the family business and operated publishing interests in Manchester and London. When he retired in 1923, the business was sold to Lord Beaverbrook and Lord Rothermere. Much of the newspaper portfolio was subsequently transferred to the Allied Newspapers consortium, which became Kemsley Newspapers in 1943 and was acquired by Roy Thomson in 1959. The property developed through a series of interconnected newspaper buildings. Historical names associated with the site include Withy Grove Printing House, the Chronicle Buildings, Allied House, Kemsley House, Thomson House and Maxwell House. Kemsley House, at the corner of Withy Grove and Corporation Street, was built up over several stages from 1929. At its height, the facility was described as the largest newspaper printing house in Europe. The site remained an active printing location until 1988. Robert Maxwell later acquired the property and closed the printing operation. The buildings then stood empty for more than ten years and deteriorated. Their derelict condition coincided with a period when Manchester was rethinking the role of its central districts. After the 1996 IRA bombing, redevelopment plans sought to improve the city's retail, cultural, tourism and leisure infrastructure. The former newspaper site was identified as a suitable location for a large regional leisure facility. In 1998, Shudehill Developments bought the derelict property and adjoining land for £10 million. The joint venture consisted of the Co-operative Wholesale Society and the Co-operative Insurance Society. A £110 million conversion programme transformed the former industrial and publishing premises into an entertainment complex. The redevelopment kept the Portland-stone frontage, described in architectural commentary as a weakly Baroque façade, while inserting new circulation, hospitality and leisure spaces. Interior remnants of the newspaper operation, including part of a railway used to move newspapers and its turntable, were retained as historical features. The renamed Printworks opened in 2000. The launch was associated with Sir Alex Ferguson and Lionel Richie, and the new venue brought together clubs, restaurants, cinema and other leisure facilities. The cinema began under UCI's thefilmworks identity, later operated as an Odeon, and moved to Vue in 2017. Its 20-screen complex occupies three storeys and includes an IMAX auditorium that opened in November 2000. The IMAX screen measures approximately 26.3 metres by 18.8 metres and has a 1.43:1 aspect ratio. In 2018 it gained laser projection while preserving 70mm film capability; the remaining screens also received seating upgrades. The complex broadened its entertainment offer during the late 2010s and early 2020s. Treetop Golf opened in 2018 with two 18-hole indoor courses based on an Amazon rainforest theme, together with a café and bar. Tenpin opened in the basement in 2020, adding bowling, arcade games, karaoke and several social-gaming formats. The cinema and leisure offer has been complemented by a changing collection of restaurants, pubs, bars, clubs and health services. Ownership of the property has also changed. It was sold to Resolution Property for £100 million in 2008, then to Land Securities for £93.9 million in 2012. DZT Investors acquired the property in 2017. In 2024, The Printworks completed a £27 million improvement project. The covered internal street received a 1,000-square-metre digital ceiling, and the historic external frontage was remodelled with prominent LED screens. By July 2025, the complex contained cinema, IMAX, bowling, mini golf, restaurants, bars, nightlife venues, a health centre and other visitor attractions, continuing its evolution from newspaper works into a mixed-use urban entertainment destination.

1. 2024Major redevelopment programme completed

   The complex introduces a digital ceiling and remodelled external signage as part of a major visitor-experience investment.

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2. 2017DZT Investors acquires the property

   Ownership passes to DZT Investors.

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3. 2012Property sold to Land Securities

   Land Securities acquires the property from Resolution Property.

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4. 2008Property sold to Resolution Property

   Resolution Property acquires the property.

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5. 2000The Printworks opens

   The redeveloped venue opens with cinema, clubs, restaurants and other leisure facilities.

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6. 2000IMAX auditorium opens

   The cinema launches an IMAX screen as part of its opening-year offer.

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7. 1998Shudehill Developments acquires the derelict property

   A Co-operative joint venture acquires the site and begins a large-scale conversion into an entertainment complex.

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8. 1988Printing ends at the site

   The newspaper printing press ceases operation after decades of industrial use.

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9. 1929Development of Kemsley House begins

   Kemsley House at Withy Grove and Corporation Street is developed progressively, eventually becoming a major European newspaper-printing facility.

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10. 1873Edward Hulton establishes newspaper interests on the site

    The site's modern history begins with the newspaper business established by Edward Hulton in Manchester.

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A centrally located, multi-format entertainment destination that combines heritage architecture with cinema, dining, nightlife and social leisure activities.

• Vue Cinema & IMAXCinema exhibition2000

  A 20-screen cinema complex operated by Vue since 2017. The venue includes a large IMAX auditorium opened in 2000, later upgraded to laser projection while retaining 70mm film capability. The auditorium has hosted major-format presentations, including selected 70mm screenings of Oppenheimer. Other screens were fitted with recliner seating during the 2018 refurbishment.

• Treetop GolfIndoor mini golf2018

  An indoor leisure attraction opened in 2018 on the first floor. It contains two 18-hole courses with an Amazon rainforest theme, supported by a café and bar. The concept adds a social, group-oriented activity to the complex's cinema, dining and nightlife offer.

• TenpinBowling and social gaming2020

  A basement entertainment venue opened in 2020 with 12 bowling lanes, an arcade, karaoke and additional activities including pool, shuffleboard and beer pong. It also contains two bars and an American-style diner, positioning the attraction as a broader social-gaming venue rather than a bowling-only facility.

• Food, drink and nightlife collectionHospitality and nightlife

  The Printworks hosts a changing collection of restaurants, bars, pubs and nightlife venues. Occupants listed in July 2025 included Bierkeller, Big Licks, Chiquito, Dave's Hot Chicken, Hard Rock Cafe, Nando's, O'Neills, Tank & Paddle, Wagamama, Walkabout, Wetherspoons and City Sweets.

• 2024Modernise the visitor environmentStrategy

  The established entertainment complex required a contemporary visual identity and updated public realm while continuing to operate from a historic building.

  What changed. A major improvement programme replaced the roof of the enclosed internal street with a 1,000-square-metre digital ceiling and remodelled the external façade with prominent LED displays.

  Aftermath. The complex gained a more technology-led and visually prominent environment while retaining its connection to the former printing works.

  Redevelopment investment. £27 million (2024)

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• 2020Add Tenpin bowling and social gamingProduct launch

  The Printworks continued to diversify its attractions with activities designed for groups and evening visitors.

  What changed. Tenpin opened a basement venue containing bowling lanes, arcade games, karaoke, social games, bars and a diner.

  Aftermath. Bowling and competitive socialising became an additional component of the destination's entertainment portfolio.

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• 2018Upgrade the cinema and introduce Treetop GolfGeneration change

  The complex sought to refresh its cinema proposition and broaden its leisure mix beyond film exhibition.

  What changed. The IMAX auditorium received laser projection, other cinema screens received recliner seating, and Treetop Golf opened with two themed indoor courses.

  Aftermath. The venue strengthened both its premium cinema offer and its group-oriented leisure proposition.

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• 1998Convert the former printing works into a leisure destinationStrategy

  The former newspaper-printing site had been unused and derelict for more than a decade, while Manchester was pursuing city-centre regeneration after the 1996 bombing.

  What changed. Shudehill Developments acquired the property and commissioned a major conversion that retained significant historic fabric while introducing cinema, hospitality and leisure uses.

  Aftermath. The Printworks opened in 2000 as a large multi-format entertainment complex and became part of Manchester's regenerated city-centre visitor offer.

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• 2024The Printworks completes a major visitor-experience redevelopment

  A reported £27 million improvement programme introduced a large digital ceiling over the internal street and substantially remodelled the external frontage with LED signage.

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• 2020Tenpin opens bowling and social-gaming venue

  Tenpin opened in the basement with 12 bowling lanes, an arcade, karaoke, pool, shuffleboard, beer pong, bars and an American-style diner.

  Product launch
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• 2018Treetop Golf opens at The Printworks

  Treetop Golf opened on the first floor, adding two rainforest-themed indoor mini-golf courses, a café and a bar.

  Product launch
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• 2018Printworks cinema upgrades IMAX and seating facilities

  The IMAX auditorium received laser projection while retaining 70mm capability, and the other cinema screens received replacement recliner seating.

  Product generation
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• 2017Vue takes over operation of the Printworks cinema

  The cinema operation at The Printworks moved to Vue, following earlier periods under UCI's thefilmworks brand and Odeon.

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• 2000The Printworks opens as a major Manchester leisure destination

  The converted former newspaper-printing complex opened as an entertainment venue containing clubs, leisure facilities, restaurants and cinema.

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1. The Printworks (Manchester)