Work underway on Freemasons Hall

WORK has started on plans to transform Manchester’s Freemasons Hall into an events and conferencing building called Manchester Hall.

The imposing 1920s building in Bridge Street will also have a restaurant as well as office and retail space. The freemasons will continue to operate from smaller, refurbished rooms.

The scheme was first unveiled in 2011 when a joint venture between Ford Campbell Property Investments and Stephen Cliff’s Vision Developments was said to have taken a 999-year lease on the Bridge Street building.

However, a planning application was submitted earlier this year by 36 Bridge Street Ltd and the East Lancashire Masonic Charity. Mr Cliff is a director of 36 Bridge Street but it is owned by Manchester developer Morgan Leahy.

A statement from Vision Developments said Manchester Hall will have 15 rooms, catering for up to 200 people, that can be used for meetings, functions, weddings and events. The rest of the venue will be used for restaurants, a bar and a rooftop terrace, that will be rented out.

The work should be finished by next winter.

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