Liverpool’s Cains Brewery could be transformed into a major tourism, leisure and retail destination in a £50m project which would secure the city’s iconic beer brand for generations to come.
The brewery’s owners want to develop the site into a national visitor destination and increase the amount of traditional Cains ales brewed at the site.
The scheme, called Brewery Village, would secure and create in the region of 800 full-time jobs plus 60 construction jobs during the build stage. There are currently 56 jobs on the site.
The plans would see the restoration of the historic Grade II listed building to its former glory, housing the traditional Cains craft brewery and tour with a spectacular ‘Sky Bar’ in the roof which would offer views over the city and the River Mersey.
The building would also house a c.100-room boutique hotel, digital work studios and a large open plan delicatessen-style food market and restaurant for independent artisan producers to make and sell their produce on site.
There would also be a spa and gym and function rooms. The existing historic Brewery Tap pub would be restored and retained.
The plans also include proposals for a four-screen independent art-house cinema, separate food store, high quality apartments and car parking.
On an adjacent site are plans for a major Phase Two residential development which would consist of high quality apartments.
The Brewery Village scheme would transform one of the city’s most important sites and create a new tourist destination capable of holding food, craft and cultural events which would complement the city’s existing retail and leisure offer.
A market appraisal of the site predicts it would attract about 500,000 visitors a year once complete.
Cains expect to submit a planning application and application for listed building consent by the end of July. They will be asking members of the public for their views on the scheme and consulting with key city stakeholders as they refine the plans.
If consent is granted, work on the site would start next spring.
Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said: “Proposals such as these are complex but are an indication of confidence in the city and its prospects. There is much work to be done to bring the scheme to fruition but we are fully behind the plans and extremely excited about the positive impact it will have on a key city site.
“We understand the challenges businesses such as Cains face and believe this scheme is the right way forward for both the Cains brand and the city as a whole.”
Sudarghara Dusanj, Managing Director of Cains, said: “We want to create a major new tourism and leisure asset for the city which would secure the future of the Cains beer brand for decades to come.
“Cities like Manchester and Newcastle have been unable to save their traditional breweries but we know this scheme will ensure Liverpool has a thriving and traditional brewery for future generations.
“We anticipate increasing production of traditional ales by as much as 300% as a result of the scheme.
“We will create a vibrant, independent and varied destination for people to live, work and enjoy which complements the rest of the city’s assets and dramatically improves the appearance of one of the city’s most important arterial routes.
“Our proposals would also make a significant contribution to the city’s ambitions to regenerate the entire Baltic Triangle.”
The architect working on the scheme, Falconer Chester Hall (FCH), has been tasked with creating a destination which retains the brewery’s industrial heritage features and marries them with the best of modern architecture.
FCH Managing Director Adam Hall said: “We are taking inspiration from right across the world and have examined similar schemes in the US and Canada where they have brought the new and old together to create truly atmospheric and vibrant destinations.
“The plans will mean restoring the historic brewery building to glories not seen for a hundred years. There will be nothing quite like it in the North West of England so we are confident it will quickly become a new reason for tourists to come to Liverpool.”
Louise Ellman, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, said: “This is an exciting and creative scheme which will see the restoration of one of the city’s key heritage assets and the creation of a new visitor attraction for an area of the city where regeneration will be extremely welcome. The proposals also guarantee the continuation of a proud brewing tradition in the city and I would urge all parties to support Cains as the company brings its plans forward.”
Jenny Douglas, heads of area priorities for Liverpool Vision, said: “The Baltic Triangle is already an exciting place to work, live and visit but is only at the start of its transformation from an industrial heartland to a dynamic and creative neighbourhood.
“Cains’ plans will further enliven the area and, with other projects being developed, help realise its potential to become a compelling distinctive neighbourhood with a real mix of activity for businesses, visitors and residents. The plans will give real impetus to the vision for the Baltic Triangle outlined in the Liverpool City Centre Strategic Investment Framework.”
