After standing empty for a decade the 150-year-old former cotton warehouse is now being refurbished
The Roadhouse shut down in 2015
Fashion giant Shein appears set to open a new HQ in the Northern Quarter building which was once home to legendary club The Roadhouse.
After standing empty for more than a decade, work on refurbishing the 150-year-old Grade II-listed former textiles warehouse on Newton Street is underway. And in a return to the building’s origins in the rag trade, planning documents suggest Shein is to move into the third and fourth floors as it expands its UK operations.
The multi-billion pound firm first announced it intended to set up a base in Manchester after buying out fellow fast fashion retailer Missguided in 2023. Shein already sources some of its garments from Manchester and industry experts have predicted an increased presence in the North West could pave the way for more production to move to Britain from China.
It is currently advertising a number of Manchester-based jobs on its LinkedIn page. Meanwhile the basement which once housed the Roadhouse is also set to be converted into offices, although a tenant has yet to be found, in a project being overseen by Manchester architects Atelier MB.
Shein hosted a VIP party at last year’s Parklife Festival(Image: Getty Images for Shein)
Some of the biggest names in pop and rock music – including Coldplay, The White Stripes, The Chemical Brothers and Muse – played the club as up-and-coming acts.
It was also the spiritual home of Bury band Elbow, who credited the tiny venue with paving the way for their success. Lead singer Guy Garvey worked on the door for around four years, while bandmates Richard Jupp, Craig Potter and Pete Turner all pulled pints on the bar before the group signed its first record deal.
Over the years The Roadhouse, which shut in May 2015, also hosted several much-loved club nights, such as Electric Chair, Get a Grip and Friends and Family.
Elbow onstage at The Roadhouse
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News after the closure was announced, Garvey paid tribute to the club’s impact on the city’s creative arts scene. He said: “A lot of people found their first foothold there. And I don’t mean just bands: painters, novelists, photographers, dance tutors, actors, as well as musicians.”
The venue first opened 50 years ago and was originally known as Papa’s. But in 1993 it was bought out by new owners who changed its name to The Roadhouse as the club went on to become an integral part of the city’s music scene.
Shein have been contacted for a comment.
A spokesperson for Atelier MB said: “We have worked hard to retain the character and feel of these buildings and it’s exciting to see this block of 19th century Manchester put back in to use once again.”