Channel 4 has now signed a deal with developer Cubex, confirming its intention to locate its new Creative Hub at Finzels Reach, Bristol’s new waterfront quarter.
In April, it was announced that Channel 4 was in advanced negotiations with Cubex.
The news comes as the first phase of Finzels Reach nears completion, with only one office space remaining, strong interest in most of the remaining leisure space in the historic Fermentation Buildings, and the 194 newly-completed built-to-rent apartments at Hawkins & George recently handed over to operator Grainger.
This follows recent announcements that Historic England, English Heritage and creative studio OUTLAW will be joining Channel 4 in the Fermentation Buildings, leaving only one office suite spanning 3,370 sq ft on the first floor, overlooking Temple Cross, available for let.
With Bocabar’s plans to open a new venture at Finzels Reach, Spicer+Cole’s new café now open and Left Handed Giant set to open a new brewpub and brewery this summer, with Bristol pop-up Mission Pizza providing the food offering, the neighbourhood is also tipped to become one of the city’s hottest new destinations. Developer Cubex is in detailed talks with several new independent businesses interested in setting up at Finzels Reach, with further announcements expected soon.
Bristol’s first major build-to-rent scheme, where attractive, high quality homes with shared social spaces have been created specifically for the rental market, has recently been completed. Cubex has created 194 apartments in two separate buildings, named Hawkins & George.
Channel 4’s new Creative Hub in Bristol will be a base for key creative decision makers, supporting the company’s relationship with the production sector – with a particular focus on genres strongly represented in the South West, Wales and Midlands. Commissioning departments represented in the new Creative Hub in Bristol will include: Drama, Factual, Popular Factual – as well as Creative Diversity, supporting on and off-screen diversity. It will also have additional supporting operational roles.
Overlooking Bristol’s Floating Harbour, the Fermentation Buildings are part of the rich brewing history at Finzels Reach, which has been home to several famous breweries over the years, most recently Courage Brewery before it closed in the 1990s.
Finzels Reach is a new community being created in the heart of the city by developer Cubex with funding from Palmer Capital. It features high quality new homes, unique workspace, a hotel and leisure space, transforming an area that had been previously closed off to the public for over 200 years. Around 2,500 people will be living and working at Finzels Reach by the end of the year.
Gavin Bridge, executive director at Cubex, says: “It is immensely satisfying to see six years’ hard work begin to come to fruition and the neighbourhood come to life. We’re so pleased to have been able to secure such a strong range of independent leisure businesses at Finzels Reach, where they will be able to provide a strong social hub for the people living and working here, as well as attracting people from the surrounding area.
“We’ve been working very hard to get the right balance of businesses here and hope to have some exciting announcements coming up. With only one office space and a couple of leisure spaces not under negotiation, we’d urge any businesses interested in joining our community here to get in touch soon.”
