Mayfield to become home to performance and events venue

Plans have been unveiled for a major new cultural venue for Manchester – a 10,000 capacity performance, community and studio space right here at Mayfield. Subject to planning consent, the proposed space could see up to a million visitors next year.

The new venue, to be called Depot, is set to launch at Mayfield this summer with Manchester International Festival and Manchester Pride Live events.We will be working with venue specialists Broadwick Venues and Vibration Group, the team behind The Drumsheds and Exhibition London.

The main performance space, due to host Ariana Grande as part of Pride Live this August, will be accompanied by two smaller areas. The first, The Concourse which will provide a range of free-to-attend community events, seasonal activities and food experiences and the second, called Archive, will offer a more intimate performance area plus low-cost rehearsal and studio space for local artists.

Richard Upton, Chief Development Officer at U+I, said: “We want to add something to the Mancunian cultural landscape which is unique not just in the city but in the UK.

“The Depot will be a place that blends the global with the local and where international stars and local school children will be able access the same quality of performance and studio space. It will be democratic and distinctive.”

Mayfield Partnership and U+I Development Director James Heather said: “The new venue represents a major commitment to culture in Manchester and will have a significant impact in terms of attracting visitors to the city, providing a platform for local artists and a facility for the whole community to use. Bringing it back to life is part of our commitment to finding worthwhile interim uses for spaces while long-term regeneration plans are developed.”