Manchester to get its own beach

Exclusive Deborah Linton

July 08, 2008

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Artists impression of the ‘urban beach’.

IT was rained off last year - now Manchester is hoping for a sunnier outlook as it unveils new plans to build an `urban beach'.

Sankeys night club wants to build the beach in the heart of the new business district.

Sandpits, decking, parasols and palm trees would transform Spinningfields' Hardman Square into The Beach Club Manchester - a venue for up to 2,000 people.

There would also be a boardwalk, DJ booth, bar and food outlet and a stage with festival lights. It would allow it to host a programme of summer gigs.

Sankeys, which runs one of the city's best known night spots in Ancoats, put in a bid to open a city beach with Urbis last year, but plans never got off - or on - the ground.

Organisers ordered 80 tonnes of sand from the Bahamas, but the summer washout put a dampener on the project.

'Urban oasis'

If the Spinningfields management, Allied London, are granted planning permission, the `urban oasis' would be open from 11am to 11pm until September, offering family fun events including sports and sand castle competitions in the day and switching to an over-18s policy after 7pm.

Stuart Lyell, of Allied London, said: "We're very much behind this idea. It is part of a summer events programme for Spinningfields, including music and theatre, planned to bring life to the city. The beach is designed to add interest throughout the season and the idea has the full support of tenants there."

Sankeys' managers have asked to open the Spinningfields beach `as soon as possible' - but a decision is not expected from city planners until August.

Plans involve screening major sporting events during the day and putting on music events at weekends, although organisers say they would take into account the schedules of their neighbours, including The Opera House.

Clean-up operations would take place every day and a shuttle bus would take revellers to Sankeys club.

Council spokesman Pat Karney said: "This is a good idea I've seen done in Paris and Berlin, but I'd be interested to see the reaction from businesses in that part of Manchester."

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dessie, manchester (08/07/2008 at 07:53)

the way the weather is this summer looks like its gonna be a wash out yet again too!!

AH, Manchester (08/07/2008 at 08:55)

didn't urbis want to do this last year? Did they pull that off?

Aunty Glo, Great Manchester (08/07/2008 at 09:55)

80 tonnes from the Bahamas?
How much pollution will that cause?

P.S
welcome to the rainy city.

Councillor Allheart, in a black cab (08/07/2008 at 10:08)

"BARELY a day passes without another headline detailing another climate change calamity, and for the average household it's difficult to know what can be done to ease the situation, but the Environment Agency is calling on everyone to take a practical step to mark World Environment Day on 5th June".

How does pointlessly moving 80 tonnes of sand help?

Big Bad Bob, Worsley., Walkden (08/07/2008 at 10:41)

Add about 26 tons of cement should give you a nice 3 to 1 mix.

Councillor Allheart, in a black cab (08/07/2008 at 11:19)

Big Bad Bob, Worsley., Walkden

I'd go 20 tonnes - I prefer a 4:1

mancmanomyst, Wythenshawe (08/07/2008 at 12:22)

Whats wrong with taking the sand from Rhyll.

Interesting idea but not for our climate

Pushkin (08/07/2008 at 12:55)

At least it'll stop all the chewing gum sticking to the pavement and the doggy-do will clump.

better off red (08/07/2008 at 13:17)

why not buy it from the local B&Q? Much kinder to the environment and they're pumping money into the local economy.

Councillor Allheart, in a black cab (08/07/2008 at 16:28)

Oh hold on - have the Health & Safety experts been consulted? I guarantee it won't go ahead once those buffoons take an interest.

Audenshaw Bob (08/07/2008 at 16:42)

Here is the problem. I walk through that open area a few times a week. It is ALWAYS windy. Even when there is not much wind about it is always windy there. What we will have is a constant sandstorm.

Don't the people who want these things go down and suss it all out?

I look forward to sitting outside Pret with sand in my sandwiches.

We constantly shoot ourselves in the foot in this city.

Stick it somewhere better.

What a silly place to put it. Manchester has succeeded in getting some prestigous companies to that area of Spinningfields - RBS, Halliwells, Deloiitte etc and what do the council do? Build a beach that will attract Manchesters 'finest'. Not like the artist impression - look instead at England tops, not tops, beer bellies, tattoos, hoodies. Let's have a realistic picture.

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