Historic England and English Heritage are set to move to Bristol’s Finzels Reach, which is fast making a name for itself as one of the city’s most exciting new quarters.
Historic England and its sister organisation English Heritage will consolidate their sites across Bristol under one roof within the historic Fermentation Buildings at Finzels Reach, taking a lease for 5,950 sq ft on the first floor overlooking Bristol’s Floating Harbour.
Historic England is the public body that helps people care for, enjoy and celebrate the country’s spectacular historic environment, whilst English Heritage is the charity that cares for over 400 historic buildings, monuments and sites.
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.
By the end of the year, around 2,500 people will be living and working at Finzels Reach, a flourishing new community in the heart of Bristol, created by developer Cubex with funding from Palmer Capital. With high quality new homes, unique workspace, a hotel and leisure space plus a popular weekly food market, Finzels Reach is now an area transformed, having been previously closed off to the public for over 200 years.
The announcement by Historic England and English Heritage follows the news that Channel 4 will be locating its new Creative Hub at the Fermentation Buildings at Finzels Reach, joining creative studio OUTLAW within these characterful buildings. BAFTA-award-winning creative media company BDH has already made the neighbouring Malt House at Finzels Reach its new home.
Peter Walford, director at Cubex, the developer behind Finzels Reach, said: “It’s certainly been an exciting few weeks for Finzels Reach with such a fantastic array of businesses sharing the news that they will be joining this new city centre community. It’s excellent to have Historic England and English Heritage on board and we look forward to welcoming them to the Fermentation Buildings. We have taken great care in transforming these historic buildings to breathe new life into them, creating high quality, inspirational offices whilst retaining the character and charm that comes with such a rich history.”
There is just one remaining office suite available for let in the Fermentation Buildings, spanning 3,370 sq ft on the first floor, overlooking Temple Cross. Other businesses based at Finzels Reach include software development specialist Amdaris, financial services firm Parmenion, part of Aberdeen Standard Investments, professional recruitment and consulting specialist Experis, law firm Simmons & Simmons and intellectual property specialist Mewburn Ellis LLP.
With 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.
Located less than a 10-minute walk from Temple Meads station, the striking s-shaped Castle Bridge provides easy access from Finzels Reach to the popular shopping areas of Cabot Circus, Quakers Friars and St Nicholas Market. It is close to an array of bus routes and ferries can be boarded from nearby Castle Park.
Hartnell Taylor Cook acted for Historic England in the letting deal.
The agents for the office space at Finzels Reach are Savills and Knight Frank.
