GCUC UK Blog

Tour 1 | x+why, Bruntwood SciTech & Bonded Warehouse

posted on by Emilie Lashmar

Starting point: x+why, 100 Embankment, Cathedral Approach, Salford M3 7FB

Three stops, all within easy walking distance, taking in some of the city’s most distinctive workspaces. Tour finishes at Bonded Warehouse in the cultural district of St. John’s.

 

Stop 1: x+why at 100 Embankment (10:00 to 10:30)

Built on the site of Manchester’s historic Exchange Station on the Salford side of the River Irwell, 100 Embankment is x+why’s flagship northern workspace. Across three floors and 33,000 sq ft, it offers coworking, private offices, enterprise suites and bookable meeting rooms, plus a roof terrace with 360-degree views of the cathedral and city. With BREEAM Excellent rating, solar PV, EV charging and a B Corp ethos, the building is built around the Better Business movement.

Walk to next stop: 10 mins

 

Stop 2: Bruntwood SciTech at Pall Mall (10:45 to 11:15)

Pall Mall is Bruntwood SciTech’s £33m transformation of an iconic Grade II listed 1960s building on King Street, completed in 2026 after two years of technically complex retrofit. The 90,000 sq ft scheme spans three interlinked towers, offering coworking, serviced and leased workspace for teams from 2 to 120. Customers benefit from a free gym, communal lounges, contemplation room, roof terrace and Pollen Square, a revitalised public realm bringing greenery and seating into the heart of the city.

Walk to next stop: 6 mins

 

Stop 3: Bonded Warehouse (11:30 to 12:00)

In the industrial heart of the world’s first industrial city, Bonded Warehouse has been transformed into a cultural workspace destination. Built as a railway terminus and later part of the Granada Studios complex, it’s now a thriving community of creative and digital businesses. The original industrial architecture has been restored throughout and complemented by a café, content studios, private workspace, a clubhouse, and a gym and wellness centre. Set in the cultural district of St. John’s, it brings industrial legacy together with 21st century content.