Bruntwood sells Hatch to STACK 

The leisure and retail venue located on Manchester’s Oxford Road is to close its doors for redevelopment at the end of the month before reopening next year under new ownership. 

Bruntwood has sold Hatch, which is home to independent food traders and retailers, to STACK, which operates several similar venues across the country. 

Plans are now being worked up for the redevelopment and expansion of the shipping container complex, which is to relaunch in 2024. 

Plans will see Hatch rebrand as STACK, creating a “permanent offering with a larger footprint, providing more opportunities for traders in the city”, according to a statement provided by Bruntwood. 

Originally launched in Newcastle, STACK is developing proposals for other sites across the North in places such as Durham, Whitley Bay, Bishop Auckland, Middlesbrough, Lincoln, Northampton, and Carlisle. 

Plans are also in place for a new Newcastle site after the original closed in 2022. 

Neill Winch, chief executive of STACK, said he is keen to continue the “fantastic work that Bruntwood has started at Hatch”. 

“We have a proven track record in providing venues that bring together the very best in street food and bars and we are also renowned for delivering a full programme of live entertainment for people of all ages, which has been a huge part of our success and an element we are looking forward to elevating in Manchester. 

“This location is the perfect fit for us, and we look forward to building on the great work Hatch has already done and taking it to the next level under the STACK brand.” 

Stack’s owners have confirmed that current Hatch traders will be given priority during the selection process if they choose to apply for a unit within the new scheme. 

Hatch opened in December 2017 as a way of utilising underused space while Bruntwood’s Circle Square was being developed. 

“We are incredibly proud of what we accomplished at Hatch,” said Peter Bearpark, asset management director at Bruntwood.

“It has been a success in terms of the vision we set out for it – supporting start-up businesses, allowing brands to experiment, grow and thrive, and creating a place for people to enjoy excellent food, drink and shopping.  

“It’s always hard to say goodbye to a site that we are proud of, but now is the right time for Stack to take it to the next stage in its development.”