Looking at Manchester’s former Central Station

“…(the building) hosted the landmark Festival of the Tenth Summer in 1986, with performances by The Smiths, New Order, The Fall…”

Incredible view this week looking at Manchester’s former Central Station (now of course Manchester Central).

The top photo - as always kindly provided by Steve Welsh - is from 1983 and looks towards the vacant and derelict building.

The building was designed by Sir John Fowler and opened in 1880. It eventually closed to passengers in 1969 but, prior to that, was awarded Grade II* listed status in 1963, helping to secure its future.

Not long after Steve’s photo was taken, architects EGS Design led a £20 million transformation that converted the station into the G-MEX exhibition and conference centre (still the way in which I refer to the building - 40 years on!)

Over the next four decades, the building became the backdrop to some major events. It hosted the landmark Festival of the Tenth Summer in 1986, with performances by The Smiths, New Order, The Fall, A Certain Ratio, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), Pete Shelley and John Cooper Clarke, helping to herald Manchester’s cultural renaissance.

Alongside this concerts by U2 (19 June 1992) and Oasis (13 and 14 December 1997), events during the 2002 Commonwealth Games, major political party conferences, and even served as the NHS Nightingale Hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In 2001 the Manchester International Conference Centre was opened. Designed by Stephenson Bell this major extension was built immediately alongside the former station. It added the 804-seat auditorium, Great Northern Hall and extensive meeting rooms, significantly increasing the complex’s conference capability.

Following the venue’s rebranding as Manchester Central in 2007, Stephenson Bell removed the rather dated black-glazed 1980s entrance, replacing it with today’s transparent glazed foyer.

Finally, today’s view also includes the Peterloo Memorial, unveiled in 2019 and designed by Jeremy Deller with Caruso St John.

Also visible in the background is Viadux by Salboy along with the The Manchester Deansgate Hotel, by IHG - both of which were designed by SimpsonHaugh.