WHILE much has changed over the past 25 years since the launch of Warrington Worldwide – the transformation of the town centre certainly stands out – none more so than the Cultural Quarter.
The jewell in the crown is most certainly the Treasury Building, formerly Warrington Technical School and former Warrington Borough Council Treasury and now a bustling venue for high quality bars and restaurants.
Located next door to the town’s historic Parr Hall, it certainly provides the ideal setting for a great night out, with the Kuckoo Rock ‘n’ Roll Cocktail Bar making an exciting addition in recent times.
The old Post Office
Across the way is the popular Grill on the Square, which now adjoins a Boutique Hotel in the old Post Office building, with a number of smaller bars and restaurants in the immediate vicinity providing plenty of variety.
Around the corner the old Co-op building and in more recent times TJ Hughes store, has been transformed into The Hive, a blend of restaurants, bars, shopping arcade and offices, providing another exciting addition to the town centre.
All this has been achieved thanks to private investment with more still to come.
Treasury building
Meanwhile, across town, Time Square, including the new look Warrington Market and multi-screen cinema and popular Botanist Restaurant has also helped breathe new life into what had been an ailing town centre following the loss over the years of house hold names including Woolworths, Marks & Spencers and more recently Debenhams.
A lot of this is down to a change in shopping habits, with much now done online.
But the new facilities have helped increase footfall and made Warrington town centre a visitor destination and with more people now living in the town centre, hopefully they can thrive and prosper for years to come.
While much still needs to be done, in particular at the lower end of Bridge Street, this is already a work in progress with the Grand Cocktail Bar leading the way and soon to expand with a new roof top garden!
It will certainly be interesting to see what the next 25 years bring.
Grill on the Square
The Hive arcade
The Hive building
