The Edinburgh Castle in Ancoats last opened its doors to punters in the early noughties and has been derelict ever since. Understandably, many feared that it would become yet another lost Manchester pub.
However, local property developer, First Step have moved in to restore the 200-year old public house to its former glory, as part of its Cotton Square development.
First Step has launched its on-site sales suite which will exhibit Cotton Square’s 23 apartments and townhouses. Construction is due to start late 2016, with homes ready to live in next year.
Taking its name from Ancoats’ textile mill heritage, Cotton Square will celebrate the site’s proud history and retain many of its original industrial features. All this will be fused with contemporary design and cutting-edge energy efficiency technology.In addition to the restored public house, Cotton Square will include a ‘secret street’ for residents, inspired by Victorian terraced streets in the area.
All townhouses will include roof terraces; ideal for families. This is further complemented by the proximity of the New Islington Free School, which should be ready as Cotton Square’s first occupants move in.
Ancoats is fast emerging as Manchester’s cool cultural quarter with an entrepreneurial spirit amongst the independent boutiques and specialist retailers. First Step is looking to embrace this unique character and mix with its Cotton Square development. Revamping the old Edinburgh Castle pub is a solid display of this commitment.
First Step Founder and Cotton Square Development Director, Harinder Dhaliwal said:
“I am excited to be launching Cotton Square, one of our finest developments to date, in Manchester’s very own urban village of Ancoats. I look forward to presenting this to potential buyers over the next few months. Importantly, we have celebrated Cotton Square’s heritage, with many of the original industrial features retained and fused this with contemporary urban design. New homes will be spacious and family friendly. I am proud to confirm that we will be restoring the Edinburgh Castle pub back to its former glory. Derelict for 15 years, many thought this was another lost Manchester pub. Therefore, it makes a refreshing change to announce that we will be re-opening an old pub as part of our new development. This is one of many reasons that demonstrates why Cotton Square is not run of the mill!”
