Former Preston nightclub building gets £5m transformation

It was known for its revolving dancefloor - but now the former Brown's nightclub building in Preston will be known for luxury city centre living and working.
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Local development company TSS Properties have undertaken a £5m transformation of Buckingham House in Glover's Court, creating 24 apartments for the rental market out of four floors of offices, with two grade A offices on the ground floor where Brown's used to be.

Work is set to be finished in May.

TSS have previously completed a £2.5m development of high-end apartments in the former Booths cafe and warehouse building in Glover's Court, called City Bridge.

An artist's impression of the building's new fascadeAn artist's impression of the building's new fascade
An artist's impression of the building's new fascade

>>>Read about the City Bridge work here

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A spokesman for TSS Properties said: "From City Bridge we saw there was appetite for higher end luxury accommodation which Preston lacks. City Bridge was first of its kind in the city centre and the demand for sales and rental exceeded our expectations.

"The exponential growth of Manchester and London has pushed people to secondary cities like Preston, where they can have the same luxury but for a fraction of the price."

There has been a boom in city centre apartment living in recent years, with a 130-apartment development called Bishopgate Gardens set to open in Ormskirk Street in summer, plans passed for a £50m 294-unit apartment development on the site of Avenham Street car park, and schemes including The Light Buildings and Room Apartments already in use in Lawson Street.

How the office buildings will look where Brown's nightclub used to operateHow the office buildings will look where Brown's nightclub used to operate
How the office buildings will look where Brown's nightclub used to operate

>>>Read more about the 'PR1' plan here

The developments fit into Preston Council's City Living Strategy, which was launched in 2017 and aims to see more than 1,700 residential units in the city centre, in order to increase footfall and rejuvenate the area.

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The spokesman for TSS added: "We are in talks with the Council and working on identifying sites to bring forward this vision. It’s local developers like us who want to see our city centre thrive.

"With the pandemic just speeding up what was inevitably going to happen on the high street, it’s important now more than ever for locals to visit and support our local businesses, enjoy the new leisure quarter which is evolving in this end of Fishergate and help the economy recover post pandemic.

The outside of Buckingham House, Glover's CourtThe outside of Buckingham House, Glover's Court
The outside of Buckingham House, Glover's Court

"It’s great to see other like minded developers and people who enjoy the perks of city centre living with everything on your doorstep, brilliant transport links, beautiful parks all within reach of a soon to be bustling high street.

"I think Preston is at the start of its city centre living growth which Manchester was at around 10 years ago. We are getting an influx of inquiries from investors all over the country and even worldwide."

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The 24 residential units in Buckingham House are one and two bedrooms and range from 750 sq ft up to 1,100 sq ft.

The entrance to the building will be through a 'hotel style' reception area and there will be a gated entrance to the car park at the rear, with hi-tech security throughout the building.

A CGI rendering of one of the interiorsA CGI rendering of one of the interiors
A CGI rendering of one of the interiors

By word of mouth, 12 of the 24 units have already been pre-let.

History of the building

The building, at one time in the property portfolio of Preston North End owner Trevor Hemmings, used to house a trade union education centre run by Preston College.

The ground floor opened as Browns Cafe Bar in 1998 and the first floor became Truth nightclub in 2003.

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