Newcastle developers Danieli Group are spearheading plans for a multimillion-pound shipping container leisure hub on the site of Carlisle’s former Her Majesty’s Theatre.
The company behind Newcastle and Seaburn Stack drinking, dining and entertainment venues has put in an application to Carlisle City Council to convert part of Lowther Street Car Park, which is owned by Daniel Johnston (1982) Ltd, into Stack Carlisle. If successful it will see the around 50 shipping containers come together to form a social hub with a retractable glass roof, containing five bars, 10 street food outlets, a central plaza with a balcony and a stage area for live music. Around 160 jobs will be created.
The news follows on from announcements from the firm – which also owns Yolo Townhouse, The Duke of Wellington and The Muddler in Newcastle and Yolo Ponteland – regarding the opening of Stack sites in Durham and Bishop Auckland, as well as in Lincoln. The new sites hope to emulate the success of the original shipping container destination in Newcastle, which dominated for the former Odeon cinema site until it closed in May of this year, having welcomed millions of visitors and served up a huge boost to the local economy over four years. In total, around 4.5m people have visited the company’s sites in Seaburn and Newcastle.
Neill Winch, CEO of Danieli Group, believes the Carlisle opening will be a huge asset to the city. He said: “Stack is a fast growing brand which has a proven track record in creating venues which have something for everyone and will bring a real boost to the area,” he said. We are very excited about coming to Carlisle and creating a really unique experience for the people who live there.”
Max Connon, of Daniel Johnston, added: “Stack Carlisle will be a major coup for the city. It is a much needed development that ticks all the boxes. It will regenerate the high street giving Lowther Street, which is littered with empty shops, renewed purpose. It will boost both the day and night time economy, drawing people into the city which will support surrounding businesses and encourage further inward investment.”
If planning permission is given the green light, the company hopes to officially open by late summer 2023.
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