Thriving neighbourhood in the heart of Bristol set to be home to a cluster of independent businesses

Independent brewery Left Handed Giant is the first to sign a deal to join Finzels Reach's exciting new leisure quarter.

The instantly-recognisable Compressor Building that overlooks the waterfront and Castle Park will be transformed into a new hotspot for the Bristol social scene. It is part of the rich brewing history at Finzels Reach, which has been home to several famous Bristol breweries over the years, most recently Courage brewery.

The ground floor will be returned to its former use as a fully operational and cutting-edge brewery, where Left Handed Giant will ferment its selection of modern, progressive beers on site. Alongside there will be a brewpub, where visitors can relax and enjoy the freshly brewed beers in a modern, urban-style bar.

Finzels Reach is a highly-regarded new quarter being created on Bristol's waterfront in the heart of the city by leading South West developer Cubex, funded by the Palmer Capital Development Fund IV, a programmatic venture managed exclusively on behalf of clients of CBRE Global Investment Partners ("CBRE GIP").

The leisure element of this new neighbourhood is one of the last pieces in the jigsaw, with the ground floor of the historic Fermentation Buildings, the adjacent Well Head building and space along Hawkins Lane already having received strong interest from potential occupiers keen to be a part of this exciting new destination. With a focus on independent businesses, this area provides a unique opportunity to be based in some of Bristol's finest historic spaces in a prime city centre location.

Gavin Bridge, director of Cubex, says:

"We are thrilled to have Left Handed Giant officially on board, and we look forward to seeing the rich heritage of the striking Compressor Building brought to life by their exciting plans.

"It is fantastic to have been able to open up this historic part of the city, bringing to fruition state-of-the-art offices, high quality homes, a hotel and plenty of public space, with around 2,500 people soon to be living or working in the area. Our ambition has always been to create a vibrant community here and our weekly street food market shows how this area is already becoming a magnet for people in the area.

"We have already had strong interest in the leisure space that sits at the heart of the neighbourhood, but we are still keen to hear from independent businesses, whether a shop, be that a florist or clothing brand, a restaurant, café or service-led business such as a gym or hairdresser's who would like to be a part of this buzzing new part of the city."

Built as mezzanine levels, the first and second floors of Compressor Building will feel connected to the rest of the space with open views from each floor to the brewery and brewpub below. Peter Sanchez-Iglesias of Michelin Star restaurant Casamia will take over the first floor with a new restaurant, details of which will be revealed at a later date. The second mezzanine floor will feature an events space with a capacity of 65 people, available for small weddings, events, and meetings.

Bruce Gray, managing director of Left Handed Giant, explains:

"After walking past this building every day between our brewery sites, it feels brilliant to be putting plans in place for the next phase of our business journey. The building offers a beautiful showcase for an independent brewery, right in the heart of Bristol. We want to create a place where people can enjoy great food and drink as well as the stunning location."

With an opening date of June 2019, Left Handed Giant's internal fit-outs are scheduled to begin in February 2019, when the building will start its journey to becoming a lively, light-filled venue on Bristol's glistening harbourside. The interior designs will retain the charm and features of the historic building with exposed brick walls, ceiling art and beams all on show, adding to the ambiance of the new social space and an outdoor seating area will provide a perfect alfresco space for summer socialising. A full height glass partition will allow visitors to look out onto Castle Bridge and Castle Park across the harbour.

Located less than a 10-minute walk from Temple Meads station, the recently opened s-shaped Castle Bridge provides easy access to the popular shopping areas of Cabot Circus, Quakers Friars and St Nicholas Market. It is close to an array of bus routes and ferries can be boarded from nearby Castle Park.

For information about the leisure space available, contact Insight Retail on 0117 930 4536.