Work space and cinema to be established at former Leeds Dock casino

All Work & Social has announced plans to expand its portfolio with the creation of Department Casino, based at Leeds Dock.

The development is expected to become home to technology, media and creative businesses.

The new managed workplace is set to open in Spring 2021 and will complete the Leeds Dock development by Allied London.

The creative waterside community is also home to Sky and Channel 4, which is launching a new daily live television show from Leeds Dock in September 2020.

A spokesman said: "Situated within the former Leeds Casino development, the 55,000 sq ft Department Casino will pioneer the modern way of working with flexible office space, in-house wellness amenities, a clubhouse and rooftop, and a culture dedicated to the arts."

The work space will be aimed at small start-ups through to large businesses, with hot desks, resident desks, private office suites, satellite office functions, meeting and event spaces and a glass boardroom across three floors.

Members will benefit from the added flexibility and support to expand their business within the building, as well as access to industry networks and partnership initiatives.

The spokesman said: "To encourage a work life balance and foster creativity, department casino will also house wellness and social spaces for members, including: a cinema, an outdoor roof terrace, lounge and the clubhouse, Department’s signature bar and events space. Each social outlet will provide members, artists, collaborators and creators with a platform to showcase their work and host events of their own."

The development will retain as many Art Deco and 20th century post-modern features as possible, the spokesman said.

Anthony Powell, managing director at Department, said: “​Department Casino brings a genuinely unique workplace concept to Leeds. Our extensive experience of what people want from a workplace will be rolled out in the surroundings of this stunning casino. We will enhance the ex-casino’s features and bring to life a must-visit place for work, social and wellness. Our design and hospitality-led approach results in the complete workplace destination.

“We’re pleased to introduce Department to Leeds and continue to set a high standard of aesthetics, member benefits and workplace perks. The building, like all our other sites, is designed to evolve and grow with each business, with provisions ranging from single co-working hot desks available for an afternoon, to meeting rooms and managed office spaces available for businesses of up to 200 people – we all flourish together.”

Elizabeth Peckett, asset director at Allied London, landlords of Leeds Dock, said: “Department Casino will be a great addition to Leeds Dock, adding critical mass to the work space choice in the cluster. It offers a diverse inventory of spaces for pioneering media and tech companies, and will provide new ways to network and collaborate with other occupiers such as Sky, Intermarketing and Journey Further. This is really exciting for Leeds Dock and brings a real feeling of enterprise.

“We’re an ever-evolving village: we have North Star Coffee Shop and Nova Bakehouse offering freshly roasted and baked refreshments, Yoga Hero offering up to 10 sessions a day, Primal Gym tailoring fitness and nutrition programmes, a newly refurbished hotel, The Canary bar opening in Autumn, the Royal Armouries museum, and open waterside spaces.

“The dock continues to thrive post-Covid-19, and our tenants have felt safe to return to their spaces following lockdown. What’s more, it’s an easy to access haven next to the city centre. We have a 1,600-space car park, bikes to hire and safely store, and water taxis, running from Leeds train station.”

Allied London acquired Leeds Dock, then called Clarence Dock, in 2012. The dock was originally built in 1843 for boats using the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the Aire and Calder Navigation.

The development includes the former casino site, which has been unoccupied since March 2013 when London Clubs International closed its Alea Leeds operation.

All Work & Social specialises in broadening the scale of work and hospitality operations, with a range of amenities, services, and industry networks.

Each of Department’s sites will offer members wellness and social spaces and opportunities, developed in collaboration with local business, with gyms, coffee shops, bars, tap houses and a gin distillery all on-site.

Department will operate nationally in the heart of three UK cities – Manchester, London and Leeds.

Manchester will be home to four operations – Department XYZ and Department Bonded Warehouse, both fully operational in 2020 – with Department ABC and Department Piccadilly fully operating in 2021 and 2022. Department Casino Leeds and Department Savile Row, London will open in 2021.

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