By Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
The new Eastbank Enterprise Arcade is a revolutionary new space in Southport town centre with big ambitions to attract some of the most talented digital, tech and creative figures from across the region.
It will create exciting new futures for talented young people in Sefton.
The new facility, on Eastbank Street, is celebrating its practical completion after an 18-month transformation led by Sefton Council with work carried out by Skyline guided by the vision of K2 Architects.
The 8,000sq ft building provides high-quality workspace and modern amenities for entrepreneurs and start-up businesses in the digital and creative sectors.
It is one of the major schemes of Southport Town Deal, which aims to boost the local economy and attract substantial private investment to follow.
Hatter’s Digital Agency is the first tenant to sign up, moving into office space on the second floor.
Sefton Council is currently in talks with one of the most innovative digital firms in the North West about the prospect of becoming the anchor tenant on the third floor.
They would enjoy stunning south facing views across the Market Quarter, where millions of pounds in regeneration work is currently being spent with the aim of attracting greater numbers of visitors as well as new businesses.
Sefton is also in talks with an established F&B (food and beverage operator) about moving into the ground floor of the Enterprise Arcade, creating a bustling cafe, a hub for co-working and networking and a smaller, quieter space for co-working and events.
The first floor will host a training area and a podcast studio.
The creation of this brand new digital and creative hub has involved the dramatic conversion of one of Southport’s many grand heritage assets, a Grade II Listed former bank building which is believed to have been constructed in the 1890s, during the Victorian era.
I was given a guided tour of the building by leading North West digital expert Jon Corner, part of the Eastbank project team, who helped drive technology sector businesses to Media City in Salford; and by Keith Molloy, the Strategic Lead for Regeneration and Development at Sefton Council.
Jon Corner said: “The Eastbank project is all about changing the narrative for Southport. So it’s far more than just a building. We want this to be a real hub of activity with lots of creative energy, driving innovation, new thinking and opportunities, especially for young people in Sefton.
“It is about developing talent, young people, skills and creativity.
“We were delighted that our first event here was a Digital Careers Event in partnership with Edge Hill University earlier this month (10th and 11th June 2025).
“We welcomed around 100 young people into the new building where were able to meet and hear from representatives from eight of the top digital and creative businesses in the UK specialising in areas such as AI, graphic design, immersive technology, and media marketing. The young people here had the opportunity to engage with and put questions to the specialists.
“It’s important to move Southport away from a seasonal economy and to address some of the reasons for youth flight.
“As a town, Southport is beginning to look back less at the past, and look forwards and think about what can we do to create new, skilled, well-paid and sustainable opportunities for young people.
“Sefton Council has the ambition and the direction to make that happen.
“How can we work together to change the story of Southport? It’s about writing a new chapter.
“One of the most impressive developments being built in Sefton is the new Maghull Health Park, and the new Eastbank district will be able to link with some of the opportunities that will be emerging there.
“I have worked in over 10 different towns and cities across the UK in the past couple of years, and it’s good to see local authorities looking outwards to embrace regional collaboration and partnerships.
“We have to be able to make connections to be able to succeed. Southport is fortunate to be part of the Liverpool City Region, where lots of positive things are happening. You have to look at what part Southport will play in the region and in the UK as a whole.
“Southport is a brilliant place for people and businesses from around the region to consider as a location.
“When you look at the quality of life for people working and living here, it has a really unique offering and there’s real scope to be able to build on that.
“The most important aspect is enabling young people to develop their skills and their abilities. When you speak with tech companies, they want to invest in places where there is talent and real ambition. Southport has to embrace that.
“The tenants who move into this new facility will be individuals and businesses who share the vision and ambition for Eastbank as an emerging identity for Southport’s digital economy.
“They will be the ones to offer something unique, and they have to be able to lead the way in developing the digital, creative and tech economy in Sefton.
“We are currently in talks with a really impressive operator to potentially become the anchor tenant based on the top floor, but as those are ongoing, we don’t want to reveal more at the moment.”
There are talks being held for an operator on the floor at street level too, in the units previously occupied by the Gallary Grill restaurant and the former mobile phone shop.
Jon said: “It’s really important to have visibility, and we are really keen for the food and beverage operator to come on board and occupy the space on the ground floor.
“We want it to be a vibrant space with lots going on both in the day and during evenings too. We want to see lots of events happening – ways to grow engagement, and encourage people to stay and enjoy what’s on offer after work has finished.
“It will be an important boost for the night-time economy, with more choices for how people can spend their time. The shutters shouldn’t all come down at 5pm! We’d love to see more people working and living and enjoying Southport town centre during the evenings.
“Offices in this building will be available to access 24 hours a day for businesses to enable flexible working.
“When you consider places like this in somewhere like Hoxton in London, or Media City in Salford, it’s natural for focused events, 70-80 people, to gather to network and engage around some new development, whether it’s the latest in Artificial Intelligence, or XR, or HealthTech, or the future of social media marketing.
“This will be Southport’s place to be for young digital, tech and creative companies to come and develop.
“Maybe they’ll start here as sole traders, or as small teams. There’s then space for them to grow here, to develop, alongside like-minded people, where they can learn from and collaborate with each other”
The £1.5 million funding for the Enterprise Arcade has come through the £37.5 million Southport received through Southport Town Deal.
That scheme is also supporting the construction of the new Marine Lake Events Centre on the Promenade, and enabled the transformation of Southport Market into a vibrant new food, drink and events venue.
Keith Molloy said: “When we were drawing up the plans for our Town Deal submission, there was a circle around this area as a new hub in Southport town centre for the growth of the digital, tech and creative sector.
“We were initially keen to acquire and convert the former McDonalds building opposite, but unfortunately the opportunity didn’t materialise at that time.
“We then turned to the Crown Buildings instead and have been enjoying seeing all the changes being made.
“We wanted to ensure it is as accessible as possible, with accessible toilets on every floor, with lifts, with step free access into the building.
“We have plugged into the LCR Connect network, so people who work from this building can enjoy ultrafast broadband. There are connection points everywhere.
“The Enterprise Arcade has been completely decarbonised, which is recognising the Climate Emergency that has been declared by Sefton Council.
“While we wanted to think about the future, we have also respected the building’s incredible heritage which goes back to the 19th Century when it opened as a bank.
“The windows are beautiful. We have restored the main doorway, the radiators, and other features inside.
“That is the challenge and the opportunity we have in Southport, building for the future while celebrating Southport’s rich heritage.
“It demonstrates the value of our existing built heritage in our town centres is critical to the important process of regeneration.
“We want to re-energise empty space in the town centre and to be able to create a different way of working.
“Lord Street Living has identified empty space in the Lord Street area which could potentially be converted into 300 new homes, another effective way of growing footfall in the centre too.
“The Enterprise Arcade is a really great hub now; a very flexible space which can be repurposed to suit the needs of the tenants here.
“If anyone is interested in hearing more about the opportunities available here, we would be happy to hear from you.”
● For more information or to enquire about workspace opportunities you should email regen@sefton.gov.uk
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