AN iconic site in the centre of Warrington has gone on the market.

The former Cabinet Works site off Cairo Street and Barbauld Street has been empty since the building was demolished in 2018.

Today, specialist hospitality and leisure property adviser Christie & Co had announced it has been instructed to market the sale of the building by Warrington Borough Council.

Jon Patrick, head of leisure & development at Christie & Co who is coordinating the sale commented: “Warrington is one of the best-connected towns in the UK and with junctions to the M6, M62 and M56 Motorways, its road network connectivity is excellent with 3.5 million people living within 45 minutes’ drive time.

Warrington Guardian:

"In hospitality terms, the Warrington market is predominately driven by domestic demand and the growth in business around manufacturing, global logistics, cybersecurity, data analytics as well as energy industries will be a key factor in attracting additional hospitality brands to the town centre where less than 20 per cent of current hotel stock is located.

"As a result, we envisage interest both from a variety of hotel brands as well as owner-occupiers and developers.”

Christie and Co say the site "provides an excellent opportunity for owners, operators and investors to develop a hotel or associated leisure scheme".

Offers are being invited for the freehold and part leasehold site on a subject to contract and planning basis.

Warrington Guardian:

The agent added: "Situated in Barbauld Street, the 0.385-acre (0.15 ha) site is in close proximity to the council’s £142m Time Square development which includes a new state-of-the-art, 13 screen, 2,500 seat multiplex cinema operated by Cineworld, as well as several restaurants, an impressive market hall, new council offices, a 1,160-space multi-storey car park and a new civic square.

"Building on the success of Time Square, this central area of Warrington forms part of the town’s Cultural Quarter and is seen as key to the regeneration of the town, with residential living, cultural facilities, office and leisure and business actively being promoted."

The demolition of the historic Cabinet Works was met with anger by many residents.

Built in 1906, the building on Barbauld Street in the town centre now stood empty for around 60 years before demolition.