Historic ‘Rum Runner’ site turned into offices
AFORMER restaurant in Birmingham city centre has been converted into new grade A office space following a £2 million refurbishment.
The two-storey Rum Runner Works at Regency Wharf, off Broad Street, was previously home to Jimmy Spices restaurant but now has 16,000 sq ft of new office space.
Owner Picton worked with interior designer Office Principles on the project which included installing a new bike hub with changing facilities and private external terraces overlooking Gas Street Basin.
There is also a central courtyard space for events.
The locally listed frontage of the building has been retained and sandblasted to expose the original brickwork.
Rum Runner Works is named after the Rum Runner nightclub, which occupied part of the site up until 1987, when it was demolished to make way for the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Bridge Street.
Birmingham band Duran Duran made its name playing at the club which also played host to the likes of other local artists Dexys Midnight Runners and UB40.
Tim Hamlin, director of asset manager at Picton, said: “The site of the Rum Runner Works has a rich and colourful history, firstly as a glassworks in the 1800s and more recently as the location of the Rum Runner nightclub.
“Through the refurbishment of the building, we wanted to pay homage to both these important eras, given
their significance to the city.
“The concept was to fully reposition the building for the modern occupier but also to respect and retain the link to the history of the site.”
Theo Holmes, director in the office agency team at CBRE in Birmingham which is marketing the space, added: “Picton and Office Principles have done a brilliant job on the building, sympathetically converting it to create a modern, high spec office environment that retains its history and heritage.”
Gary Tailby, managing director of Office Principles North, said: “We’re really pleased to have delivered an inspiring new office scheme in a fabulous canalside location.
“But we have restored more than just a building. This project has reminded Birmingham of an important piece of its recent cultural history and created a new stop on its tourist trail. It’s a piece of history with an exciting new future.”