The Shoe Factory Social Club 3.79

The Shoe Factory Social Club offers free warehouse space to the local community during the regeneration of the site, exactly one hundred years after the factory was built by shoe-makers Sexton, Son & Everard. In 1972, the company sadly went into receivership with the loss of 700 jobs and the factory has been empty since.

Dominic Richards, chief executive of The Shoe Quarter Ltd, who are regenerating St. Mary’s and St. George’s Works, said,

‘One of the attractions of the site is that it sits in a vibrant creative community of talented musicians, film-makers, designers and artists and we want to find a way to contribute to this. Performance or exhibition space will be offered in the warehouse for free and all proceeds from ticket sales will go directly to the artists’.

The programme is being curated with the help of Samantha Coe of the Wharf Academy who are housed in neighbouring St. Martin-at-Oak. ‘We are interested in any individual or group who think they can make good use of this beautiful space and would love to hear from you. Please get in touch via the website.’

Plans for the regeneration will be made subject to further community consultation this autumn, prior to the application for planning permission. It is hoped building work will begin in 2017.

For more information, please visit stmarysworks.uk