From derelict icon to cultural landmark: Reinventing the Stockport Pyramid

Before it became one of the UK's most talked-about hospitality venues, the Stockport Pyramid was a hollow shell of its former self. After housing the Co-op Bank, the building stood vacant for years - an impressive structure sitting beside the busy M60 motorway. Inside, it was in poor condition -windows gathered dust, ceilings were stained, the fabric of the interior was worn and neglected.

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When our design team first visited the Pyramid, it was clear this wasn’t just a redesign. The building needed more than mere decoration: it needed a vision. The Royal Nawaab Group had the bold ambition of converting this iconic landmark into a flagship hospitality destination. From our first site visit, we were engaged not just as designers, but as partners for this transformation.

The challenge was about reimagining the very purpose of the Pyramid to unlock its potential. Our team led the project from initial concept through to design delivery - redefining the space at every level.

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The initial site visit

Walking through the front doors for the first time, we saw it was a stark, empty shell. The interior was stripped back to its core, with exposed services, missing floor coverings, and the remnants of its former use as an office building scattered throughout. It was cold, quiet, and rather sad. And whilst the scale was impressive, so too was the scale of the challenge.

Years without inhabitants had taken their toll, and it was clear this wasn’t a simple fit-out. The building needed a complete rethink, from layout and function to identity and purpose.

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From empty space to immersive experience

Creating a stunning, multi-functional, premium quality space was central to the vision. We developed a flexible, layered design to support both everyday dining and large-scale events. Key features included:

• A large, open-plan luxury buffet restaurant with a stunning open kitchen on the ground floor
• A feature staircase leading to a first floor grand event suite
• A choice of banqueting spaces, each with capacity to host large-scale events
• A private bride’s room and canapé servery  
• Smaller event spaces on the second floor, ideal for smaller functions and gatherings

To enhance the sense of grandeur, we enhanced the external appeal with the design of a custom-made external canopy. This not only complements the Pyramid’s geometric silhouette but also provides shelter and visual focus at the main entrance.

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A landmark transformed

Today, the Stockport Pyramid no longer feels empty. It has been reborn as the northern flagship of the award-winning Royal Nawaab Group. It is a thriving hospitality destination that reflects both the ambition of its current tenants but also the resilience of this unique building.

To view more completed photos and read out the final design, please head to our Royal Nawaab web page.

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