The cool canal-side office that was a bar and has been named as one of Manchester's 'Most Exciting Workplaces'

Imagine going to work in a place where you can have drinks on the canal-side deck of an office that used to be a bar. 

Scenes from iconic Manc TV show Cold Feet were also filmed around there too. 

Well that’s the workplace of the 21 employees of media company Running Total - with their Brazil Street spot having been named on Insider Media’s list of the ‘Most Exciting Workplaces’. 

Some £330,000 was spent on the space that was the former Metz bar, the work in the Grade II listed building completed last November. 

As well as the private deck, the transformation of the 3,120 sq ft office has given the team a feature meeting room with smart glass which can be turned off for privacy. Manchester City and Channel 4 are among the companies to have been hosted in that space. 

“Previously, reluctant staff came in for their mandated three days a week in a cramped and dull office. Now most staff are in every day,” Founding Partner John Marshall tells Insider. 

What once was a dark space with low ceilings now gives off quite the first impression to clients, architects Atelier MB having to work closely with Manchester City Council’s conservation officer as many of the original, historic features were covered up.

As for that canal-side deck, they might even grow their own salad going forwards, and there’s ducks nesting opposite the window.