The end of Store Street, the beginning of the Depot

Photo Credits: The Warehouse Project

Last November, I said my final goodbyes to Store Street. I think, like most people, I had a bittersweet relationship with Store Street; the line ups were good, the location was perfect, the vision was there, but it was painfully evident that Warehouse Project had outgrown its humble venue.

A former air-raid shelter beneath Piccadilly Station, Store Street was the home to WHP for over a decade and hosted some of Manchester’s most illicit, underground parties but as WHP’s irrefutable reputation grew, Store Street was no longer big enough to host the 12 weeks of sell-out events.

This year, WHP abandoned Store Street and relocated to a new venue called the Depot at Mayfield. Situated not far from Store Street, the Depot welcomes WHP like an old friend and encapsulates the spirit of the Mancunian underground music scene.

Concealed under a disused railway, the untapped space endured decades of solitude, until a huge £1billion regeneration project transformed the Depot into a magnificent, 10,000 capacity venue. With four iconic rooms, each with unique characteristics which reflect WHP’s pervasive spirit, the Depot has exceeded ravers’ expectations, proving itself as the rightful home of the annual festival.

At the heart of the venue, is the main performance space, the Depot. While the cavernous warehouse mirrors Store Streets industrial ambiance with its exposed brickwork and original steelwork pillars, unlike before this room has enough space to host 6,100 people. The Depot provides an overwhelming stage for world class DJ’s, such as Joseph Capriati, Bicep and Adam Beyer, to showcase their immutable talent in the heart of Manchester.

The venue’s second arena, the Concourse, is magnificent in its own right. With a capacity of 3,200, the room offers a unique platform of opportunity. With elevated dancing spaces and a translucent roof, the room almost reminds me of Ibiza’s Amnesia terrace.

The Archive is a smaller, more intimate hub located at the back of the venue, which offers a more personal space to connect with the music. The Archive, however, should not be underestimated. Although smaller, huge acts, such as Honey Dijon, Skream and Krystal Klear, are set to play in this inclusive room, making it the venues hidden treat.

So far, I’ve only had the pleasure of visiting the Depot once for Kaluki on 28th September and it finally feels like WHP has found its forever home. Entry was efficient, the bar was rapid, lockers were organised and most importantly, there was enough room to dance. I was also pleasantly surprised to see that WHP has gone completely plastic-free.

Despite the move, WHP has stayed loyal to their original image, keeping with the pitch-black setting and red lighting to preserve their insidious, theatrical atmosphere.

Over the last decade, WHP has carved its reputation in the UK’s electronic dance music scene. While Store Street had its flaws, something persuaded me to go back for three consecutive years, and despite the queues and the crowds, every single time, I had a great night dancing under those arches.

From 2007 to 2018, Store Street opened its doors to over 1 million ravers and created so many joyful and unforgettable moments, but now it’s time for a new era of WHP. After visiting the Depot, I am confident that the next generation of parties will be just as memorable as the last.

I am currently in the process of writing up a WHP & Kaluki review so keep an eye out for more details!