Welcome to The Storey

Hi-tech office space, creative industry hub, performing arts venue and contemporary eatery

Thomas Storey's philanthropic 19th century vision for the promotion of art, science, literature and technical instruction for the people of Lancaster lives on to this day. Now re-modelled and purpose-designed as a centre for the creative industries, The Storey hosts more than 20 innovative businesses and organisations.

Our office spaces are equipped with everything you need to plug in, switch on and be creative, including fast internet connection, a staffed reception and lifts. And we're just a two minute walk from both Lancaster's historic city centre and its West Coast Main Line station with connections to Manchester (1h) and London (2h30m).

The Storey Gardens

Hidden away in the shadows of The Storey is Lancaster's most secret garden. Just a stone's throw away from Castle Hill's
historic Lancaster Castle, and a short walk
from Lancaster Train Station, the Storey Gardens are right in the middle of oldest part of the City.

The large walled Georgian garden originally belonged to a private house on Castle Park, but was reclaimed and added onto the grounds of The Storey in the 30s and 50s.

The Storey Gardens is divided into two distinct areas, divided by a Georgian wall:

The Copper Beech Gardenis situated nearest to The Storey building,is on two levels and hosts an impressive Copper Beech tree at it's centre (hence the garden name!)The Tasting Gardenis situated beyond the Georgian wall at the westernly side of the gardens. The Tasting Garden is an environmental artwork - an orchard, an artwork and a garden, created by internationally renowned environmental artist Mark Dion in 1998.The paths in The Tasting Garden are laid out in the form of the branches of a tree, with old varieties of fruit trees (apple, cherry, plum and pear) planted on each of the four main branches. Extinct varieties are marked by memorial stones.A small folly, The Arboriculturalist’s Workshed, in one corner containstraditional gardening equipment, created as a monument to the people who produced the varieties of fruit trees that are part of our heritage. Plinths bearing a bronze sculpture of its fruit were erected in front of each of the fruit trees.

Unfortunately, during a period of closure in 2008, the bronze fruit sculptures were stolen from The Tasting Garden.

The Friends of the Storey Gardens, which
is a volunteer group established to preserve and enhance the gardens for the benefit of the community;
are undertaking fundraising activities to restore the sculptual elements of the artwork in The Tasting Garden.

To learn more about the Friends' activities and to donate, please visit

The Friends of the Storey Gardens website

Opening Times

The Storey Gardens are open to the public:

- 9am - 4pm, Monday - Saturday (not including Bank Holidays)

Tenants & Office Spaces

Details of our tenants and available office spaces

Our tenants

We're proud to be 'home' to more than 20 innovative businesses and organisations, including representatives from what we believe to be the best of the creative industries in the North West of England.

Want to join us? Please contact us to discuss how our spaces can meet your needs
Already a tenant? Join the Storey Tenants Network on Facebook

Our office spaces

Most modern workplaces hate people, but we believe architecture should be a three-dimensional philosophy.

That’s why no two workspaces in the Storey are the same. What we offer are blank canvases for creative people and we won’t tell you where your desk should be – or even if you should have a desk.

On imposing a contemporary design and function to the building, our architects have acknowledged the richness of the historical, geographical and architectural context.

The Storey is equipped with all the features today’s creative industries need to plug in, switch on and be creative, including fast internet connection, a staffed reception, security and lifts.

We have a diverse range of office spaces available for organisations or individuals involved in the creative sector.

Need a professional business address without the commitment of renting an office?

From just £25 +VAT per month your business could benefit from:

Use of The Storey's postal address for incoming mailStaffed reception during office hoursPresence on the Storey's websiteWi-Fi connectivity throughout the buildingDiscount on room hireSupport in the promotion of your events

From £35+VAT per month we also include:

A reception facility to field calls and either text or email you with the message from your customer

Artist Studios at The Storey

Alongside traditional office space, The Storey also offers 9 studio spaces available for rent.

The artist studios are housed in a shared creative space, divided by high partition walls and are located in a large beamed room on the first floor of our historic building. The spaces are flooded with natural light and offer lots of wall space for working on, and displaying artwork.

The space is suitable for a number of different creative industries, such as:

Painters
Print makers
Designers
Textiles
Jewellers
Small scale installations
Costume designers
Props makers
Model makers
Graphic designers

The artist studios are available to rent from £25+VAT per week

Contact us - office spaces

Please contact us to find out more about what The Storey can offer your business.

Lancaster City Council - Property Services

Telephone:

01524 582967

Email:
[email protected]

Printroom Cafe & Bar

Join us for coffee and cake, craft beer and casual dining.

Maybe an after work
drink is more your style?
Our fantastic range of local, specially-selected craft beers and independently sourced wines will hit the spot.

View our current menu (PDF, 154KB)

Opening hours

We are currently open:

Mon - Fri 8.30am - 5.30pm, Saturday 9am - 4pm

Private hire and event catering

Printroom Cafe & Bar is available for private hire, with our relaxed vibe and city centre location, we're perfect for your special birthday celebration, social or corporate event.