Sitting at the junction of the River Rea and the Grand Union Canal, with its own wharf, The Bond has been reimagined from its industrial origins as an Ice Factory, the HP Sauce Factory for Birmingham and a Bonded Warehouse before spending 30 years derelict.
The relaunch of the landmark building in the heart of Birmingham’s Creative Quarter harnesses the embodied carbon of the older building whilst introducing modern technology.
Property developers Oval - working with Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) and Create Central - officially launched the reimagined space with a party attended by over 400 people from the worlds of television, film, content production, business, property and the creative sector.
Joe Lycett’s Channel 4 chat show Late Night Lycett is currently broadcast live each week from the facility, which features a stunning set packed full of crdations from local artists alongside The Bond’s own wharf.
The Bond will soon be joined by the BBC which is set to open its new broadcast centre in the area in 2026, a move which will also see MasterChef set up home in Digbeth in 2024. Steven Knight’s proposed film studio and HS2 will also be heading to Digbeth whilst Joe Lycett is bringing a new Channel 4 show to the area.
North One, the biggest independent production company in the Midlands and the team behind shows such as Fifth Gear, Gadget Show, Guy Martin and Travel Man, will be moving into The Bond in May 2023 alongside All3Media stablemate Optomen Television, producer of Great British Menu for the BBC, and All3Media facilities and post production arm Manor Production Services.
James Craig, founder of Oval Real Estate, said “As custodians of the Digbeth Estate we are beyond proud to reveal the Midlands’ newest production hub, The Bond will be an epicentre for film, media and tech within the growing community.
“Oval Real Estate develop, manage and invest in buildings throughout the UK. Specialising in spaces sometimes overlooked, we aim to leave buildings and neighbourhoods better than we found them.”
Create Central Chair, Ed Shedd said “The Bond is a great example of a collaborative approach between the public and private sectors to unlock the region’s potential."
Chair of Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership ( GBSLEP), Anita Bhalla said: “ It’s great to see The Creative Content Hub open! There is huge potential to explore virtual reality and artificial reality in TV and games and to drive forward innovative content production in our region. This facility is a crucial part of the wider plan for the Digbeth Creative Quarter.”
Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “It’s wonderful to see the rebirth of The Bond and I want to pay tribute to the tremendous spirit of collaboration that has helped bring this about. When we work together as a team - as the Commonwealth Games showed - the West Midlands can be truly world class.”
The Bond will also be available for event hire, offering state of the art spaces suitable for a variety of events ranging from screenings, conferences, film shoots and award ceremonies. Take a look around The Bond here:
1. The Bond, Fazeley Street, Digbeth
2. Celebrating the relaunch of The Bond in Digbeth in style
3. Celebrating the launch of The Bond in Digbeth
4. Walking tall at The Bond in Digbeth