The stunning building is home to workspace, podcast studio, private gym, gallery, a city garden and the Daze coffee house
Allenby Commercial is celebrating Monocle’s first anniversary.(Image: Allenby Commercial)
Members of the public can tour a landmark Hull building which is celebrating its first birthday after a multimillion-pound makeover. The Monocle building has dominated the city centre skyline for decades – but its striking new look and new name was only unveiled last year, having undergone a major transformation by owners Allenby Commercial.
The building – the old Europa House – was snapped up by Allenby in 2018, who then put in plans for it to be brought back into use as a modern workspace and hospitality hub in the heart of the centre, now making it a stunning base for a raft of businesses.
The six-storey building includes a business lounge with co-working spaces, podcast studio, private gym, event space and gallery, a city garden and the ground-floor Daze coffee house, which is open to the public. And the old, mirrored facade has been replaced with a clear-fronted space which is currently home to 17 businesses spanning a range of sectors.
The development was renamed Monocle by Allenby Commercial to reflect its curved architecture as well as its transformation from a mirrored office block to “one defined by openness, transparency and connection”. During its first year, Monocle has hosted dozens of events, including business networking sessions, AGMs, exhibitions and art galleries, parties, barbecues, fashion shows, wine tastings and games nights.
Now, people interested in the redevelopment are invited to book on a tour of Monocle as it marks its first anniversary. Georgia Allenby, director at Allenby Commercial, said: “It’s been a very exciting and successful first year of Monocle and we’re delighted to welcome visitors for a tour of the building that has generated so much interest.
“It’s a great opportunity for people who used to work here decades ago to have a trip down memory lane and look at photographs of it through the years, seeing how it has been brought back to life and transformed into a contemporary, welcoming and thriving space. Monocle is a wonderful piece of Hull’s history and it’s important to celebrate that. It’s more than a workspace now – it’s a modern hub which is becoming increasingly popular among businesses, members, the public and creatives. We can’t wait to welcome people for a tour and show Monocle in all its glory.”
Councillor Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council, added: “Monocle has made a real difference to Hull city centre. It has transformed a building that had stood empty for years into a vibrant, modern destination. It hasn’t simply refurbished a building – it has reimagined how a city centre commercial space can work. By creating a genuine hub where businesses and the wider community come together, Allenby Commercial has delivered something that feels fresh, different and genuinely innovative.
“That innovation has also had a wider impact. Monocle has helped bring new businesses, new investment and more people into this part of the city centre, creating activity and confidence that benefits the area as a whole. Cities like Hull need ambitious projects that challenge convention and show what is possible.
“Monocle is exactly that. It is a fantastic achievement, and everyone at Allenby Commercial should be immensely proud of what they have created.”
Chris Hobman, Chief Operating Officer at Hull Fibre, which is based at Monocle, ran a call centre at Europa House 20 years ago. He said: “Monocle is the first place of its kind in this city, successfully blending that productive office environment with a networking culture. It’s a destination postcode for business, and I’m sure anyone who comes for a tour will find it fascinating to see the changes and improvements.”
Tours of Monocle will take place on Wednesday, September 16, from 10am-11am. To book a place, visit this site.
Get all the latest headlines sent straight to your inbox for free with our newsletter. You can stay up to date with all the breaking news and top stories as they happen in Hull and East Yorkshire by clicking this link.
