Cotton Works adds Factory Floor to growing Wigan destination
Cotton Works has confirmed the launch of Factory Floor, a major new competitive socialising and late-night venue opening this spring within the historic Eckersley Mill in Wigan. The £3 million project marks the latest addition to the growing destination, transforming part of the Grade II listed Mill One into a sprawling playground of interactive games, street food and immersive nightlife.
Dating back to 1884, Mill One was the first mill built on the Eckersley site, once one of the largest cotton mills in the region. At its peak, the powerhouse housed more than 230,000 ring spindles and nearly 1,700 looms, with thousands of workers passing through its doors daily. In recent years, parts of the building fell into disrepair. Now, The Heaton Group is carefully restoring the space while preserving its industrial character, with exposed brickwork and original iron beams that will remain very much in view.
Once complete, Factory Floor will accommodate around 350 guests and offer seven interactive games including darts, shuffleboard, pool, karaoke, skee ball, basketball and beer pong, alongside retro arcade machines. A central feature bar will anchor the venue, surrounded by flexible social spaces designed to shift from daytime play to high-energy evenings. The kitchen will be led by the team behind Super Fry Guys, who are introducing a brand-new concept called Feed.
As night falls, the venue will evolve. DJs, dancers, disco lighting and immersive production will transform the industrial shell into a party destination unlike anything else currently operating in the town. And this is just the start. Over time, Factory Floor will continue to adapt, with selected games making way for independent food traders and a stage area, creating an ever-changing social hub that grows with its community.
For John Heaton, Managing Director of The Heaton Group, the project is deeply personal. His family have been part of Wigan’s fabric for generations, and this feels like a natural continuation of that story.
“Factory Floor is all about bringing people together for shared experiences in a setting that feels both exciting and rooted in Wigan’s history. Eckersley Mill has an incredible story, and we’re proud to be part of its next chapter. This investment allows us to create something completely new for the town; a place where you can play, eat, drink and celebrate under one roof, from daytime socials through to late-night parties. The Cotton Works is already building a strong community, and Factory Floor will add another major layer to that, strengthening it as a destination venue in the North West.”
The venue will also create 20 new jobs, bringing The Heaton Group’s total hospitality team to 60. It is a significant vote of confidence in Wigan’s ongoing cultural and economic revival, and one that cements Cotton Works as one of the largest brownfield regeneration sites under single ownership in the North West.
With its long-term vision of blending heritage architecture with modern leisure, hospitality and workspace, Cotton Works is steadily re-energising one of the town’s most iconic landmarks. Factory Floor joins an established line-up that includes The Three Mills, Feast at The Mills and Weave Co-Working, which opened in summer 2025.
Further details on opening dates and traders will be announced in the coming weeks. For now, Wigan waits – and after years of silence, the mills are ready for their next shift.
