Nothing to do with Skyscrapers or Skylines, but an interesting feature on a development which could brighten up the city and increase it's international profile.

May be based in North Manchester, so the associated restaurants may wean the natives off their traditional diet of black puddings, pies, hotpot etc. ;)


Manchester Evening News
Tuesday, 19th August, 2005

Thai-ing the knot
Carmel Thomason


Temple planned for ThaitownFOLLOWING the weekend's successful Manchester/ Thailand Sports And Culture Festival plans are being put forward to develop the UK's first ever Thai town in the city.

The idea is being spearheaded by festival organiser and restaurant owner, Kriangsak Sirisambhand, who is also chairman of the Thai Culture Forum UK.

Kriangsak, who owns The Royal Orchid on Portland Street, proposes to create a Thaitown to reflect the Thai culture in a similar way that Chinatown does for the Chinese.

No site has yet been confirmed, but it is hoped that the Thai village could be located in north Manchester and would centre around a Buddhist temple with gardens, a Thai bar, restaurant, café, supermarket, shops,cinema and school of Thai Culture.

Manchester City Council has already expressed interest in developing the idea and yesterday Kriangsak met with officials, including Philomena Chen from Chamberlink, director of Trade and Investment Thailand, Steve Buckley, Kevin McDonagh, the MD of Far East Trade Limited, and Malee Choklumlerd, the commercial minister for the Royal Thai Embassy Office of Commercial Affairs, to try to turn the vision into a reality.

It is very early stages, but it is hoped the Thaitown will be on the map within two to five years. The first phase will be the building of the temple, for which Krainagsak has already made a start. And the second phase will be focussed on attracting further Thai investment, with companies using Manchester as a base to distribute their goods throughout the UK and Europe.

"I wanted to do something for my community and to help people in Manchester to understand more about the Thai culture," says Kriangsak. "It will be something that will benefit both Manchester and Thailand and become an attractive tourist point." As a start, Kriangsak has already found an 8ft tall sitting Buddha for the new temple.

The statue, made of solid brass and weighing 1.5tonnes, was originally brought over from Thailand as a promotional feature outside an Indian restaurant in North Wales. However, it's positioning soon caused outcry from the Thai community who felt that the statue was not been given the respect it deserved.

"The owner wasn't a Buddhist and it wasn't the right place for it, because it wasn't in keeping in how we respect our Buddah. So, we negotiated to give it a good home."

Great idea but it should be central, somewhere around Ancoats or New Islington would be ideal.

Agreed. One of the pains of Curry Mile is that it is a pain in the arse to get home from on public transport unless you live in South Manchester's studentville.

Somewhere central would be great, somewhere where you could just walk through on the off chance, rather than a place you purposely have to head for.

Sounds good :) Will hopefully mean lots of great new food too!

[QUOTE=kebabmonster]Agreed. One of the pains of Curry Mile is that it is a pain in the arse to get home from on public transport unless you live in South Manchester's studentville.[QUOTE]

Yeah but if it wearn't so close to the students it wouldn't be half the place (mile) it is now.

I wonder just how many Thai people live in Manchester. You need the people there to make it authentic and not just a themed part of town. China town is only anygood because the locals live there and bring there own customs.

Well North Manchester is as good a place as any other for this type of venture if you ask me. (To be successful it needs to be done well though with the right motivations... rather than merely some touristy, gimmicky regeneration box-ticking exercise).

While there are significant developments surrounding the city centre that have the ability to pull people into them but the North does seem to be lacking in this kind of thing.

In West Manchester you have Salford Quays, Old Trafford and the Trafford Centre. To the South you have Manchester Airport, and the vibrant districts of Rusholme, Chorlton and Didsbury and to the East you have Sportcity. North Manchester has Heaton Park of course but it would be a great idea to site something like this Thai Town to further add to the area's profile and regeneration.

North Manchester should also be better served by public transport than most areas what with the existing Bury Metrolink line and the forthcoming Rochdale line.

North Manchester has Heaton Park of course but it would be a great idea to site something like this Thai Town to further add to the area's profile and regeneration

North Manchester's still pretty Jewish and to me (as an easterner) it's always seemed every bit as cosmopolitan as the south of the city. And a bit mysterious.

The only other Thai Town I've ever heard of is in Los Angeles. I like the idea of Thai Town Manchester, but shouldn't the general premise be that we should have a sizeable Thai community first?? The only Thais in Manchester (largely) are either students or......erm.....wives.

Thai food though......cool :)

In regards to North Manchester being a bit mysterious Jongeman...i can understand what you mean.
It seems that because it is not "promoted" as much as other Manc areas and because of the rough/ugly reputation it has, a lot of it seems "undiscovered".
Which is why it is pleasantly surprising when you see some streets and areas as you (well i!) expect it to look worse than it does.
Sorry i'm a bit off topic but a snowy Prestwich (ahh memories of February 05) is just wonderful!
...apologies once again, lol

I think they should build it on the site of the old Boddingtons brewery - easy access, kind of North Manchester.

Try saying Thai-town and not thinking of Noddy, Big Ears etc... :hahaha:

I think that deliberately creating these places is a recipe for Disney-style cheesiness. The best Chinatowns and places like Rusholme are cool because they have grown organically.

Bit more on 'Thai Town'

Site search for temple to kick off ‘Thai town’
23.09.2005


The Thai Culture Forum UK and Institute of Thai Arts and Culture has instructed Beesley Thompson to acquire a site in Manchester for the development of a Thai Buddhist Temple and Thai Plaza.

Still can't get my bonkers around this.

I actually think this could be the start of something speical, new projects have got to start somewhere.
I hope this temple and the Thai area is created somewhere near or there abouts around the Skyline Central area

Will there be lots of Thai women too? I hope so... :yes:

Yeah, Thai 'women'...........

Thai town in Manchester


Following the recent successful Manchester/ Thailand Sports and Culture Festival on 13 and 14 August, plans are being put forward to develop the UK's first ever Thai town in Manchester. The idea is being spearheaded by festival organiser and restaurant owner, Kriangsak Sirisambhand, who is also chairman of the Thai Culture Forum UK.


Kriangsak proposes to create a Thaitown to reflect the Thai culture in a similar way that Chinatown does for the Chinese. "I wanted to do something for my community and to help people in Manchester to understand more about the Thai culture," says Kriangsak. "It will be something that will benefit both Manchester and Thailand and become an attractive tourist point."


The Thai Culture Forum UK have already helped to establish the north west’s first Thai Buddhist temple, named ‘Wat Charoen Bhavana’, last year in Salford. The temple is intended to be a focal point for the Thai community and local residents, and also for learning the Thai language and Thai culture and supporting people in need in the community.


It is hoped that the Thai village could be located in north Manchester within two to five years and would centre around a Buddhist temple with gardens, a Thai bar, restaurant, café, supermarket, shops, cinema and school of Thai Culture.

Will there be lots of Thai women too? I hope so... :yes:

"...and let me be even more frank, just to show you that I'm not a hard-hearted man, and it's not all dollars and cents. She was beautiful, she was young, she was innocent. She was the greatest piece of ass I ever had, and I had 'em all over the world."

Oh yes.

"...and let me be even more frank, just to show you that I'm not a hard-hearted man, and it's not all dollars and cents. She was beautiful, she was young, she was innocent. She was the greatest piece of ass I ever had, and I had 'em all over the world."

Oh yes.
Jack! :laugh:

Has there been any more on this proposal lately? (This article from September '05). Do any of the forum's Northern Quarter / Ancoats contacts know of anything they can tell us of?

Site search for temple to kick off ‘Thai town’

The Thai Culture Forum UK and Institute of Thai Arts and Culture has instructed Beesley Thompson to acquire a site in Manchester for the development of a Thai Buddhist Temple and Thai Plaza.

23.09.2005

The temple will be the largest outside London and is the first stage in the development of a ‘Thai town’.

Funding would be provided by the Thai government, army and Thailand-based companies.

Sites in the Northern Quarter, Ancoats and surrounding areas are being considered for the development, which would include restaurants, a community centre and a supermarket.

The temple would form the cornerstone of the proposed 40,000 sq ft (3,716 sq m) project.

A prelet Thai restaurant and cash-and-carry store would accompany the temple and further Thai investment is expected to fund the rest of the development.

Later stages could include a Thai cinema, sports development centre, and school of Thai culture.

The long-term plan is for an ancillary trading estate to be set up to invest in, provide and distribute Thai products throughout

I'm sure i saw something advertising a meeting for this the other week. Could have been a poster or banner, maybe in China town????
Sorry, cant remeber more details.

Anything new on this anyone???

http://www.pantherclub.co.uk/Events/hall4.jpg

That sounds similar to Oriental city (soon to be redeveloped) we have here in North London.

Hope it happens

Wouldn't a part of the CO-OP Masterplan be the perfect site for Thai Town.

Investor seeks Northern Quarter site for Thai Town
By James Chapelard

http://ckimg.sv.publicus.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=CK&Date=20080225&Category=FREE&ArtNo=547019604&Ref=AR&maxw=300

A businessman's unique vision of a Thai Town in Manchester's Northern Quarter is a step closer, Crain's can reveal.

Royal Orchid restaurant owner Kriangsak Sirisambhand has enlisted the help of an unnamed property developer and is actively searching for sites for the proposed leisure and residential development.

The development, a new building housing Thai-themed restaurants, a hotel, a temple, shops, flats and education centre, would be the first in the country and a potential rival for Chinatown.

Sirisambhand — chairman of the Thai Culture Forum UK — hopes it will act as a focus for the North West's Thai community to come to Manchester and will be used by British people.

A friend of Manchester City Football Club owner Thaksin Shinawatra, he is currently looking for a six-acre site in the Northern Quarter or further north to build Thai Town.

Although Sirisambhand is spearheading the project, he says it will be a joint venture with other parties.

He said: “We have people that are interested and are getting involved. We are currently looking for a potential site. I have got the investor looking for the site at the moment. It will be a joint venture. There are quite a few people wanting to see it happen. I am excited.

“We are not just doing it for Thai people but for British, so they can experience Thai culture. We have a nice culture and a way of life to offer.

“It will be more like a complex. People that have been to Thailand or Asia will want to come and have a look. It will be the first in the UK.”

Should the plan succeed, Sirisambhand will move his own restaurant from Charlotte Street, in central Manchester, to the new site.

He has been in touch with Manchester City Council which has already shown an interest in the project.

Manchester City Council chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein told Crain's Manchester Business: “We welcome any interest relating to large scale investment in the city and look forward to discussing their ideas going forward.” A similar concept has worked well in Los Angeles, where a Thai Town, along Hollywood Boulevard, has developed with Thai restaurants, markets, shops, and massage spas. The half-mile long neighbourhood was designated by the LA city council in October, 1999.

Cleo Farman who owns one of the Northern Quarter's best know bars, Odd, said: “If it's independent shops and done well it is a good idea. I think it would be better to have it in the Great Ancoats Street area because that area needs something done to it.”

Erm...he's not gonna find any room in the NQ for that!! Maybe Rochdale Road area or beyond, but sounds interesting!

Will they come with ladyboys I wonder? (I'm not asking by the way!!)

Erm...he's not gonna find any room in the NQ for that!! Maybe Rochdale Road area or beyond, but sounds interesting!

Will they come with ladyboys I wonder? (I'm not asking by the way!!)

of course you're not, :pet:

early days yet, would be interesting if it was developed as sort of a modern day Garden suburb or something

low density units around a giant roundabout! I hope the architect is quietly let go. This could easily turn into a out-of0town ethnic retail park from reading the businessmans 'vision' hope he gets the support required to turn it into something slightly more useful.

This should be fairly central though.

I don't think there's any chance MCC would approve something that looks like that in Ancoats, nevermind the northern quarter. That's Just a vision mind. Doubt there's been any design work yet.

I love thai food, well... what I've had of it on me travels..mmmmmmmmmm travels.

So thumbs up for me

I wonder if land to the north of sport city could be made available for this? Strikes me that vacant plots in this area will be looking for a new use from tomorrow.

To the best of my knowledge the Thai community in Manchester/the wider north has no particular geographical centre. Thai Town will be servicing a diffused community, who will need to travel in by either car or public transport. With regular trams (soon...) and good road access, an Alan Turing Way location would be ideal. The land is also right in the middle of two of Manchester's two highest profile thai businesses - MCFC and the Vermillion restaurant.

Out of interest, who owns those big car parks near the gas tower. Is it the football club (maybe on a long lease) or the council?

Spot on Tates i also think that area would be perfect for this development , area's like this dont happen over night ,they grow with reputation and the Vermillion resturant could be the venue that starts this ,if im not wrong it was a Thai businessman that opened this wanting to put something back into the community that made him his fortune ( i my be wrong ) .

I actually think the Iqbal family (owners of Seamark Seafood plant and the restaurant housed above) are of Bangladeshi extraction. Not quite sure how the Thai thing fits in here, but I'm guessing it's something to do Thai food being more commonly associated with Seamarks core prawn product lines? (or the commercial realities of a cuisine with less intense competition)?

Not that I'm sure ownership matters, the chef, the food and the brand at Vermillion are unquestionably Thai. Together with COMS, I think the restaurant would make a good gateway to Thai Town.

I just wonder if Kriangsak Sirisambhand, the guy promoting the Thai Town concept above and owner of one of the other major Thai restaurants in Manchester would want one of his biggest competitors right in the heart of his new village?

Yeah, this is a good idea. I agree with the north sport city location, the brown field land is annoying and it would make sense with a dispersed thai community.

I don't like the pic. Too much like a retail park. It would be much better with unique landscaping. Not really a fan of lined trees

I lived at The Tobacco Factory just off Rochdale Road between 1999 and 2004 and even then I recall such a thing being talked about. If I remember rightly it was proposed to take the site of the fairly rough and ready (and very hilly) NCP carpark on Miller St facing the CIS.

I think this land is owned by the Co-op, and as a location I personally think it would strike the right balance of not diffusing the CBD whilst adding welcome density to the periphery of the city centre. It would also be easily reachable by all and sundry through public transport (buses galore and Victoria for tram and train).

As noted though the design needs some substantial work. ie tear it up and start again.

And lord knows why they were ever bigging this up as being a project for the "Northern Quarter".

Cheers

Thom

I actually think the Iqbal family (owners of Seamark Seafood plant and the restaurant housed above) are of Bangladeshi extraction.

Ah might explain the rather odd 'artists impression', I was thinking it looked rather South Asian in its interpretation of urban design, the sort of large projects you see all the time in Pakistan/India. He may have some contacts over there to knock up a quick vision.

Decent quality HOUSES are needed around the centre of town - this could deliver it in some way shape or form.

The whole thing sounds a bit strange to me. As much as I'd love a Thai town you can't just build some houses and chuck some thai people in there as though they were pieces in a museum. These things develop themselves.

I'd love a thai town to be developed in an underused area of the northern quarter but not by way of flattening huge swaithes of it and developing something that would be more at home in the Trafford Centre. Just use exisitng buildings and build a landmark focal point. there's plenty of empty units about the place.

Nothing out near sport city would work. Vermillion cost £5 million and is stuggling to get people out to visit it never mind coaxing people into living there.

Thai'ing this in with the Holt town development might wo'k. hehehe.

No seriously.

Sirisambhand — chairman of the Thai Culture Forum UK — and a friend of Manchester City Football Club owner Thaksin Shinawatra.

Cool should we expect that they will kill off 5,000 of the locals then.

Joking aside cant think of a worse example (well I can actually like. Well a lot worse.) of cack handed insensitivity and ego.

The greatest wonder of Manchester is that it is an immigrant city where communities have grown in an organic manner. Thus Rusholme, Levenshulme, Chinatown, Sedgeley Park and so.

You just cant create an plastic community like this. Although it would be a very good way of controlling dissident voices. We are talking about a pal of a human rights abuser.

Although it would be a very good way of controlling dissident voices.

You can control dissenters through building a shopping centre? How's that work then?

I don't think immigration is Manchester's greatest wonder. It isn't New York. I've no objection to this as a development, as long as it's attractive, sustainable and adds to the city. A retail park with temple wouldn't fulfill this, but give them a chance to develop a scheme before we condemn it outright.

The whole thing sounds a bit strange to me. As much as I'd love a Thai town you can't just build some houses and chuck some thai people in there as though they were pieces in a museum. These things develop themselves.

I'd love a thai town to be developed in an underused area of the northern quarter but not by way of flattening huge swaithes of it and developing something that would be more at home in the Trafford Centre. Just use exisitng buildings and build a landmark focal point. there's plenty of empty units about the place.
Absolutely spot on.

Wherever this is built, can it be served by a skytrain system like the one in Bangkok and we have that link into the extant tram network? K thx.

Will it include ladyboys ?

Will it include ladyboys ?

Asked that already Issac ;)

Asked that already Issac ;)

I had a quick look through the thread as I thought it must have been.

And missed it.