Market Street is about to get even more attractive

Manchester’s Market Street is home to many things: street fashion, the Arndale, pop-up food vans and plenty of musicians. But soon it will host a new type of establishment.

That’s because a museum has secured planning permission to open in the former Sports Direct unit above the Tesco Express store on the south side of the street. Museum of Illusions, a Croatian chain that started in 2015, won council approval to convert the store.

“The proposed museum would provide exciting exhibition space, support offices, storage, staff welfare and public health provision,” the Museum said in a planning statement. “The proposals also include a new frameless tempered glass display case with automatic sliding doors and satin stainless steel fittings.”

READ MORE: Inside the historic city centre, the ‘proper pub’, ready to evolve from its dark past

Its move to Manchester is part of a huge expansion of the organisation, which already has 40 locations across four continents. Its website says new museums will open across the UK, with sites in Manchester and London.

The museum offers “a collection of exhibits, artwork and interactive experiential entertainment,” according to Jonathan Benjamin, CEO.

“Another thing is that it’s also very hands-on in that we encourage people to interact with more of the exhibits and take photos if possible,” he added. “It’s essentially an example of the kind of experiential museums that are dotting the globe right now.”

More specifically, in Manchester, the museum will feature “fascinating holograms, mind-bending halls of illusion and stunning exhibitions designed to trick the mind and puzzle perceptions”, with “each state-of-the-art museum offering a glimpse of the seemingly impossible and incredible. ‘.

It is not yet known when the Museum will open, but it was given planning permission on Wednesday (May 8) and work is due to start within three years.