The former Europa House has been renamed Monocle and it also has a new coffee house which is open to the public
A landmark Hull building has now reopened with a striking new look after a multimillion-pound makeover. The old Europa House has formed part of the Hull city centre skyline for decades, housing hundreds of office workers since the 1970s.
Now, 50 years since it welcomed its first tenants, the building has reopened after a major transformation and with a new identity, after being renamed Monocle. The five-storey office complex, based at the junction of Anlaby Road and Ferensway, has been brought back into use as a modern workspace and hospitality hub in the heart of the centre, through a redevelopment project by Hull business Allenby Commercial, who snapped up the building in 2018.
Plans for the redevelopment were first unveiled in 2019, and they are now close to completion. As well as having space for up to 700 workers once finished this autumn, the golden-clad Monocle is also now home to a new coffee house called Daze, which is open to the public.
The building’s distinctive curved shape inspired the name Monocle, and Allenby Commercial has paid homage to that heritage in it design, with 70s-inspired interiors and colour palettes, which it says delivers a thoroughly modern experience.
Monocle, which is already home to six businesses, has 60,000 sqft of workspace, a business lounge with co-working spaces, podcast studio, private gym and an event space, Some of the original windows have been recycled as mirrors in the members’ gym. Other eco-friendly features include reclaimed raised access floor panels, solar panels covering the roof and there are charging points for e-bikes and scooters.
Nearly all the first-floor studios are occupied, and phase two of the impressive development is now under way, which will result in IT solutions provider PrimaryTech moving in this September. Monocle’s tenants include recruitment specialist Adecco, property developer Allenby Commercial, construction recruiter Caval, tour operator Ever After Holidays, Lyon PR and marketing agency One SC, with PrimaryTech just weeks away from moving in.
Charlie Allenby, development director at Allenby Commercial, said: “Monocle has always been about reimagining what a workspace should be. We’ve taken a 50-year-old building and transformed it into something truly modern – not just in look, but in how it works for people. It’s more than an office – it’s a place that reflects the way we want to live and work now.”
Georgia Allenby, design and marketing director, added: “The design of Monocle celebrates the building’s 1970s heritage, but with a bold, modern twist. It’s much more than just a place to work – it’s a destination designed to bring people together.
“Daze and the business lounge are the social core – stylish, curated spaces with real soul. We’ve poured so much into every detail, and it’s wonderful to see people already using the space exactly as we imagined: to collaborate, to relax and to be inspired.”
Daze is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm and will offer specialty coffee, matcha and Japanese teas, house-branded lager, signature cocktails and healthy food options.
The new coffee house is run by hospitality expert Lukas Brdlik, formerly of Prague’s Anonymous Bar. He said: “Daze is all about offering a unique experience. Customers want more than just great coffee – although we have plenty of that too – they want atmosphere and connection. The response so far has been amazing, and we’re just getting started.”
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