Enabling works begin at Swansea Central
Enabling works have begun on-site at Swansea Central, a core element of the transformation of Swansea city centre.
Swansea Central is a core element of the transformation of Swansea city centre. Phase 1 is seen as a major catalyst for future development and is centred on a new iconic, digitally advanced live entertainment venue and conference centre that can accommodate up to 3,500 people and stage major international travelling productions.
RivingtonHark appointed to Shopping City, Runcorn
RivingtonHark appointed by receivers, Savills, to asset and development manage the 50,000 sq m shopping centre in Runcorn.
Working closely with ICG Longbow and the council we are looking to reposition this significant asset into a mixed use retail, lifestyle and wellness centre that serves its loyal catchment.
Mill Gate Launches New Concept to Make Retail Space More Accessible
On Wednesday 15th May, Mill Gate Shopping centre launched a new initiative called OPEN, with a drop-in session designed to break down the often daunting barriers to taking your first retail space.
The first ever OPEN drop in session took place in the shopping centre with experts on hand to answer questions on how to get into the retail market without any of the jargon or confusion that can often come with leasing retail space. Visitors were also given a real insight into everyday life at Mill Gate by having the chance to talk with established businesses that started in the centre. One such retailer was Carol Jolly of Perfect fit who came to the centre with a dream of opening a bra shop with a personal fitting service and has now been in the centre 10 years. Mill Gate Shopping Centre Manager Marie Gribben along with Lisa Smith of PinPointer were on hand to answer any questions that attendees had and to explain the opportunities available at the centre. Marie commented,
“The centre has been at the heart of the Bury community for almost three decades and it is so important that local businesses looking for an opportunity to reach more customers understand that Mill Gate is the perfect place to do just that.” “By launching OPEN we hope to create a space where people who might be worried about what can be a daunting letting process can come and ask the questions they have and get honest straight forward advice”
As well as the drop-in sessions, Mill Gate has also created some simple FAQs that give straight forward answers to the most common questions that come up when someone is looking to lease a new space. The section includes questions on business rates, leasing charges and what can be sold at the centre. PinPointer‘s Lisa Smith, said: “This is a really positive step in making retail spaces more accessible to all businesses. The Mill Gate is ahead of the curve by hosting the OPEN project providing a simple and supportive approach to the leasing process. The initiative really carries on the great entrepreneurial tradition of Bury, looking at using spaces in new ways. So, whether it’s for offices, dentists, estates agents, homeware or microbreweries or the more conventional retail offerings, the Mill Gate has the space for your business.
The OPEN unit will be open on the first Monday of each month, you can pop in or make an appointment to view potential units with the centre management and PinPointer team offering that personal insight and support through the leasing process
Hark Group acquires Rivington Land
Hark Group, one of the UK’s leading retail asset managers with a focus on transforming town and city centres, announces the acquisition of Rivington Land, the development management business that specialises in complex urban environments.
The new enlarged company will be named RivingtonHark and will immediately become one of the most active and experienced teams focused on delivering the rejuvenation of UK town centres through specialist development and asset management, at the outset managing projects with a value in excess of £700 million.
Hark Group, one of the UK’s leading retail asset managers with a focus on transforming town and city centres, announces the acquisition of Rivington Land, the development management business that specialises in complex urban environments. The new enlarged company will be named RivingtonHark and will immediately become one of the most active and experienced teams focused on delivering the rejuvenation of UK town centres through specialist development and asset management, at the outset managing projects with a value in excess of £700 million.
Working alongside local authorities, pension funds and private equity investors, RivingtonHark will invest in mixed use projects to create vibrant and sustainable places where people will want to work, live and play.
RivingtonHark is already working on major projects including Swansea, Liverpool, Chester, Norwich, Newcastle, Lincoln and Bury, all of which involve the repurposing and repositioning of retail to varying degrees and incorporate a wide range of new uses including a new arena and conference centre, residential accommodation, offices, public realm and leisure uses.
David Lewis, founder of Rivington Land, joins Mark Williams and David Henderson-Williams as Board Director and co-owner of the business. David Lewis will continue to focus on development, Mark Williams will lead the investment side and David Henderson-Williams will run the asset management team.
David Lewis commented, “Both companies are passionate about town centres and share an optimism about their future in this evolutionary market. There are very few businesses in the UK that can match our level of expertise and enthusiasm for delivering meaningful change. Combining forces is the right way to grow the company and position ourselves to take full advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead.”
David Henderson-Williams, founder of Hark Group remarked, “The two firms are highly complementary in terms of personnel, skills and corporate relationships. The combination of our abilities to invest, our proven asset management track records and Rivington’s exceptional development management capabilities, points towards a very exciting future.”
Mark Williams, Director of Hark and former president of Revo said, “I have known David Lewis professionally for over 15 years since his time at Centros Miller and have great respect for his career achievements including establishing Rivington as a significant development management business. I am very much looking forward to working with David and his vastly experienced team to grow our business together. I think that everyone accepts that investing in retail means you must have the ability and imagination to transform places, which we now have it in abundance. We have recently strategically teamed up with new investment partners and the combined resources will allow us to significantly add to our already diverse portfolio of high profile projects.”
Sceptre Award Nomination
Mill Gate has been shortlisted for a Sceptre Award for Customer Service.
The Sceptre Awards recognise the best practice and the best people in the Shopping Centre industry.
They are the pre-eminent accolades in the Shopping Centre industry, putting the spotlight on management teams, retailers and suppliers that demonstrate real excellence.
Rivington Land has been appointed by Newcastle City Council
Rivington Land has been appointed by Newcastle City Council
Rivington Land has been appointed by Newcastle City Council on a 2-year commission to oversee the phased transformation of the city centre’s retail core. The enhancements will include a variety of place-making investments along with servicing and access changes.
Marine Street Social signs for Barons Quay, Northwich
Regional F&B operator Marine Street Social has signed in Barons Quay, Northwich for its second branch. It will occupy 10,000 sqft over two levels to recreate its wet-led offer including cocktails and street food.
Described as a food and drink market where people can dance and socialise, watch out for some exciting events when they open in June.
Sports Direct opens at Baron's Quay, Norwich
Sports Direct has opened an 18,000 sqft store featuring its new flagship fit-out in Barons Quay, Northwich. The new look shows the brand in a new light. Come and see it!
Superbowl opening soon at Castle Mall
We are excited to announce the next part of our evolution with Superbowl UK investing more than £2m to bring a state of the art Ten Pin Bowling offer to the heart of Norwich.
The new Superbowl UK unit in Castle Mall will comprise 12 Ten-Pin bowling lanes as well as a Crazy Club soft play centre, Ninja Tag active obstacle assault course and a SEGA prize zone arcade. They’re also planning a stylish food diner and bar.
The planned opening is Summer 2019 and the well-known bowling operator shall not only be using local trades through the fit-out process, but also create 35 new jobs once open.
Company Director at Superbowl UK, Kate Quaintance-Blackford, said: “Superbowl UK Norwich presents us with an exciting opportunity to bring our distinctive brand of Family Entertainment to Norfolk, where we believe it will prove extremely popular. The unit is in a prominent location within Castle Mall and we’re confident our late opening hours will drive footfall during off-peak periods such as weekday evenings and enhance Norwich’s leisure offering.”
Robert Bradley, Centre Manager of Castle Mall commented, “We are always looking at ways to improve the fun-filled activities for family and friends that are provided at Castle Mall and believe that Superbowl UK will be an excellent addition to the centre. It will complement the new dining offers that are opening on Timberhill Terrace and is in line with our overall strategy to transform Castle Mall into Norwich’s first choice for shopping, dining and leisure. We are extremely excited to be welcoming Superbowl UK in 2019 and look forward to announcing further developments in the coming months.”
PureGym To Open In Castle Mall
We are really excited to announce an investment of £1.5m by PureGym to bring their highly successful affordable gym concept to the heart of Norwich.
The new PureGym at Castle Mall will feature a combination of fixed and free weights zones, a large functional area, cardio machines and class studios. It will be PureGym’s second site in the city. PureGym plans to open Summer 2019 creating 18 new jobs.
PureGym will occupy a 16,000 sq ft space in the new leisure quarter of our evolving scheme – they will be occupying the old Argos unit next to New Look, with 24/7 access from Timberhill.
We are converting over 50,000 sq ft of space to create the leisure quarter. This area will bring a mix of experiences to the city centre, with Superbowl opening in Summer 2019 too.
Property Director at Pure Gym, Duncan Costin, said, “Castle Mall’s new leisure quarter has given us an ideal opportunity to bring our offer to the people of Norwich. We’re currently on site fitting out the former Lidl Store on Aylsham Road to the North of the City and this site will complement it perfectly. Norwich has been a long time target for us and to have two sites opening within the space of a few months is fantastic news.”
Robert Bradley, Centre Manager of Castle Mall commented: “PureGym is a great fit for our new leisure quarter. Today’s changing consumer is spending more on leisure experiences than ever before – as much as 43% of discretionary expenditure – and so by creating a strong leisure offer we aim to be the city’s leading destination for entertainment, leisure, dining and shopping.