New Branding Launched for Norwich Shopping Centre
A new name and brand identity has been launched for Castle Mall in Norwich, the scheme is now Castle Quarter.
The new name and logo replaced Castle Mall and is officially launched to the public this weekend. The name change reflects the transformations currently underway at the scheme, with an increased focus on being a more experiential destination offering food, cinema, a gym and bowling alley.
The new branding will launched by Love Island star, and Norwich local, Sam Bird with a host of free events and activities.
General manager for Castle Quarter, Robert Bradley said: “There will be so much happening: we can’t wait to welcome customers to the new look Castle Quarter. The party will be a great way to celebrate the launch and a fabulous fun event too. We’re really pleased Sam Bird will joining us and meeting plenty of his Norwich fans.”
The fun will include an inflatable Pacman maze, crazy golf, a silent disco, and a giant Tetris, which is a video puzzle game. There will also be a retro gaming challenge with a £500 prize up for grabs, a chance to win a £250 prize in the day out planner competition and a ‘Ballnado challenge’ – a twist on the popular Grab-A-Grand Cash Cube concept – with a £100 prize for the winner who collects the most balls.
Chester Northgate Approved
Cheshire West & Chester Council has approved the first phase of the Chester Northgate mixed-use project. The £60m project, which is being development managed by RivingtonHark – the recent merger of RivingtonLand and The Hark Group – was recently progressed by the council along with a £16m public service centre and bus hub in Ellesmere Port.
The scheme secured unanimous backing from the council’s planning committee, paving the way for works to commence in the coming months, and is set to feature a new market, cinema, a multi-storey car park, and leisure offering. The tenants already signed up are Zizzi’s, Cosy Club, Tapas Revolution, and cinema operator Picturehouse.
Enabling works will begin in October with Vinci starting in earnest in January 2020.
Richard Beacham, Cheshire West & Chester’s cabinet member for housing, regeneration and growth said: “Planning approval for the first phase of the Northgate development is a welcome milestone in a long and complex journey towards building a brand-new leisure destination in the heart of Chester.
“This is long-awaited and much needed investment in this part of our city centre and it will have a positive impact for residents, local businesses and the local economy with the creation of new jobs and new work for local suppliers.”
New Investment Analyst Joins RivingtonHark
Following the merger of The Hark Group and Rivington Land to form RivingtonHark, the company welcomes new skills to the business.
The RivingtonHark team welcomes Sinthujon Murugavarothayan as Investment Analyst.
Sinthujon recently graduated from Queen Mary University of London with a BSc in Economics and Finance, and has also completed a Masters in Real Estate Investment via an academic scholarship at CASS business school.
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.