News: Burnt-out former Wetherspoons in Rotherham - yours for £249,995

A fire-damaged pub in Rotherham town centre is up for sale.

The Rhinoceros pub on Bridgegate was one of 16 pubs put up for sale by J D Wetherspoons in 2019. Known locally as "Rhinos," the pub operated independently from Wetherspoon but was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The units were in the proccess of being refurbished and the initial intention was for the rear wing of the building to be converted into residential apartments, but two subsequent fires caused considerable damage to the existing building and structure.

Proposals for a new "Georgian inspired" mixed use development to replace the pub were approved last October.

Rotherham Council were hoping that work on the project moved quickly but with little sign of development, the property is back up for sale.

Agents, BRH have given the property a price of £249,995 and say that it "presents an exceptional opportunity for investors and developers. With full planning permission granted for 22 self-contained flats and 2 x large ground floor commercial units, it offers significant potential for redevelopment.

"While the property demands significant work, its affordable price point and strategic location make it an attractive proposition for those looking to invest in the area.

"The estimated post-development value stands at approximately £3m, highlighting the financial potential of this project."

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The pub previously went up for auction in 2021 with a guide price of £399,000.

The approved outline application would involve the demolition of the whole of the existing building and replacing it with a three storey building with a Georgian style frontage to Bridgegate containing two retail units of 800 sq ft and 1,000 sq ft. Access would be between the retail units into a courtyard area and the proposed new large apartment block.

Rotherham Council has previously served a s215 notice on the owner of the site in an effort to address the eyesore of a wrecked building. Local authorities have the power to take steps requiring land to be cleaned up when its condition adversely affects the amenity of the area. The notice was served "due to the dilapidated and poor state the building is still in after the fire and given the site is located in a prime location in the town centre conservation area."

Sale documents warn that "access is restricted due to structural instability."

As part of the approval, applicants were given three years to implement the scheme, or one year to submit landscaping proposals and a reserved matters application, and then a futher year to implement the scheme from the date the reserved matters application is approved.

BRH are also marketing another redevelopment opportunity in Rotherham town centre.

Rothbiz has previously reported on plans to convert the upper floors of 16 - 20 College Street in All Saints Square.

Agents explain: "With full planning permission already granted for nine self-contained flats, this site presents a prime opportunity for substantial development. Additionally, two commercial units on the ground floor add further value to this offering.

"The property ... requires a complete renovation throughout, with estimated refurbishment costs of £400k. Once completed, the estimated end value is projected to reach around £1.2m. This makes it an attractive proposition for investors looking to capitalise on the growing demand for residential and commercial spaces in central locations."

The College Street property is up for sale for £599,995.

BRH website

Images: BRHv / John Box Associates

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News: New neighbourhood venues in Rotherham

The Canary and Bistro Bisque are the newest venues in Rotherham.

2025 saw the opening of Olive Lane, the urban shopping and leisure development at the Waverley development which also includes a medical centre and community centre.

The Canary micro bar is preparing to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere at Unit C1, complete with outdoor benches.

Serving a curated selection of craft and cask beers from independent breweries as well as exclusive wines, small-batch gins, cocktails and exceptional whisky.

Applicant, TBO Limited, has applied for an alcohol licence with the operating hours of 9:00 - 23:30 on Monday to Thursday, 9:00 - 00:30 on Friday and Saturday and Sundays between 9:00 and 22:30.

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An opening date has yet to be announced but, operators said on social media this week: "We can’t wait to welcome you. The build is progressing well...

"Expect a heavy rotation of independent beers (our last spot poured 360 different brews in just 12 months), alongside exclusive wines you won’t find anywhere else.

"Community matters here. The history of Orgreave and its strong, working-class spirit has always inspired us — and we’re proud to bring that sense of connection to The Waverley through The Canary.

"This is more than just a bar. It’s a place to belong."

Across the borough at Thorpe Hesley, Bistro Bisque has opened a bistro and bar with a pottery painting twist.

Moving from Ecceslall Road in Sheffield into a converted former nursery on Brook Hill, the new location combines a bar & grill with a pottery area.

Events include potty prosecco, paint & pour and a six week build, fire & paint course.

Bistro Bisque website

Images: Bistro Bisque

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News: Fast-growing Rotherham provides green shoots for closing productivity gap

Rotherham has emerged as one of the fastest-growing sub-regional economies for productivity in the UK, according to new research.

New analysis from the Northern Powerhouse Partnership (NPP) has looked at the rise in gross value added (GVA) per hour worked across the North. NPP is a business-led think tank and advocacy group for the North of England.

The Rotherham ITL3 area is the fastest-growing sub-regional economy in the North, with a 63.9% increase in productivity between 2004 and 2023.

Rotherham's GVA per hour worked figure compares to 24.3% growth in Leeds and 37.6% in Manchester. Other high performers were Berkshire West (67.3%) and Brighton & Hove (62.6%). For the same period, Sheffield's increase was 11.6%, Doncaster's was 29.9% and Barnsley was 7.8%. South Yorkshire overall was 12.2%

The figures are based on ONS labour productivity data, analysed by the Northern Powerhouse Partnership.

This dramatic improvement has been driven by the growth of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District shared with neighbouring Sheffield in South Yorkshire. It is a regeneration success story that has turned former site of the of the battle of Orgreave into a globally recognised hub for high-value manufacturing. It includes the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) which has attracted inward investment to the area and has most recently been helping with R&D for Rolls-Royce SMR (Small Modular Reactors) project.

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South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “South Yorkshire is at the forefront of a national industrial revival—and Rotherham is leading the charge. In Rotherham we’re seeing industrial strategy done right, delivering exactly what the country needs: higher productivity, stronger innovation and real economic transformation.

“The results speak for themselves. Rotherham’s emergence as a place where productivity is growing almost quicker than anywhere else in the whole of the UK, is a testament to our advanced manufacturing sector and our success building the industries and jobs of the future. Our success won’t just benefit South Yorkshire—it’s a blueprint for how the UK can grow, compete and thrive.

“From the site of the Battle of Orgreave 40 years ago, to a globally recognised hub for innovation today, Rotherham is national example of industrial strategy done brilliantly well.”

Cllr Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Council added: “This is welcome recognition of the progress we’ve made in Rotherham — one of the UK’s fastest-growing local economies. It’s a testament to the innovation, investment and skills that have driven our transformation over the past two decades. It also demonstrates the importance of strong public-private partnerships and upfront investment. Hidden in these figures are the real stories of large-scale land reclamation in the north of the borough, as well as the world’s first Advanced Manufacturing Park, which was only possible in collaboration with the University of Sheffield.

“Of course, there remains still much to do to create the jobs and opportunities we want to see right across our borough. We’re forging ahead with the largest programme of physical regeneration for many years, improving our town centre as well as localities beyond. That includes progressing plans for a new train station, which would return mainline train services to Rotherham for the first time since the 1980s, alongside new homes and business premises, to ensure we continue to make progress over the next two decades.”

Analysis for the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) describes the region's productivity as poor when compared to other city regions, across all sectors relative to both the Great Britain average and other city regions. GVA per job in South Yorkshire is below the national average in all broad sector areas besides Education and Agriculture.

Sectors that produce higher productivity tradable goods and services are seen as the core engine of growth for the UK’s services-dominated globalised economy. South Yorkshire has seen growth in tradable sectors, particularly in the Sheffield / Rotherham corridor: Between 2015 and 2021, South Yorkshire’s tradables jobs grew 3.4%.

Analysis for Rotherham Council shows that although productivity levels have increased over the past five years; this has been at a slower rate than nationally (3% vs. 5%).

With an investment zone based around advanced manufacturing and innovation, improving poor transport connections that limit the size of the labour market, increasing levels of capital investment and addressing skills gaps with targeted skills interventions focused on the growth industries are set to feature in new economic growth plans for the region.

Images: Harworth Group

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News: Objections withdrawn to Rotherham CPO

A legal inquiry into a compulsory purchase order (CPO) required to progress a Rotherham regeneration project was over before it began with all landowners previously against the council's order withdrawing their objections.

Backed by £11m in Government funding, the scheme at Dinnington aims to address blight in the town centre and boost the local economy. The funding will facilitate clearance of the burnt out and derelict buildings on the high street and pave the way for a new attractive town square, with purpose built commercial units to diversify the local offer.

With the council unable to acquire the properties required to deliver the scheme, a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) was issued earlier this year which revealed that the authority was talking to the Government about extending the spending on the project from 2026 to 2028.

The order was published by Rotherham Council in January 2025 with the inquiry due to hear from the authority and legal firms representing landowners this week.

The Council received five objections to the order.

Strangely, one objection was from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), which was withdrawn in April. Initial legal papers showed that those against the order included the Nixon family (regarding the outdoor market), Roy Mugglestone, Yvonne Mugglestone and William Carrol (regarding the indoor market) and Cobani Property Limited (regarding 50 Laughton Road).

As the inquiry was due to begin (July 1), the Nixon family / Paylet Ltd was the only party remaining but the local MP, Jake Richards, who attended the inquiry as an interested party, has now confirmed that he was "really happy to say that all objectors have withdrawn."

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£11m in funding for the project was allocated by the Government in March 2023 and the funding agreement was received in June 2023 when Rotherham Council's cabinet approved the start of the scheme. A further £1m in council funding was allocated to the project in July 2024.

Documents submitted to the inquiry show that those with leasehold and freehold interests in the Laughton Road and market areas were contacted back in 2022 but since April 2023, market value offers from the council to purchase remaining interests were not agreed to. Negotiations continued right up until the inquiry and offers were made "based on the compensation that the vendor would be entitled to if their property were acquired pursuant to a confirmed compulsory purchase order."

A CPO is considered a last resort. The Government grants powers to enable acquiring authorities to compulsorily purchase land to carry out a function which Parliament has decided is in the public interest. Tribunals are often used to judge the levels of compensation for compulsary purchased land.

Legal papers show that landowners and operators of the outdoor market were seeking a sale and leaseback of the land with a licence to continue to operate the market.

The Council’s scheme has been designed to include an outdoor market presence in an improved location and environment, one which is designed to limit the prevalence of anti-social behaviour and provide dedicated welfare and storage facilities.

The council were unable to offer a condition that Paylet would operate the new market but the council state that it "has sought to keep an outdoor market presence in the area and to that end has offered terms to Ms Nixon to retain and even expand their provision in the town."

The council's representative at property consultancy, Gateley Hamer, stated that: "The gap between the sum that Paylet wanted, and the sum that I have assessed on compensation code terms was significant."

Objections from the Nixon family, since withdrawn, stated that: "Offers made were inadequate and did not reflect the true value of the property or the operational disruption the acquisition would cause" and that the council did not genuinely exhaust all reasonable efforts to acquire the property.

But it now appears that a deal has been done and the project can now progress with the acquisition of all of the property required.

Images: RMBC / AHR

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News: Work to prepare old Rotherham cinema building for regeneration

Rotherham Council has appointed a contractor to secure an art deco former cinema in the town centre until a new use can be found.

Vandals have already caused "significant damage" to the fabric of the empty Grade II Listed building.

The authority was granted planning permission earlier this year to repaint the exterior of 2 Corporation Street "to more sympathetic and historically appropriate colours, in order to preserve and enhance its architectural integrity, while maintaining its significance."

Now attention has turned to the inside of the former Regal Cinema and Mecca Bingo that was acquired in 2022.

A council tender for the internal clearance, external roofing, and refurbishment, includes remedial works - a secondary strip following initial clearance, and asbestos and vegetation removal.

Parapet and gutter works are set to be carried out followed by the boarding of the building on completion of works.

The council's plans also included using a vinyl treatment on the metal shutters of the existing windows and doors to create the illusion of the original windows and entrances. Where original cinematic posters would have been displayed interchangeable advertising will again be displayed.

The contract, worth £451,694, has been awarded to Blackpool-based F Parkinson Ltd and is due to complete by the end of September 2025.

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The future for the building is not yet clear. Planning documents state that: "The owner of the premises Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) have confirmed that they intend to mothball and secure the building until a viable scheme for its re-use can be found."

In a council report, Kevin Fisher, Assistant Director Property and Facilities Services at Rotherham Council said: "Enabling works are required within the building to ensure that the building remains safe, secure and compliant whilst a review of future use is undertaken."

Planning documents also add that: "The building is vulnerable to vandalism and break-ins due to its vacant state. Significant damage has already occurred to the building fabric from vandalism, and this is only likely to continue unless the building is fully secured."

At the end of 2021, Rothbiz revealed that a campaign to save the building had been successful with the site now protected by Grade II listed building status. This meant that earlier proposals from Sunshine Homes Ltd to erect a new residential building consisting of 45 dwellings and three ground floor commercial units was withdrawn. The plans would have involved knocking down the building as converting the existing property was found to be not a viable proposal.

The property has since been added to the council's own heritage at risk register.

Rothbiz has previously reported on Rotherham Council using regeneration funding to carry out market testing and an options appraisal for the provision of a performing arts venue in Rotherham town centre as the current Civic Theatre building has challenges in terms of capacity, opportunity for growth and its general condition. A Feasibility Study was undertaken in 2022 to determine a suitable location for a new venue and a site was subsequently acquired by the Council.

Images: Google Maps

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