News: Rotherham restaurants paired together

Two popular restaurants in Rotherham within yards of each other have confirmed plans to combine, according to Visit Rotherham

Rothbiz reported recently on The Garrison and The Olive Lounge in Wickersley, that both announced that they would close and both said that changes were on the menu.

The 1920s themed restaurant, The Garrison, opened in 2020 focusing is on British inspired local produce plus unique cocktails and proper beers. The Olive Lounge served authentic homemade tapas with quality wines, beers and original cocktails and the W Bars team announced at the end of 2025 that they had taken over the premises. The W Bars team are part of the same group that operates the W Italian Restaurant on nearby Bawtry Road.

An update on social media states that the team at The Garrison will be joining the team at The Olive Lounge as it transforms into Vida - a Mediterranean restaurant, cocktail bar, and music lounge.

Visit Rotherham reports that Elliott Vaughan, founder of The Garrison, said: "Roughly 1506 services later, that’s the last. Just short of 6 years of The Garrison and we’ve had a blast; for everyone who has joined us and supported us over the years, thank you from the bottom of my heart. It means everything to me, my team and my family, and you have been appreciated more than you know it.

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"We are incredibly excited to announce that we will be joining the team at The Olive Lounge (which has recently been taken over by W Italian). Together, we'll be bringing an exciting new lease of life to the venue as it transforms into Vida; a Mediterranean restaurant, cocktail bar, and music lounge. It's a project we're truly passionate about, and we can't wait to welcome both familiar faces and new ones through the doors. Keep an eye out for the launch of our social media pages and website where we'll be sharing more details over the coming weeks.

"As for The Garrison at 129 Bawtry Road, the future is still in the balance of what, or who is to come next. All will be disclosed upon finalising."

The Olive Lounge has recently seen its planning permission for an extension turned down by Rotherham Council.

Plans showed a single storey glass extension to the front facing Bawtry Road that would take the venue from 2,799 sq ft to 3,552 sq ft.

Planners objected to the appearance of the proposed extension concluding that it would be "a prominent addition which would materially affect the appearance and character of the host property and form an incongruous feature that would have a detrimental impact on the existing street scene."

In response, a new application has been submitted.

The latest plans are for a similar glazed front extension that would take the venue to 3,400 sq ft. The main difference between the two proposals is that the latest planned extension doesn't reach and follow the footpath boundary to the front of the property.

The former Garrison premises at 129a Bawtry Road benefits from planning permission for a change of use from a restaurant into a micropub and a decking area to front of the property.

However, as the premises is within the Cumulative Impact Zone, the current alcohol licence restricts the use of the premises so that it can only operate as a restaurant. Conditions state that the premises will not operate exclusively as a bar at any time and that alcohol shall only be served to customers seated.

Images: Olive Lounge / Google Maps

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News: Canford Group completes acquisition of Lemonaid

Rotherham-based Lemonaid Motor Legal, a provider of fast and effective claims solutions for insurance brokers, has been acquired by Canford Group, a leading independent provider of first notification of loss (FNOL) and motor claims management services.

The acquisition extends Canford Group’s diversified, tech-enabled specialist legal services platform across the full lifecycle of the motor claim, from first notification through to litigation, giving the Group visibility and control over claim quality from the outset. Lemonaid joins Canford Law, Canford Law Scotland and PDC Group as the Group’s fourth vertical.

Based in Templeborough, Lemonaid provides white-label FNOL and claims management services to motor insurance brokers, triaging claims and placing them with a panel of specialist service providers across credit hire, repairs, recovery and storage, salvage and personal injury.

The senior leadership team, led by Managing Director Luke Baker, will remain in place and retain a significant equity stake, ensuring continuity as Lemonaid continues to operate under its own brand, building on the strong reputation it has established with its broker clients.

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David Nash, Group CEO of Canford Group, said: “The completion of this acquisition marks the second acquisition into the Canford Group. There has been real excitement about welcoming Luke and his team to the Group, and working with Luke ahead of completion has been incredibly enjoyable. It is evident that our businesses share the same direction and I am excited by the opportunities this new relationship will create for clients and colleagues across the Group.”

Luke Baker, Managing Director of Lemonaid, added: “I’m incredibly excited that Lemonaid is entering a new chapter, becoming part of Canford Group. Reaching this point shows what can be achieved when you bring together great people, brilliant partners across our customers and suppliers, and the huge amount of ambition that has always been at the heart of Lemonaid. This feel like a natural fit as we become part of the Group and continue to invest in our people, our capabilities, and the first class service Lemonaid continues to deliver.”

"Canford Group’s expertise will allow us to stay closer to the complete client journey, from the initial accident through to representation and the recovery of our clients’ losses. That’s a huge step forward for Lemonaid and our team, but most importantly for our clients and partners."

The acquisition is Canford’s second bolt-on since Queen Park Equity’s investment in December 2025.

Lemonaid website

Images: Canford Group

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News: New plans for burnt out buildings site in Rotherham town centre

New plans are being developed for the vacant plot created when two prominent burnt out buildings were demolished in Rotherham town centre.

Early proposals also provide a further hint that a new theatre is planned for the Leisure & Cultural Quarter extending from Forge Island.

The Corporation Street site is one of five where social impact developer Capital&Centric, is supporting Rotherham Council's aim of attracting new uses, services, residential and leisure opportunities and moving away from the traditional retail market.

Rothbiz revealed earlier this year that the Manchester company, a specialist in unlocking and transforming "unloved" brownfield sites into vibrant, design-led neighbourhoods, had been awarded a Rotherham contract that could reach up to £100m in value.

Pre-development work and feasibility studies will help to create full business cases for the five council-owned brownfield sites.

At Corporation Street, the council had to go through a lengthy CPO process for the buildings that made up 3-7 Corporation Street and that were a long-standing eyesore in Rotherham. Having acquired the properties, the authority was ultimately unable to realise a previously approved £6m mixed-use scheme, despite external funds to pay for demolition and help fill a viability gap.

Capital&Centric has worked with consultants, Urbana, and architects, FaulknerBrown, on a new mixed use proposal that includes commercial / office space and ten, three bedroom homes.

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A set of two blocks are shown on the vacant site fronting Corporation Street with ground floor space envisaged as a mix of café, restaurant and retail space. A range of duplex apartments, designed to be home to between two and six people, are shown on the upper floor with a courtyard open space created to the rear.

The plans state: "The proposals represent a significant opportunity to deliver commercial-led regeneration across an important brownfield site within Rotherham Town Centre.

"The proposed development represents a positive and policy-compliant regeneration opportunity within Rotherham Town Centre. It would make effective use of previously developed land, deliver new commercial and residential floorspace, strengthen active frontages and contribute towards a broader and more balanced mix of uses and homes across the wider regeneration programme."

A council cabinet report from earlier this year stated that the scheme, like the Snail Yard scheme nearby, is not considered viable without some form of public sector funding and the council is working with Capital&Centric to find gap funding.

The name given to the development by Capital&Centric is the "Theatre" site.

Rothbiz revealed in 2023 that a new theatre was included in the authority's place-based investment strategy following hints that a new theatre could be located in the Corporation Street area of town.

Rotherham Council has also purchased the former Wilko's store and the vacated former Regal Cinema / Mecca Bingo on Corporation Street for regeneration purposes.

Capital&Centric website

Images: Capital&Centric / FaulknerBrown

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News: Peel takes off Haworth from London Stock Exchange

Peel Holdings has confirmed plans to delist Harworth Group, the Rotherham-based regenerator of land and property for sustainable development and investment, that it is acquiring.

It follows on from wholesale board changes.

Rothbiz reported last month that the board of Harworth, had recommended a best and final takeover offer from major shareholder Peel Holdings, valuing the company at £631.7m.

Created from what was UK Coal, Harworth Group grew to own, develop, and manage a portfolio of over 15,000 acres of strategic land over 100 sites located throughout the North of England and Midlands, and made it on to the FTSE 250, the domestic-focused mid-cap stock index comprising the 101st to 350th largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Manchester's The Peel Group is a long-term investor in Harworth, having held various ownership interests in Harworth over a number of years. The Peel Holdings directors believe that Harworth's assets would be best owned, managed and developed under the full control of Peel Holdings.

Peel's earlier bid document said it would de-list the business from the stock exchange, stating that "Harworth’s stock market listing no longer serves its purpose". It added that "public market listing is of limited benefit," restricted by the largest three shareholders owning approximately 75.8%. of Harworth's share capital. Peel's documents also added that share trading showed a "very low and declining share liquidity" with Harworth not raising equity in nine years.

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With Peel now acquiring over 75% of the shares, an application has been submitted to delist from the Stock Exchange. Following the delisting and cancellation, it is intended that Harworth will be re-registered as a private limited company as soon as practicable.

Harworth recently moved into a new headquarters near to the Advanced Manufacturing Park in its flagship Waverley development in Rotherham. Peel earlier said that it had "not yet determined whether any changes will be made to the location of Harworth's headquarters or headquarters functions, or to the locations of Harworth's other fixed places of business." Any changes would be considered as part of a review into Harworth's assets.

Peel's earlier document also said it would de-list the business from the stock exchange and on jobs, the announcement said: "Following the Offer becoming or being declared unconditional, BidCo expects to review overlapping functions across the Harworth Group, including senior management, corporate, operational, finance, human resources, compliance and other support functions.

"Based on BidCo's preliminary assessment, the Offer is expected to result in a significant headcount reduction and synergies from overlapping functions and the elimination of costs associated with Harworth's status as a listed company. BidCo has not yet determined the number of roles likely to be affected, the timing of any reductions or the specific functions or locations in which any reductions may occur and will provide further information to affected employees in accordance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements."

Peel is expected to review Harworth's fixed asset base, including its strategic land bank and investment portfolio, and then intends to accelerate the disposal of selected assets.

At the start of October, the directors of Harworth all resigned. This included Alastair Lyons (Chair), Lynda Shillaw (Director and Chief Executive), Kitty Patmore (Director and Chief Financial Officer), Angela Bromfield (Senior Independent Non-Executive Director), Patrick O'Donnell Bourke (Independent Non-Executive Director), Lisa Scenna (Independent Non-Executive Director), Marzia Zafar (Independent Non-Executive Director), Phil Redding (Independent Non-Executive Director), Tony Quinlan (Independent Non-Executive Director) and Martyn Bowes (Non-Executive Director).

Steven Underwood, Graeme Charnock, John Peter Whittaker, Ian Ball and Mark Whitworth, representatives of the Peel Group, were appointed as directors in their place.

Harworth wbsite
Peel website

Images: Knigh Frank

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News: Public funding set to be used to buy land for South Yorkshire Airport City project

South Yorkshire’s Mayor and leaders are set to approve a landmark deal to bring Doncaster Sheffield Airport and adjacent land into public ownership.

Rothbiz reported last year on a South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Board (SYMCA) decision to reopen the airport when it approved a £160m (£159.52m) funding package.

However, during negotiations with landowners, Peel, it was found that clauses in a proposed lease would impact upon the viability of the project. Specifically a solution to a turnover rent clause that was satisfactory for all parties could not be found.

Discussions continued and a change in stance from Peel combined with the potential use of devolved powers led to talks over the freehold purchase of the airport site and the adjacent Gateway East development land.

The SYMCA board is now being asked to essentially use funding that was approved to pay for the lease of the land, to instead cover the borrowing costs for purchasing around 1,000 acres from Peel.

Papers explain that borrowing is profiled to be repaid over a thirty-year period compared to a 125-year lease, with public control of the land offering the opportunity to "achieve the strategic ambition by reinstating the airport whilst at the same time developing the Gateway East land."

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No figures have been made public yet and, whilst bosses say that acquisition borrowing can be largely matched to grant funding, they identify a risk that FlyDoncaster Ltd, the 100% Doncaster Council-owned private limited company running the operation, will need to generate the cashflows required to repay the credit facility extended to it by SYMCA.

Another major risk to the project remains a potential legal challenge from other regional airports regarding the use of public money.

South Yorkshire's Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “I’m delighted to say that subject to formal approval of the MCA Board next week and then Peel, we’ve agreed a deal that means we’re taking Doncaster Sheffield Airport and adjacent Innovation Quarter employment land into public ownership. This is a deal that puts the future of DSA back in our hands and finally gives one of the biggest and best growth opportunities in South Yorkshire the platform for long-term success that it needs and deserves.

“Four years ago, we were told that our airport would be closing. But alongside [Mayor of Doncaster] Ros Jones, I said I would do anything I could to save DSA, and I meant it.

“Which is why after months of negotiations and the growing flexibility afforded to us by the government’s devolution agenda, today we can announce that we have come to an agreement for SYMCA to buy the airport and Innovation Quarter employment land from Peel.

“Subject to the agreement of the MCA Board next week, the airport and surrounding Innovation Quarter employment land will be owned and controlled by us, for us; the people of South Yorkshire. This deal means our future will be in our own hands again.

“When the airport closed, almost everything was against us; the owners did not want to sell, we had no legal powers to intervene or stop the airport from closing, and no backing from the government at the time. Today, the future for DSA is bright, with the airport back in our hands, the sky’s the limit.”

Chancellor John Healey, who is also MP for or Rawmarsh and Conisbrough, added: "This is concrete proof of the benefits of shifting power out of Whitehall and into the hands of the people who best know their local economies: our mayors and local leaders.”

“Local and regional jobs, innovation, opportunities and hope for communities and families across South Yorkshire, including in Rawmarsh and Conisbrough, will all flow from the hard work, determination and partnership which has delivered this outcome.”

“This is precisely the good growth in every postcode that the Government has made its central mission.”

FlyDoncaster Ltd website

Images: FlyDoncaster Ltd

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