News: Are The Reytons readying a return to Rotherham and Clifton Park in 2027?

Paperwork has been submitted for a possible repeat of The Reytons’ homecoming gig in Rotherham, reports Visit Rotherham.

The concert held in the summer of 2024 drew thousands of attendees from across the nation, with some travelling from as far as Glasgow and Southampton. It marked the largest outdoor music event ever held at Clifton Park on the edge of Rotherham town centre, attracting around 20,00 people.

The connection to the borough has grown since then with the fourth album, called A Love Letter to a Broken Town, described by the down-to-earth indie rock band as being "for the community, the roots and the towns that made us..."

With press and launch events taking place in Rotherham town centre earlier this year, including a signing event and shop on Forge Island, a celebration was also held in All Saints' Square when the album was announced as reaching no. 1 in the official chart.

Now, Visit Rotherham has revealed that promoters have submitted a licence application that would enable them to hold large scale events in Clifton Park in July 2027.

The application to Rotherham Council is from Communion ONE Ltd, the company created when FKP Scorpio and Communion Presents merged in 2024. FKP Scorpio was the promoter that worked on the previous Reytons event in Rotherham and Communion ONE currently promotes events for the band.

The application is time limited for July 9 to 11 2027 and seeks to allow three outdoor music concerts to be provided in the park during this period.

If approved, the licence would enable the provision of live and recorded music outdoors on Friday July 9 and Saturday July 10 between 2:00pm and 10:30pm, and on Sunday July 11 2027 between 2:00pm and 10:00pm.

Alcohol would be allowed to be on sale between 12 noon and 11:00pm on the Friday and Saturday, and between 12 noon and 10:30pm on the Sunday.

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Mirroring the layout for the 2024 gig, the stage is set to be situated on the extended car park area off Doncaster Road, with bars, toilets, food areas, backstage and medical tents all enclosed in a "steelshield."

The perimeter is again shown around the car park, along the tree line on Middle Lane, along a tree-lined avenue towards the museum, across the field towards the fun park and back along the path opposite the play area. Plans show two customer entrances and exits - one opposite the fun park and one in the field that backs onto Clifton Grove.

The similar 2024 application allowed for two gigs, where in reality, only one took place.

Local businesses and accommodation providers are likely to welcome the news. A study was commissioned and Sheffield Hallam University revealed that the event contributed an impressive £1m to Rotherham’s economy and £1.36m benefit for South Yorkshire.

The journey to Clifton Park for The Reytons began with 350 people at Plug (now Network) in Sheffield, via The Leadmill, O2 Academy, the fruit and veg aisle at Rotherham Tesco Extra, and Magna in Rotherham (the 4,500 capacity 2022 gig which sold out in ten hours), before reaching the 12,500 capacity Utilita Arena in Sheffield in 2023.

Since the Rotherham event in 2024, the band has played at massive European festivals and Wembley Arena, with a show scheduled for the end of this month at Manchester's Co-op Live, the UK's largest entertainment arena. A world tour in 2026/27 takes in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Holland, France, Belgium and Spain.

The Reytons website

Images: The Reytons / Communion ONE

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News: Demolition plans in to save the Alma

A planning application has been submitted as part of efforts to save what remains of a fire-damaged historic pub building in Rotherham.

Rothbiz revealed last year that feasibility issues have arisen with converting the former Alma Tavern into a live music venue.

With £4.5m of the government's Town Deal funding set aside for a music venue project, the Westgate site is the third building looked at by the authority.

The building is not a listed building (unlike The Cutler's Arms next door, saved and reopened by Chantry Brewery) but is in severe disrepair following a fire and years of abandonment. Councillors were told that an updated cost plan for the project demonstrated "a cost significantly in excess of the funding available."

Funding was moved away from the project to progress plans for a community hub for health provision in the former Boots building in the town centre, but Rotherham Council, the owners of the Alma, said that it was still committed to finding a sustainable plan for the pub that was wrecked by fire in 2012.

A new planning application from Rotherham Council explains that a recent structural report "identified a need to support the original facades in order to retain them for a future reinstatement scheme."

The planning authority is being asked if the remaining structures to the rear can be removed so that scaffolding can be erected to support the frontage. The application also includes repair works to the front elevation and original gable walls to secure and preserve the historic facades.

Permission is required as it is located in the town centre's conservation area.

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A 2021 application, from the then owners, to demolish the building and retain the front facade to the first storey window height was refused as it didn't provide any supporting information. The council's application includes a structural report and a heritage statement.

Rotherham Council said last year that it was working with Chantry Brewery, the tenants and operators of the Cutlers, who wished to take on the Alma.

The initial ideas involved an L-shaped new building on land behind, and to the side of The Alma, creating a venue with a capacity of 500 - 600 and the main entrance in the vacant pub.

Rotherham Council said in the application that "due to the unsafe condition of the building ... we are looking to undertake the partial demolition of the building in advance of any viability assessment and redevelopment scheme in order to protect the historic assets of the building and ensure public safety to the immediate areas surrounding the building."

The public house closed in 2005/6 and although not listed, it is on the South Yorkshire Local Heritage List. The Alma was rebuilt in 1909 and is noteworthy for the use of architectural lettering and the reference to Bentleys Rotherham Ales on the facade.

The plans state: "The timber roof and floor structures throughout the property are unsafe due to wood decay from wet and dry rot, and the previous fire damage sustained. This in turn compromises the restraint offered to the masonry walls and leaves the walls vulnerable to further collapse if left unsupported.

"Whilst a redevelopment scheme for the site remains a focus for the Council, the main priority is in ensuring the safety to the public realm and adjacent properties, whilst retaining the Edwardian facades to make sure this is not in the detriment to the character of the town centre conservation area.

"With the above in mind our intention is to demolish and remove the remaining structures to the rear of the building, including all brick extensions, timber roof and floor structures. We would then look to implement retaining scaffolds to the full front façade and gables of the original building, making isolated repairs to the lintels and masonry of these facades to ensure they are fully supported and maintained before any redevelopment can take place."

Satnam, the site's previous owner, had hoped to demolish both pubs to build a large retail store on the riverside site. In 2005, Rotherham Council refused the plans with one reason for refusal being that the pubs "make a contribution to the streetscene and add to the character of the setting of the listed building."

Images: RMBC

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News: Xeros Technology in European breakthrough

British technology company Xeros has achieved a major milestone in revolutionising laundry, powering a KOENIC consumer product with its patented filtration technology.

Based at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, Xeros has created a number of technologies that reduce the impact of clothing on the planet. The AIM-listed group has secured a deal that has made its tech available in Europe's largest electronics retail chain.

Now available through MediaMarktSaturn retail channels in Germany, KOENIC has integrated Xeros technology into the KMPF-1000, an external washing-machine filter designed to capture fibres released from clothing before they enter household wastewater.

The product can be connected to commonly used domestic washing machines, allowing consumers to add filtration without replacing an existing appliance or changing their preferred washing programme or detergent. The launch provides commercial validation of Xeros’ licensing model, through which international appliance and consumer-technology partners incorporate its patented technology into products sold under their own brands.

Synthetic fabrics containing materials such as polyester, acrylic, polyamide, polyethylene and elastane can release microscopic plastic fibres during washing. Without filtration at the appliance, these fibres can pass into wastewater and potentially reach rivers, waterways and oceans.

The KMPF-1000 features a reusable 50-micron filter with Xeros technology that captures up to 98% of microplastics and over 80% of natural fibers released during washing. Its built-in spinning function removes water from the collected fibers, drying them out and making the filter easier to empty. This design also helps prevent blockages and allows for repeated use.

Unlike systems that depend on disposable cartridges, the KMPF-1000 does not require consumers to purchase replacement filter components. This reduces ongoing costs and avoids creating an additional stream of disposable filter waste.

Xeros’ filtration technology is easy to add to existing machines, so you don’t have to wait for a new appliance. Retailers can offer it as a standalone product alongside their current washing machines and laundry care options, making it a straightforward choice for consumers.

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The European retail launch follows recent Xeros research highlighting consumer demand for laundry technology that better addresses clothing care and environmental impact. A nationally representative survey of 2,000 UK adults found that almost three-quarters (72%) did not know whether washing machines had kept pace with developments in other household technologies.

Six in ten believed there would always be some risk of clothing being damaged in the wash, suggesting many consumers have come to accept shrinking, fading and fabric damage as unavoidable parts of doing laundry. Even so, nearly two-thirds (65%) would be interested in a washing appliance or solution that made delicate clothing safer and easier to clean at home while reducing the risk of damage. Interest rose to 74% among those aged 25 to 34.

The research also revealed the financial consequences of conventional washing and drying. Nearly two-thirds of consumers (63%) had thrown away, donated or stopped wearing at least one garment during the previous year because it had been damaged in the wash or dryer.

Among those affected who could remember the value, the clothing had originally cost an average of £105, the equivalent of a weekly food shop. A quarter of consumers had also seen a brand-new garment shrink after its first wash.

Neil Austin, CEO of Xeros, said: “This launch is a big step forward in bringing our filtration technology straight into people's homes through a major European retail chain. Microplastic pollution from washing mostly happens out of sight.

“People rarely see the fibres coming from their clothes or know where they end up in the wastewater system. That makes it easy to overlook the problem, even though each wash is an opportunity to capture those fibres at the source.

"Partnering with KOENIC and MediaMarktSaturn shows how licensing can speed up the adoption of filtration tech. Working with trusted brands, manufacturers, and retailers allows us to combine our ideas with their production and distribution powers to reach households on a large scale. For Xeros, this proves how British technology can be turned into a practical product with global commercial potential."

Xeros website

Images: Xeros / KOENIC

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News: Mr Whippy preps new £15m Rotherham facility

The Mr Whippy food brand is making rapid progress in creating one of the UK’s most advanced luxury doughnut manufacturing facility, here in Rotherham.

A £15m manufacturing facility will enable the brand to introduce doughnuts to its sweet treats portfolio that already includes ice cream flavour cupcakes.

Mr Whippy signed a new lease last year for a 23,355 sq ft unit at Woodhouse Link, which is near Fence on the Rotherham side of the border with Sheffield. Unit 4 was previously used as a distribution hub by Amazon.

Specialist food production fit out was completed last month and went live with test doughnut production. The new facility uses end-to-end automation, modern layouts and direct distribution allowing Mr Whippy to manufacture, pack and dispatch under one roof.

As full production nears, it is expected that more than 50 new jobs will be created on site. A ten-strong senior team is already in place.

Michael Corrado Jackson, founder and CEO at Mr Whippy, told Food & Drink International: “A project of this calibre would normally take two to three years to realise, but we are here in just 13 months.

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“This new, amazing production site for Mr Whippy Doughnuts will allow us to get our extensive product range into stores and then homes, while staying true to quality, that will set us apart.

“The full factory test launch was a complete success and production will start later this year. This facility is a vital part of achieving our ambition to make superior products more accessible to people, and set the bar for product consistency, operational efficiency and food hygiene.”

Joe Sealey, chief revenue officer at Mr Whippy paid testament to the work that has gone in to, what the firm believes, is "one of the UK’s most advanced luxury doughnut manufacturing facilities."

He added: "This project has never just been about increasing sales. It’s been about challenging what’s possible in FMCG bakery manufacturing through innovation, automation and an unwavering commitment to quality."

The brand is not part of Wall's, the producers of the Mr Whippy soft ice cream mix used in ice cream vans and cafes, and overcame a legal challenge from parent company, Unilver, to use the Mr Whippy logo on other goods and services.

The Mr Whippy cupcakes launched in 2024 and are available in Iceland, Co-op, Home Bargains and Heron Foods stores.

Mr Whippy website

Images: Joe Sealey / instagram

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News: instantprint installs new Canon press as part of £12m programme

Online printing company instantprint has installed a new high-speed Canon printing press as part of a major £12m investment in its Rotherham production facility, increasing capacity and helping the business deliver fast, affordable and professional-quality print for UK SMEs.

The Canon varioPRINT iX3200 High Speed Inkjet Press can produce up to 9,120 double-sided SRA3 sheets every hour, enabling instantprint to process more customer orders efficiently while maintaining consistent quality and fast turnaround times.

Operating from its 300,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in Manvers, the investment forms part of instantprint’s ongoing commitment to making professional print faster, easier and more accessible to UK businesses.

The new Canon press gives instantprint additional capacity to keep more orders moving through production at once. It can also switch quickly between different paper types and products, reducing downtime between jobs and helping orders move through the factory more efficiently.

That increased efficiency supports instantprint’s ability to offer the fast turnaround times and competitive pricing its business customers rely on.

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The investment is not only about speed. The new technology uses water-based inks and automated quality controls to produce sharper text, smoother images and vibrant, consistent colours.

It also delivers improved results across uncoated and textured paper stocks, giving businesses more choice when they want their marketing materials to have a distinctive, premium look and feel.

The additional capacity and flexibility will also support instantprint as it develops its product range.

Laura Mucklow, Head of instantprint, said: “When we invest in new technology, what matters most is what it means for our customers.

“Businesses need print that looks professional, arrives quickly and works within their budget. The new Canon press gives us more capacity, greater flexibility and consistently high-quality results, helping us deliver on the speed, affordability and quality our customers expect.

“It also gives us the technology to keep expanding our offering as our customers’ needs evolve, making brilliant print as accessible and straightforward as possible.”

instantprint website

Images:

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