It hasn't panned out in Doncaster town centre for an independent South Yorkshire restaurant chain that is set to open on the Forge Island development in Rotherham town centre in 2024.
The Rustic Pizza Co. exchanged a deal at the start of this year with nationwide placemaker, Muse, to open a new outlet in the last remaining retail space at the £47m leisure development onForge Island.
But the firm's first permanent base in Doncaster's Wool Market is closing after the management company decided to increase rent and charges.
The Rustic Pizza Co was founded in 2017 by Doncaster-based husband and wife team Lee and Sian Ogley who originally ran a mobile street food business. It opened an outlet at the popular food court in Doncaster in 2019 and a new restaurant at Lakeside Bouvelard in the city over the summer.
A post on social media explains that Market Asset Management (MAM), Doncaster Council's operator for the market, was using a break clause in the lease in order to "re-align contracts to commercial levels" and charge a 20% turnover rent.
Rustic Pizza Co founders said that it had offered to pay a capped yearly rent of £40,000 but this was rejected before a notice to leave in January 2024 was served.
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Operators were also critical of the costs not being included in the rent, the increase in electrics costs and the restrictions enforced by the management company.
A post added "MAM mention the wool market is running at a loss but forget they removed 24 retail units with the potential to earn £400K a year in rent. This money needs to make up from somewhere.
"DMBC [City of Doncaster Council] funded the leisure part of the wool market, but this is also not generating the income expected so they need to find the income from other sources, The only source is the food and bar traders.
"We wish all the traders in there all the success but for now we focus on our new venture."
Construction is well underway in Rotherham where boutique cinema operator, The Arc, and national hotel chain, Travelodge, who will anchor Forge Island.
Joining the pizza place, the Thistle Group is signed up to bring a number of brands. These include Portuguese and Southern African eatery, Casa Peri Peri, created by Masterchef star, Bobby Geetha; Estabulo Rodizio / Sakku Samba – a dual-branded concept honouring the Gaucho style of cooking and a fusion of Japanese-Brazilian cuisine, and luxury coffee shop Caffé Noor. Local burger, shake and dessert restaurant, Cow & Cream has also taken space to complete the mix of eateries.
Rustic Pizza Co website
Images: Rustic Pizza Co
The Rustic Pizza Co. exchanged a deal at the start of this year with nationwide placemaker, Muse, to open a new outlet in the last remaining retail space at the £47m leisure development onForge Island.
But the firm's first permanent base in Doncaster's Wool Market is closing after the management company decided to increase rent and charges.
The Rustic Pizza Co was founded in 2017 by Doncaster-based husband and wife team Lee and Sian Ogley who originally ran a mobile street food business. It opened an outlet at the popular food court in Doncaster in 2019 and a new restaurant at Lakeside Bouvelard in the city over the summer.
A post on social media explains that Market Asset Management (MAM), Doncaster Council's operator for the market, was using a break clause in the lease in order to "re-align contracts to commercial levels" and charge a 20% turnover rent.
Rustic Pizza Co founders said that it had offered to pay a capped yearly rent of £40,000 but this was rejected before a notice to leave in January 2024 was served.
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Operators were also critical of the costs not being included in the rent, the increase in electrics costs and the restrictions enforced by the management company.
A post added "MAM mention the wool market is running at a loss but forget they removed 24 retail units with the potential to earn £400K a year in rent. This money needs to make up from somewhere.
"DMBC [City of Doncaster Council] funded the leisure part of the wool market, but this is also not generating the income expected so they need to find the income from other sources, The only source is the food and bar traders.
"We wish all the traders in there all the success but for now we focus on our new venture."
Construction is well underway in Rotherham where boutique cinema operator, The Arc, and national hotel chain, Travelodge, who will anchor Forge Island.
Joining the pizza place, the Thistle Group is signed up to bring a number of brands. These include Portuguese and Southern African eatery, Casa Peri Peri, created by Masterchef star, Bobby Geetha; Estabulo Rodizio / Sakku Samba – a dual-branded concept honouring the Gaucho style of cooking and a fusion of Japanese-Brazilian cuisine, and luxury coffee shop Caffé Noor. Local burger, shake and dessert restaurant, Cow & Cream has also taken space to complete the mix of eateries.
Rustic Pizza Co website
Images: Rustic Pizza Co
Doncaster's loss is Rotherham's gain
ReplyDeleteHave the eaterys done any market research of the kind of customers Rotherham attracts? No offence but the town is more Greggs than fusion cuisine, the busiest place in town at the moment is Wetherspoons which probably sums up Rotherham....cheap and cheerful.
ReplyDeleteIt only attracts Greggs and Wetherspoons customers because that’s all there is on offer. I’d eat out in Rotherham if there was more options on offer.
DeleteI understand why they would want independent businesses rather than big chains, and I'm someone who personally would rather visit an independent. However they really should have tried to get a few big chains at forge island, Nandos, Pizza Express, Wagamama etc. Perhaps they did try but they weren't interested. They've gone niche rather than try to appeal to the masses.
ReplyDeleteSome of these independents due to move in won't survive long enough to even open, and some of those that do will be closed within a year. That's not being negative, that's just how that industry is going. You only have to look up the road at Centertainment. The independents last five minutes, the big chains have all been there for years. I fear a large percentage of Forge Island could be mainly boarded up and closed within months of opening.
If they're going to chance their arm in Rotherham the Forge Island development is the best place to try rather than the pitiful disgrace of a town center we have. At least Forge Island is going to be a leisure focused area, if people give it a chance it might just work. I'd imagine Forge Island have security, maybe that'll help keep some of the undesirables away.
ReplyDeleteHave you thought that Weatherspoons is the busiest because it doesn't really have any other competion. People don't go into town because there is not that much to go into town for at moment but if these restaurants produce good quality food people will travel to try it out, me included. Not everyone wants to go to Wickersley for something nice to eat and I look forward to having a variety of options back in town.
ReplyDeleteWhat sort of things do you say when you actually WANT to cause offence?
ReplyDeleteWhat are you talking about? Where are the offensive comments on here? I can't see any
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing some people just get offended by reality.
DeleteOf course Forge island will thrive,if Thicko town aka Baaansley can have fancy restaurants pretty sure Rotherham can 🤣
ReplyDeleteA couple in the glassworks at barnsley have already closed due to racking up a 100k unpaid rent bill.
ReplyDeleteThat's a pane. They must have some bottle.
DeleteEither a window of opportunity or curtains
DeleteThe glassworks ones that have racked up that bill are owned by a Barnsley councillor
DeleteBut it is not the good people of Barnsley who eat fancy foods, it is their whippets. The Barnsley Rustic Pizza Company only serves men wearing flat caps.
ReplyDeleteAs well as the Wetherspoons we have the options of Pizza at the Cutlers....just pray to God either of the managers haven't had their baccy stained hands on em.
ReplyDeleteYou certainly have an issue with the management
DeleteAre you a disgruntled ex employee?
No I could never work cash in hand.
DeleteWhy bring God into it?
ReplyDeleteGod is omnivorous, he is everywhere. But can see no reason for anyone, stained fingers or not, having their hands in your pizza.
ReplyDeleteIs that a euphemism Jez?
ReplyDeleteGod is nowhere, he doesn't exist.
ReplyDeleteHe does, I've seen him in the County Borough.
DeleteThe baby jebus is a made up fing an all.
ReplyDeleteJesus wept...
ReplyDeleteSweet baby Jesus and the orphans!
ReplyDeleteUnlike my wife, Jesus saves.
ReplyDeleteMy favourites are Babybel Jesus
ReplyDeleteI can't believe it's not Buddha!
ReplyDeleteWell don't spread it about
ReplyDeleteSo many comments here about Wetherspoons, but where the heck are they in the Rotherham town centre?
ReplyDeleteBluecoat
ReplyDeleteNot really in town centre though is it. We must be the only town in the UK that no longer has a Wetherspoons in the centre. Obviously we don't have the number of undesirables some posters would have us believe. Come on you breakfast drinkers, the town centre needs you!
ReplyDeleteIt's only not in the town centre if you're too bone idle to walk ALL the way up Moorgate Street.
ReplyDeleteWhether you are idle or not is irrelevant , it's still not in the town centre. Do you not understand the meaning of "centre", or are you too bone idle to use a dictionary?
ReplyDeleteWhat a vile, arrogant person you appear to be.
DeleteThanks to the Anonymous comment that the Wetherspoons bar close to the town centre is actually The Bluecoat. That place I know of quite well. Located on The Crofts, so it's actually close to the town centre. I looked them up and didn't know it was part of the JD Wetherspoon company.
ReplyDeleteMight've been easier for those commenting here to just say the Wetherspoon's pub "The Bluecoat".
By the way, it's on the corner of Douglas Street and The Crofts, not ALL the way up Moorgate Street as one bone-idle commenter mentioned.
A man was recently stabbed in the Bliuecoat
ReplyDeleteWith a knife?
No wetherspoon
You know Bluecoats quite well but you didn't realise it was a Wetherspoons? Would have thought the big sign over the entrance saying Wetherspoons would have given it away.
ReplyDeleteHe didn't know it was a pub. He knew of the building because it's where he went to school
DeleteThe Bliuecoat is actually quite a good pub and is one of the few Wetherspoons that has carpets that don't feel as though you are walking on velcro. Be nice to see the old Bank of Scotland building converted to a JDW
ReplyDeleteAgree with that, although it’s decent enough it probably isn’t the easiest of places to get to for people with mobility issues & lots of step’s inside!
DeleteWeatherspoons are killing off independents and produce the kind of food I wouldn't serve myself at home unless standards have vastly increased in the last few years. Hateful company, hateful Chairman, hateful soulless pubs.
ReplyDeleteRemainer by any chance?
DeleteProbably as a non Wetherspoons pub.
DeleteI'd have classed the Bluecoat as a town centre pub. Does it have to literally in the middle of All Saints Square to count as one?
ReplyDeleteFeel free. You can also class the Hind and the Golden Ball as town centre if you've a mind.
DeleteCome on boys and girls. Cut JDW a bit of slack. Where else but a Wetherspoons can you wake up with a raging thirst at 7 am and sink 4 or 5 pints without even changing out of your pyjamas?The only downside is that you then need to consult Google Maps for directions to the toilets
ReplyDeleteWhy why I class two pubs that are nowhere near the town centre as in the town centre? It's not unreasonable to suggest The bluecoat is a town centre pub unless you're unless you're being a pernickety little cretin.
ReplyDeleteIf somebody said they were going for a drink in town, would it be beyond your comprehension for it to be at The Bluecoat?
No need for that fella.
DeleteSteady on mate
DeleteOh dear!
DeleteMay I make the observation that you not only have a very short fuse and an unpleasant inclination to revert to insults when challenged, but were also towards the end of the queue when senses of humour were being handed out. There are excellent anger management courses available in the town centre on Upper Wortley Road.
ReplyDeleteNot if they said they were going for a drink in town, only if they had said they were going for a drink in the town centre.
ReplyDeleteIf I wanted to insult I wouldn't have you a pernickety little cretin. I felt that description was accurate.
ReplyDeleteIf I'd been trying to insult you it would've been another word starting with C. That would have also been an accurate description.
Crikey, that's a bit OTT!
DeleteWow......
DeleteNice
DeleteNot OTT at all. Get a grip, it was fully justified.
DeleteNo place on here for those kinds of comments. Time for a red card to be shown I think.
ReplyDeleteRed card from an anonymous poster to an anonymous poster yes that'll work.
DeleteNot to mention it being commented on anonymously
DeleteI liked it better when it was Feoffees
ReplyDeleteIt seemed nearer the town centre somehow.
Don't forget that the town centre has shrunk since the Tories got in.
ReplyDeleteAnd the Brexit effect
DeleteYes, it's Witherspooned!
DeleteJez?
ReplyDeleteBluecoat has announced that it will remain open for a further 30 minutes daily to give elderly people who are using the toilet time to. reach the exit.
ReplyDeleteBy the state of the carpet I'm guessing it wasn't long enough.
ReplyDeleteBluecoat have a very intelligent dress code. Before 10am drinkers must wear a dressing gown over their pyjamas.
ReplyDeleteJoking aside Wetherspoons is the only way some can go out for a few pints now....its just not possible in a lot of pubs an bars anymore.
DeleteNo, they are getting a bit choosey about who they let in nowadays. They even have a bouncer on the County now checking that the tread on mobility scooter wheels meets minimum standards.
ReplyDeleteNon smokers not allowed. They want to get maximum usage of their spittoons.
ReplyDeletePersonally I never go in a pub where you are expected to take your own toilet paper
ReplyDeleteTo be fair you can buy toilet paper by the sheet behind the bar and it is made clear that this is not compulsory.
DeleteOr your own toilet
ReplyDelete