News: "Operators signed up" for Forge Island
The empty units at the £47m Forge Island leisure development in Rotherham could soon be filled, according to the latest update from the Council.
Forge Island is the town centre's new landmark leisure destination delivered by Rotherham Council in partnership with Muse. The development includes an 8-screen boutique cinema operated by The Arc Cinema, a 69-roomed Travelodge Hotel as well as food outlets which are yet to open.
Rothbiz revealed in July that operators "have not been able to bring forward" outlets that had originally signed up for the development.
Deals for Casa Peri Peri, Estabulo, Sakku Samba, Caffé Noor, Cow & Cream and The Rustic Pizza Company appear to have fallen through with the authority saying that, working with its development partners, Muse, it was in discussion with a number of other potential operators who have expressed an interest in the site.
At a recent meeting of Rotherham's Town Board, council representatives were asked about the empty units at Forge Island.
The Town Board is a private-sector chaired board established to oversee regeneration progress of various projects backed by government funding. It contains representatives from a wide range of key sectors.
Minutes show that Simon Moss, Assistant Director of Planning, Regeneration and Transport at Rotherham Council, "confirmed that a number of operators have signed up and agreed to terms; more information will soon follow."
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Earlier this month Rotherham Council confirmed that it had fully-funded the scheme for the purposes of regeneration of the town centre, not as a commercial venture, adding that it wasn't concerned about the implications of the empty units as the scheme was designed to pay for itself over the life of the development.
In the meantime, space at Forge Island is being utilised by ROAR, a non profit dedicated to supporting creative practices and promoting the arts in Rotherham.
ROAR has established "Senspace" in the empty units where different artworks are being added to, manipulated and moved all the time.
Open for the recent Christmas Lights switch-on, the group describes Senspace as a "growing and changing interactive exhibition looking at the ideas of mindfulness and wellness in a creative capacity."
It is described as offering "a refreshing escape — a sanctuary where art, meditation, and mental health come together to nourish both mind and soul. Each work in the exhibit invites you to immerse yourself in a sensory journey, discovering moments of calm, self-reflection, and grounding.
"At Senspace, art is meant to be felt, breathed, and experienced. With interactive installations that evoke meditative states and ambient soundscapes that soothe, every element is crafted to help reduce stress, build resilience, and deepen personal insight. This isn’t just an art exhibit; it’s an experience designed to reconnect you with yourself through the gentle power of art and mindfulness."
Senspace runs until November 29.
Forge Island website
Images: ROAR
Forge Island is the town centre's new landmark leisure destination delivered by Rotherham Council in partnership with Muse. The development includes an 8-screen boutique cinema operated by The Arc Cinema, a 69-roomed Travelodge Hotel as well as food outlets which are yet to open.
Rothbiz revealed in July that operators "have not been able to bring forward" outlets that had originally signed up for the development.
Deals for Casa Peri Peri, Estabulo, Sakku Samba, Caffé Noor, Cow & Cream and The Rustic Pizza Company appear to have fallen through with the authority saying that, working with its development partners, Muse, it was in discussion with a number of other potential operators who have expressed an interest in the site.
At a recent meeting of Rotherham's Town Board, council representatives were asked about the empty units at Forge Island.
The Town Board is a private-sector chaired board established to oversee regeneration progress of various projects backed by government funding. It contains representatives from a wide range of key sectors.
Minutes show that Simon Moss, Assistant Director of Planning, Regeneration and Transport at Rotherham Council, "confirmed that a number of operators have signed up and agreed to terms; more information will soon follow."
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Earlier this month Rotherham Council confirmed that it had fully-funded the scheme for the purposes of regeneration of the town centre, not as a commercial venture, adding that it wasn't concerned about the implications of the empty units as the scheme was designed to pay for itself over the life of the development.
In the meantime, space at Forge Island is being utilised by ROAR, a non profit dedicated to supporting creative practices and promoting the arts in Rotherham.
ROAR has established "Senspace" in the empty units where different artworks are being added to, manipulated and moved all the time.
Open for the recent Christmas Lights switch-on, the group describes Senspace as a "growing and changing interactive exhibition looking at the ideas of mindfulness and wellness in a creative capacity."
It is described as offering "a refreshing escape — a sanctuary where art, meditation, and mental health come together to nourish both mind and soul. Each work in the exhibit invites you to immerse yourself in a sensory journey, discovering moments of calm, self-reflection, and grounding.
"At Senspace, art is meant to be felt, breathed, and experienced. With interactive installations that evoke meditative states and ambient soundscapes that soothe, every element is crafted to help reduce stress, build resilience, and deepen personal insight. This isn’t just an art exhibit; it’s an experience designed to reconnect you with yourself through the gentle power of art and mindfulness."
Senspace runs until November 29.
Forge Island website
Images: ROAR
30 comments:
That's great news if true, they can't open soon enough.
W………s ?
H*****s?
Senspace sounds like a right load of hippy waffle
"If true"? You're surely not suggesting that the Council would fib?
I'd never dream of such an accusation.
A waffle cafe would be really good.
I'm afraid RMBC haven't got a clue ,they should've given insentives to get bars/restaurants signed up,like Barnsley as with Glassworks,also missed trick ,by not of having bowling on Forge Island,,ones again like Glassworks as.They seem unable to manage anything.
Rumour is wetherspoons is moving on,not everyone's cup of tea,but a big name that could bring others.
Don't tell us, is it Poundland, Gregg's, a vape shop, and a charity shop.
Where are these rumours about Wetherspoons coming from? What is your source?
You like the Glassworks, we get it, though a quick look online and you will see it went massively over budget and there is concern from residents about how much the council have spent on incentives. 1 million was given to TGI Fridays alone and they have now closed. Is this a good use of money?
Bore off with the bowling, we’ve heard you.
If spoons does open up does that mean Bluecoats will close?
You need to ask Mr Spoon
Another Greggs would be good
TGI Fridays went into Administration-35 branches have closed, so not just Barnsley
Probably wishful thinking as Wetherspoons seems to be the pinnacle of aspiration for many posters on here.
A bloke in the County who sells nylons
Stop stirring it
Word on the street innit
But should the council have given the chain a million pounds if they were in financial difficulties? Surely they should have completed some checks beforehand. A company does not enter administration after a few bad months, there must have been long seated issues.
Hope they open a branch of Amici & Bici. Their coffees lovely and it'd be near the Cycle Network.
Haha! Good luck with that! Remember this is Rotherham Town Centre. Be thankful if you get a Starbucks.
Shouldn't that be "we get"? Or are you a Deedar?
I was speaking directly in reply to that one person, so ‘you’ was the appropriate word in that instance.
I crave your forgiveness.
And so you should.
That's not very gracious.
It would be financial suicide for any business to go anywhere near Rotherham town centre
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