News: Vetro Lounge at Forge Island confirmed
Vetro Lounge, a new neighbourhood bar, has been confirmed as the first food and drink venue to open at the Forge Island leisure development in Rotherham town centre.
Rothbiz revealed at the end of 2024 that Loungers UK Limited had applied for a premises licence for a unit at Forge Island, indicating that it would operate under the Lounge brand.
With the licence approved, recruitment underway and a planning application in for new signage, Vetro Lounge is set to open on April 30.
Lounge, which currently operates at The Glass Works in Barnsley and Fox Valley in Sheffield, is operated by Loungers plc. The AIM-listed firm, which also operates the Cosy Club bar and dining concept, and Brightside roadside dining, is currently undergoing a buyout by an American investment group which places its value at £350.5m.
The company has secured the premises licence for the 5,618 sq ft Unit 4 at Forge Island, which is the largest of the remaining units.
Vetro Lounge will serve breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and drinks, including full kids, gluten-free and vegan menus. The family-friendly restaurant will also feature a selection of games, books, colouring pencils and pads. A full menu, highchairs and baby-changing facilities are also available.
With community and neighbourhood at its heart, Vetro Lounge will welcome locals and visitors looking for a space for regular catch ups, meetings and events. It will join the already open Arc Cinema and Travelodge at Forge Island, with further announcements expected soon.
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Cllr Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Council, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Vetro Lounge to Forge Island.
“This marks a significant moment for Rotherham. With its vibrant atmosphere, delicious menu and prime location, Vetro Lounge will undoubtedly become a popular destination for both residents and visitors alike.
“The opening of Vetro Lounge sets the stage for even more exciting developments in the town centre, which will bring a boost to the local economy and create job opportunities for local people.
“We are forging ahead with our plans for a revitalised town centre that reflects Rotherham’s potential, and Vetro Lounge is an important step in making that vision a reality. I look forward to seeing it thrive and to the many more great things ahead for our community.”
John English, Head of Community, The Lounges, added: “We’re so looking forward to opening the doors of Vetro Lounge at the end of April. We hope our family friendly environment and top-notch food and drink offering will prove popular with local residents and visitors.
“We’re passionate about integrating genuinely into the communities we serve so we’re looking forward to meeting everyone and to playing our part at the heart of Forge Island’s food and drink scene. Anyone looking for a space to host events or groups should pop in once we are open, we’d love to hear from them and see what we can do to help.”
Vetro means glass in Italian. Rotherham has a long history of glassmaking. Glass packaging manufacturer Beatson Clark has been making glass bottles and jars in Rotherham since 1751. The Glassworks Cone at Catcliffe is the oldest surviving structure of its type in Western Europe and one of only four to remain in the UK.
Lounge website
Forge Island website
Images: Loungers
Rothbiz revealed at the end of 2024 that Loungers UK Limited had applied for a premises licence for a unit at Forge Island, indicating that it would operate under the Lounge brand.
With the licence approved, recruitment underway and a planning application in for new signage, Vetro Lounge is set to open on April 30.
Lounge, which currently operates at The Glass Works in Barnsley and Fox Valley in Sheffield, is operated by Loungers plc. The AIM-listed firm, which also operates the Cosy Club bar and dining concept, and Brightside roadside dining, is currently undergoing a buyout by an American investment group which places its value at £350.5m.
The company has secured the premises licence for the 5,618 sq ft Unit 4 at Forge Island, which is the largest of the remaining units.
Vetro Lounge will serve breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and drinks, including full kids, gluten-free and vegan menus. The family-friendly restaurant will also feature a selection of games, books, colouring pencils and pads. A full menu, highchairs and baby-changing facilities are also available.
With community and neighbourhood at its heart, Vetro Lounge will welcome locals and visitors looking for a space for regular catch ups, meetings and events. It will join the already open Arc Cinema and Travelodge at Forge Island, with further announcements expected soon.
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Cllr Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Council, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Vetro Lounge to Forge Island.
“This marks a significant moment for Rotherham. With its vibrant atmosphere, delicious menu and prime location, Vetro Lounge will undoubtedly become a popular destination for both residents and visitors alike.
“The opening of Vetro Lounge sets the stage for even more exciting developments in the town centre, which will bring a boost to the local economy and create job opportunities for local people.
“We are forging ahead with our plans for a revitalised town centre that reflects Rotherham’s potential, and Vetro Lounge is an important step in making that vision a reality. I look forward to seeing it thrive and to the many more great things ahead for our community.”
John English, Head of Community, The Lounges, added: “We’re so looking forward to opening the doors of Vetro Lounge at the end of April. We hope our family friendly environment and top-notch food and drink offering will prove popular with local residents and visitors.
“We’re passionate about integrating genuinely into the communities we serve so we’re looking forward to meeting everyone and to playing our part at the heart of Forge Island’s food and drink scene. Anyone looking for a space to host events or groups should pop in once we are open, we’d love to hear from them and see what we can do to help.”
Vetro means glass in Italian. Rotherham has a long history of glassmaking. Glass packaging manufacturer Beatson Clark has been making glass bottles and jars in Rotherham since 1751. The Glassworks Cone at Catcliffe is the oldest surviving structure of its type in Western Europe and one of only four to remain in the UK.
Lounge website
Forge Island website
Images: Loungers
41 comments:
Lovely Stuff!
Really looking forward to giving it a try
Onward and upward!
Great name given Rotherham's industrial heritage
It was also great to read this week that the cinema was the best performing of the Arc group during December. Forge Island is starting to prove the sceptics wrong.
Is it? Why is it in Italian? What has that got to do with Rotherham's industrial heritage?
I'd take that comment with a pinch of Salt. Arc cinemas aren't exactly based in bustling big cities. When you look at the list of towns I'd be very disappointed if Rotherham hadn't been the best performing.
All very positive.
Talk about being negative. I'll wager that Preston, Daventry and Great Yarmouth all have busier town centres than Rotherham, so outperforming them is a cause for optimism.
Not negative, just adding some context. I'll wager that Great Yarmouth isn't busier than Rotherham in December plus it has another cinema for competition and Daventry has a sub 30k population. The Arc in Preston only had it's opening this morning so no wonder Rotherham performed better in December!
And Arc has to compete with 31 other screens at 2 cinemas less than 15 minutes away - just for further context.
Yes it's still a good news story
Less than 15 minutes if you drive.
You would be hard pressed to do it in 15 minutes if you didn't drive even with the new cycle lanes.
Could just do it if you live on Meadowbank Road.
I agree, I’d be disappointed if Rotherham hadn’t been busier than Yarmouth and Daventry. You’ve got to have very low expectations if you think that’s a really good achievement.
The only realistic expectation on here is that some posters will take every possible opportunity to be negative about the town.
I think some people would be left with egg on their faces if Forge Island succeeded. It's true that Rotherham Arc's success in leading the chain in December may not be aa great an achievement as some have claimed, but how on earth can anyone poo poo it as insignificant?
Well done the people of Rotherham who disagreed with those who said Arc wasn't wanted!
My kids live it!
In fact, they even love it.
I went to the millers match against Barnsley at the weekend with a group from work most Barnsley fans as company I work far is in Barnsley area,It was a day of embarrassment (not only Millers performance)but the ribbing I had to take about state of Rotherham,had it all,No shops,shortage of pubs, demographic of town centre population,all made point that no wonder no one was there with state of it,they all said it just emphasizes point,that when people in Barnsley complain about there town centre,they should take a look at Rotherham for some context,they wouldn't complain then.Embarassing, especially when you know it's actually true!☹️
Agreed. Watching RUFC is embarrassing.
Like the state of Rotherham town centre is a staple of football conversation! LOL
At NYS any topic is preferable to talking about the football.
"Is it? Why is it in Italian? What has that got to do with Rotherham's industrial heritage?" All Lounges restaurants are named in Italian. For example the Barnsley branch is 'Falco Lounge' (Italian for Falcon - relating the to film 'Kes') and the one in Blackpool is named 'Vintro Lounge' (Italian for Winter - As it is opposite the Winter Gardens)
Under our manager NYS has largely been an excitement free zone
Very true. Two chaps sat behind me at the Barnsley match were talking about their bucket collections
Glass, but just call it winders if it upsets thi.
That’s fair enough then. Thanks for your reply.
Asino would have been more appropriate for the Blackpool one.
Did you find it interesting?
"largely"?
Anonymous...the state of town centre was part of conversation,as it was a corporate outing ,and some were under impression it would be a full day /evening out in Rotherham,I did think they would be very disappointed when they found what Rotherham town centre had too offer, anyhow we all went back to Barnsley and had a proper evenings entertainment.Dosent take way fact how embarrassing it is for the Rotherham contingent of our group ,too have our town critised even though we know its correct.
Riveting
For the first time for many many years I have stopped attending matches despite being a season ticket holder. It is so depressing watching tactics of a bygone era.
We have the Fat Controller in charge. What could possibly go wrong?
Should win one or two games in Division 2 next year.
Really?
Apparently he has 100% backing and support from the Chairman. So, I'll get mi coat...
Depressing if he does actually have the owner's backing.
Is this a library?
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