News: More food outlets planning to open in Rotherham

New restaurants and takeaways are planning to open in Rotherham town centre as the new Forge Island development appears to be having an affect already.

The potential new outlets come at the same time as the council confirmed that a number of brands signed up to open on Forge Island are no longer coming.

Forge Island is the town centre's new landmark leisure destination being delivered by the council in partnership with Muse. The £47m development is anchored by an 8-screen boutique cinema operated by The Arc Cinema and a 69-roomed Travelodge Hotel.

On nearby Main Street, in the £10m Westgate Chambers development, Cali's, a specialist in fried chicken and milkshakes, has recently secured planning permission for new signage at number 18.

Just like near neighbours, Munchies, which recently opened in Rotherham, Cali's is based in Sheffield and offers chicken burgers, wraps, wings, tenders and loaded fries. Milkshakes, churros and ice cream round off the menu.

A planning report explains that "the property is a ground floor unit that is currently / last used as a hot food takeaway and is changing to another hot food takeaway and the advert is for the new company taking over the premises." Current signs on the unit are for Pure Punjabi and it was previously Planet Pizza and Burgers.

Advertisement
And another food operator is planning to open at 6 Main Street on the same parade.

A planning application has been submitted that would enable Dessert Time to operate in the town centre.

The plans are for a change the use from nightclub to eat in and takeout desserts, with opening hours extending to 2am.

Like Munchies and Cali's, Dessert Time already operates in Sheffield with a menu featuring a variety of sweet treats including deconstructed cheesecakes, croffles, and an array of cookie dough options.

Across town, plans are also coming forward to turn an empty pub into a restaurant.

Back in 2011 plans were approved to convert the rear of the vacant Crinoline Bridge Inn on Rawmarsh Road into a café/sandwich shop with the main pub operating as a tile shop.

Now an application has been submitted for a change of use from a tile shop to a restaurant including the erection of a commercial unit with additional rear corridor access and the construction of first floor roof terrace.

The current unit has been open as the Pad Thai Cafe since last year.

Applicant, Phil Richardson, was advised by Rotherham Council that the introduction of residential use in this location would be "wholly unsuitable and likely to lead to poor amenity for future occupiers" so around 9,000 sq ft for commercial use is proposed.

Cali's website
Dessert Time website
Pad Thai Cafe facebook page

Images: Cali's / Facebook / Google Maps

Read more...

News: Plans approved to enable Sheffield fast food favourite to open in Rotherham

Plans have been approved that will enable "Britain's best takeaway" to open in the revamped Westgate Chambers development in Rotherham town centre.

Westgate Chambers is a large private-led regeneration project - a £10m scheme designed by Sheffield-based Self Architects involving the creation of a commercial, retail and residential development that involves renovating the buildings around a courtyard, including a Georgian Grade II listed building.

Rothbiz revealed in November 2023 that Sheffield-based burger restaurant, Munchies, had applied for a change of use application for a unit on Main Street.

With three locations across Sheffield, Munchies garnered national acclaim earlier in 2023 when it won The Best Takeaway In Britain Award at the Just Eat Restaurant Awards.

The brand is famed for its burgers and milkshakes and describes itself as having a "generous menu that satisfies big cravings from a business which is big on personality and bigger on flavour."

The plans for the 1,800 sq ft unit at 4 Main Street show kitchen and preparation areas to the rear and booths and banquette seating at the front.

A design statement submitted with the application hints at a playful interior, neon lights and an "instagram-worthy atmosphere."

Advertisement
The Council’s Adult Care, Housing & Public Health Department have raised objections to the proposals in terms of clustering of takeaways in the Town Centre and within the Boston Castle Ward.

Planning policies exist in Rotherham to limit the number of takeaways in prime town centre streets. In this case, planning officers conclude that Main Street is not a Primary or Secondary Street Frontage, adding that: "this takeaway business is considered to be appropriately located within an area of the Town Centre which is dominated by the night time economy, which this use is considered to be complimentary to."

Another policy states that new hot food takeaways are not acceptable within 800 metres of a school or tertiary college facility, except in defined town or local centres, which this site is within.

A report from the planners concludes: "Whilst it is recognised that hot food takeaways may provide some healthy eating options, evidence demonstrates the link between fast food takeaways and health concerns for Rotherham's communities.

"In this instance as Rotherham Town Centre is already well served by a number of fast-food takeaways, the additional takeaway will unlikely make a difference. Any college or school children in the area already also have access to range of hot food takeaways."

Conditions include restricting opening hours to 11:00 until 23:30 Sundays to Thursdays, and 11:00 until 02:30 Fridays and Saturdays.

Munchies website

Images: Munchies / Imperial Signs

Read more...

News: The Sheffield fast food favourite that wants to open in Rotherham

The revamped Westgate Chambers development in Rotherham town centre could be a new home for "Britain's best takeaway," if newly submitted plans are approved.

Westgate Chambers is a large private-led regeneration project - a £10m scheme designed by Sheffield-based Self Architects involving the creation of a showcase commercial, retail and residential development that involves renovating the buildings that surround a landscaped internal courtyard, including a superb Georgian Grade II listed building, one of the oldest surviving historic structures in Rotherham town centre.

With the New York View apartments joined by the likes of Pot8's snooker club and the new location for rock bar, Snafu, the latest application is for a change of use that would enable an empty unit to be used for a hot food takeaway.

Plans show that it will be for Sheffield-based burger bar, Munchies.

With three locations across Sheffield, Munchies garnered national acclaim earlier this year when it won The Best Takeaway In Britain Award at the Just Eat Restaurant Awards.

The brand is famed for its burgers and milkshakes and describes itself as having a "generous menu that satisfies big cravings from a business which is big on personality and bigger on flavour."

Advertisement
If approved, the revamped 1,800 sq ft unit at 4 main Street would enable Munchies to expand into Rotherham with plans showing kitchen and preparation areas to the rear and booths and banquette seating at the front.

A design statement submitted with the application hints at a playful interior, neon lights and an "instagram-worthy atmosphere."

The application states that the new takeaway aims to enhance the dining options in the urban area characterized by a mix of pubs, bars, offices, and retail outlets. It adds: "Its introduction as a fast food takeaway/restaurant complements the existing mix of uses, providing a new and desirable food option that caters to the needs of local office workers, residents, and visitors.

"It promises to enhance the local dining landscape, contribute positively to the area's vibrancy, and meet the needs of a diverse range of users."

In 2020, Rotherham Council introduced a planning policy including the restrictions on the location of new hot food takeaways within 800 metres of schools and colleges.

Munchies website

Images: Munchies / Google Maps

Read more...