News: Forge Island prepares for fit out as hotel opens for bookings

The new multimillion pound Travelodge Hotel being built on Forge Island in Rotherham has begun taking bookings for when it opens this summer.

Forge Island is the town centre's new landmark leisure destination being delivered by Rotherham Council in partnership with Muse. The £47m development includes an 8-screen boutique cinema operated by The Arc Cinema, a 69-roomed Travelodge Hotel as well as six independent restaurants on the riverside, including The Rustic Pizza Company, Estabulo, and Sakku Samba.

The hotel, the first Travelodge in the borough, is now is bookable for stays from July 8 2024.

The four storey hotel is being built by Bowmer + Kirkland on the north of the Forge Island site. It was designed with a metal top and brick base in grey. The new Rotherham hotel will be in Travelodge's new-build budget luxe hotel brand. It has also been confirmed that it will incorporate the new Bar Café concept offering unlimited breakfast, tasty evening meals and fresh barista coffee.

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In 2022 Travelodge announced that it was evolving its core brand product to a new budget-luxe premium look and feel design which includes all the low cost efficiencies you would expect from Travelodge, but with the added benefit of thoughtful, stylish design and homely touches throughout its interiors.

Standard rooms (with new décor and signature king size "Dreamer" bed) are priced at £77.99 for the saver rate and £89.99 for the flexible rate.

Also on Forge Island, Arc Cinemas is currently recruiting for a general manager.

The job advert reads: "The Arc Cinema will be opening its doors to offer an ultra high specification luxury cinema experience to customers in Rotherham. A brand new build, scheduled to open in August 2024, with 8 screens, The Arc Cinema will offer something special for all movie lovers. State-of-the-art facilities offering the ultimate blockbuster experience, while smaller screens provide a more intimate movie watching atmosphere. All screens feature VIP electric recliner seats as standard.

"We pride ourselves in taking great care of our customers, and on becoming a central part of each community that we serve."

On the food and beverage offer, incoming outlet, Rustic Pizza Co has provided an update on Forge Island progress.

The Rustic Pizza Co was founded in 2017. Its base at Lakeside in Doncaster offers authentic Neopolitan style pizza, Italian hand-pulled coffee and rustic breakfasts.

A recent update to Facebook said: "We attended a site visit at Rotherham Forge island this week and to say we are excited would be an understatement! We will be starting our fit out in the next couple of weeks and we can’t wait to bring Rustic to Rotherham!"

Forge Island website
Travelodge website
Arc Cinema website
Rustic Pizza Co website

Images: Travelodge / Rustic Pizza Co / Facebook

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News: Forge Island pre-let leaves Doncaster base

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

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