News: More new openings at Parkgate planned

An international coffee chain and two national footwear retailers are taking steps to open at Parkgate Shopping in Rotherham.

Rothbiz reported in June that several new lettings, upsizes and relocations were close to being finalised at the 2nd largest purpose-built retail warehouse park in the UK.

American coffee company and coffeehouse chain, Starbucks, is planning to open a new site, despite already operating less than a mile away.

Starbucks constructed a new Drive Thru store at nearby Foundry Retail Park at Parkgate and opened in 2020.

Now the Seattle-based chain wants to take on an empty unit at Parkgate Shopping that was previously home to rival chain, Costa.

Costa expanded at Parkgate Shopping when it built a 1,800 sq ft standalone drive-thru unit between Wilko's and Morrison's in the existing car park in 2017.

A planning application has been submitted for new signage for unit 32 that would see Starbucks slot in between Vision Express and Greggs.

Advertisement
More shoe retailers have recently announced that they are coming to Parkgate.

With Deichmann opening in Rotherham in 2023 and Shoe Zone starting recruitiment but not actually opening, Pavers and Footasylum look to have got their feet in the door.

Founded in York in 1971, the family-owned business opened the first Pavers shop in Scarborough in 1981 and since then has grown to over 180 stores nationwide. One of the UK’s leading comfort shoe retailers, it offers a wide range of brands including Fly Flot, Skechers and Padders and the business now includes acquired brands, Jones Bootmaker, Herring Shoes and Van Dal.

Store manager and customer advisor roles are currently being advertised in Rotherham.

A unit for the retailer has not been announced but the job advert from Pavers confirms: "We are thrilled to announce the opening of our BRAND NEW STORE at Rotherham Parkgate Shopping Park in September 2024!"

Footasylum, the streetwear and sportswear retailer, has also begun recruiting for a store manager for a Rotherham store.

Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Rochdale, Footasylum had been owned by JD Sports since 2019 until it fell foul of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). It was bought by Aurelius in 2022 and, backed by the German investment firm, has expanded through new store openings and upsizing existing locations.

Footasylum stock includes Nike, Adidas Originals, Under Armour, The North Face, and more.

Again, a unit for the retailer has not been announced but the job advert from Footasylum confirms that it is for "one of our exciting NEW stores opening at Parkgate Shopping Park in Rotherham."

Also at the park, current tenant Superdrug has seen its planning application for new signage at Unit 7 approved. This will allow for an expansion for the beauty and health retailer to expand into the unit vacated by Poundland.

Parkgate Shopping spans over 40 acres and has 577,837 sq ft of ground floor retail accommodation. The destination was sold for around £60m at the start of 2024.

Starbucks website
Pavers website
Parkgate Shopping website

Images: Pavers / One Fine Day Design

Read more...

News: Residents cry foul over Rotherham KFC development, with Costa planning to join

Updated plans for a food-led revamp of a former commercial property in a Rotherham village are being recommended for approval, despite a number of objections.

Rothbiz revealed back in 2018 that QFM Group, the Sheffield-based developer and operator of a number of fast food franchises, was progressing plans for new outlets in Wickersley, Rotherham.

QFM Group is one of the largest franchise companies in the UK and was founded in 1982 when it opened its first restaurant in Sheffield. It now has a chain of quick service restaurants and is continuing to grow with a current expansion programme. QFM operates world renowned brands such as KFC, Costa Coffee and Taco Bell.

Planning permission was secured and KFC opened in Wickersley last year in a building near to The Tanyard that was formerly used by Tirobaggi, an online supplier of quality handbags and accessories, and Edward Healy & Sons, a provider of shoe repair materials.

New plans are for a Costa Coffee alongside KFC.

Plans show that the 4,000 sq ft development could be subdivided into three units and planners previously concluded that "the proposed development represents an acceptable form of development in this locality that will be in keeping with its character and appearance and would not adversely affect the amenity of neighbouring residents or highway users."

However, differences between the scheme approved and that currently operating have resulted in the submission of a new application to regularise matters.

The latest application seeks full planning permission for the subdivision and change of use of the existing building to two units (rather than three) comprising a takeaway to the Bawtry Road frontage with a coffee shop to the rear area.

These differ from the café and take-away previously approved under the 2019 permission in that the take-away element has slightly reduced in area and the coffee shop element increased.

Advertisement
KFC would continue to have public access from the Bawtry Road elevation with the coffee shop being accessed from the Fairways frontage. Also in the plans are an external seating area to the front and a service area and car parking area for three cars to the rear.

Applicants say that: "The proposal improves and re-uses one of the oldest buildings in the district centre in a way that would result in 20 jobs and increased footfall at this end of the centre."

A number of objections and a petition from local residents have been received covering issues around the need for more takeaways in the area, the character of the area, noise and odour issues and various highway issues.

Planners are recommending that planning board members approve the plans. They maintain that the application complies with council planning policies brought in to address the proliferation of takeaways to help maintain the economic vitality and viability of town district and local centres.

A planning report states that "the proposal would not result in more than 10% of the ground floor units in the district centre being used as hot food takeaways (this unit would bring the total to 9%)" and adds that two takeaways would not be operating adjacent to each other (against the policy guidelines) as the Seven Seas fish bar next door to the application site "has more recently added a restaurant onto the site so is not exclusively a takeaway use."

The opening hours are set to be 0700hrs to 2300hrs. Planning officers add that with "the building not being immediately adjacent to residential properties and the commercial nature of the area the proposed hours are considered to be acceptable."

The proximity to local schools was also raised by objectors but the council's policy means that, as the site is within a defined district centre and satisfies the relevant planning policies, it cannot be refused on these grounds.

If approved, planning permission comes with a number of proposed conditions including extraction systems to abate odours and plant and equipment that doesn't exceed certain noise levels.

Measures to prevent indiscriminate parking in the wide footway fronting and adjacent the premises have now been implemented following the recent insertion of the bollards in this location. These were part of the previous planning permission and KFC was forced to close until the works were carried out.

The plans are due to go before the planning board at Rotherham Council next week.

QFM Group website

Images: Google Maps

Read more...

News: Frankie & Benny's not reopening Rotherham branch

The operators of Frankie & Benny's restaurant are unlikely to reopen one of its Rotherham branches.

A national coffee chain looks set to take its place.

The favourite family-run restaurant focusses on classic American-Italian style cuisine and the majority of the 100 restaurants are found within leisure and retail locations. It is one of a number of brands operated by The Restaurant Group plc (TRG).

Hit by Covid restrictions and under pressure from landlords, the company had to take drastic action in 2020 with a proposal to reduce the size of its leisure estate and rental cost base by the implementation of a company voluntary arrangement (CVA).

The Restaurant Group, which also operates the Wagamama brand, proposed a reduction in its current portfolio by exiting approximately 125 trading sites as well as seeking improved rental terms on a portion of the remaining trading estate.

The purpose built unit at Cortonwood was removed from the company's website last year and now plans are being brought forward to reuse the building.

Advertisement
Andy Hornby, chief executive of The Restaurant Group said in June 2020: "The issues facing our sector are well documented and we have already taken decisive action to improve our liquidity, reduce our cost base and downsize our operations.

"The proposed CVA will deliver an appropriately-sized estate for our Leisure business to ensure we are well positioned despite the very challenging market conditions facing the casual dining sector.

"I would like to wholeheartedly thank all of my TRG colleagues for their continued understanding and extraordinary commitment during this unprecedented period."

The CVA was approved and the group secured new finance facilities and was successful with a new share placing in 2021.

The Parkgate branch reopened and recently began to promote the group's new "Bone Jam" virtual brand which offers US comfort food including BBQ, chicken and wings for delivery only.

At Cortonwood Shopping Park, plans were passed in 2016 for a tenth stand alone unit to be used as a restaurant for Frankie & Benny's. The 3,600 sq ft unit was large enough to accommodate 166 customers indoors and created around 30 full time equivalent jobs.

Now plans have been submitted to Rotherham Council to enable the unit to be subdivided and split into two separate units. One of the units is being lined up to be taken on by Costa Coffee.

Costa, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, is the fastest growing coffee shop business in the UK. Coca-Cola completed the acquisition of Costa Coffee from Whitbread PLC in 2019 in a deal worth $4.9 billion. With around 4,000 outlets, the most recent opening in Rotherham was a drive-thru at Catcliffe.

Images: Google Maps

Read more...

News: Costa confirmed for new Rotherham site

Construction is underway on a new Costa Coffee drive-thru in Rotherham.

Harworth Group plc, a leading regenerator of land and property for development and investment, secured planning permission on the site near to its flagship Waverley development earlier this year.

The coffee chain is also taking a unit at Harworth's Riverdale Park development in Doncaster.

Costa will enter into a 15-year lease shortly after practical completion of the 1,800 sq. ft drive-thru units that Harworth will build on its behalf.

Close to the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP), the new outlet is being built on land adjacent to Harworth's Advantage House building on Poplar Way. It is expected to be practically completed in November and is being built by HP Construction.

Adam Osborne, development manager, Harworth Group plc, said: "Demand for food & beverage drive-thrus in established commercial locations in the North of England remains very strong. We're very pleased to accommodate Costa on another two of our sites."

Using the existing site access onto Poplar Way will provide access to the 36 space car park and drive-thru lane.

Founded in London by Italian brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa in 1971, the chain is the fastest growing coffee shop business in the UK. Coca-Cola completed the acquisition of Costa Coffee from Whitbread PLC in 2019 in a deal worth $4.9 billion.

Advertisement
Harworth also remains on-track to practically complete the UK Atomic Energy Authority's (UKAEA) new nuclear fusion technology research facility at the AMP in September.

The 22,300 sq ft unit, which is being built by Sheffield-based contractor JF Finnegan on Harworth's behalf, will comprise office accommodation split over two floors and a research laboratory at ground floor level. The UKAEA will be taking a 20-year lease with Harworth on its completion in September and will employ 40 highly skilled people – continuing the authority's close working relationship with the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC).

The new facility is being funded as part of the Government's Nuclear Sector Deal delivered through the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. An additional £2m of investment is coming from Sheffield City Region's Local Growth Fund, thereby helping the UKAEA join other leading occupiers at the AMP including Rolls-Royce, Boeing and McLaren Automotive, and further strengthening the park's standing as being at the centre of high-value employment in the UK.

David Elliott, director of building, Harworth Group plc, said: "Continuing to build out new commercial space is essential for the UK’s ongoing economic recovery and I am delighted with progress being made in finalising the UKAEA’s new facility. This development has the potential to create many jobs in the local supply chain as fusion technology matures and we look forward to supporting that process where we can."

Harworth website

Images: Benson Signs

Read more...

News: New Rotherham coffee outlet planned

All the signs are pointing to Costa Coffee taking on a yet-to-be-constructed new outlet in Rotherham.

Rothbiz reported in March that plans had been approved for a new a drive thru café / restaurant on land close to the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP).

EOS Inc Ltd, which shares directors with Rotherham-based development firm, Harworth Group plc, put together the proposals for a development on land adjacent to Harworth's Advantage House building on Poplar Way.

Recently submitted plans for signage at the site show that Costa Coffee are set to be the operators of the drive-thru store.

The total floor area proposed is 1,800 sq ft and the existing site access onto Poplar Way will provide access to the 36 space car park and drive-thru lane.

The Poplar Way frontage is set to be glazed and cladded with materials to be reflective of the surrounding area, such as the silver aluminium used on the AMP.

Advertisement

Working with agents, Savills, the coffee chain secured a number of new locations in September 2019.

James Hamilton, Acquisition & Estates Director Costa UK & Ireland, said: "Since launching in May 2011, our drive thru stores have become an asset to our UK retail estate, allowing us to serve our signature, handcrafted drinks to our coffee loving-on-the-go customers."

Charlie Greenhalgh, out of town retail director at Savills, added, "Both Costa Coffee's drive thru and drive to formats continue to be a success throughout the UK and we're pleased to be supporting the brand's ongoing expansion plans in key retail and roadside destinations."

Costa Coffee now has over 2,600 coffee shops in the UK and more than 1,300 plus shops in 32 overseas markets. There are also now more than 8,000 Costa Express self-serve machines in the UK.

Founded in London by Italian brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa in 1971, the chain is the fastest growing coffee shop business in the UK. Coca-Cola completed the acquisition of Costa Coffee from Whitbread PLC in 2019 in a deal worth $4.9 billion.

Also at Catcliffe, plans for a new pizza restaurant inside the Boundary Outlet have recently been approved. The plans also include new canopies, a new store front and a relocation of the existing BB's coffee shop.

Costa website

Images: Benson Signs

Read more...

News: New Rotherham Costa plans approved

Plans served up for a new standalone unit for Costa Coffee at Parkgate Shopping in Rotherham have been approved.

A planning application was submitted over the Summer for a 1,800 sq ft drive-thru unit to be occupied by Costa between Wilko's and Morrison's supermarket in the existing car park at Parkgate.

Part of Whitbread plc, Costa was founded in London in 1971 by Italian brothers, Sergio and Bruno. With over 2,000 coffee shops in the UK and more than 1,240 in 31 overseas markets, Costa is the fastest growing coffee shop business in the UK and is aiming to create 5,000 new UK jobs by 2020.

Drive thru stores are operated by the company and by franchisees. Costa's turnover grew by 15.9% to £1.1 billion for the year to March 3 2016. Underlying operating profit was up 15.8% to £153.5m.

"The Nation's Favourite Coffee Shop" already operates in Rotherham at a 2,000 sq ft unit at Parkgate Shopping, the Waterfront development in Manvers and at a recently opened unit in Rotherham town centre.

The proposed development, which would take up 45 parking spaces, would be single storey and include feature glazing, and red and grey render and include a drive thru, not currently available at the existing Costa on the park.

Advertisement

Approved without going to the Planning Board, planners at Rotherham Council agreed with the applicants that, as the development is relatively minor, it would not have an impact on surrounding retail centres due to its small scale. It is not considered as a destination in its own right and will more likely function as part of a linked trip to the surrounding shopping area.

The highways experts at the Council do warn that the loss of 45 parking spaces could lead to a shortfall of ten spaces at peak time. The proposed tram-train stop at Parkgate could also put further pressure on parking spaces.

The previous owners of the park, together with potential operators and visitors have all shown an interest in an improved food and drink offer at Parkgate. A 4,000 sq ft Frankie & Benny's restaurant opened in 2012 to complement to the existing instore cafés and fast food outlets. A similar size Nando's opened at the end of 2015, a new development replacing the former Pizza Hut restaurant.

In 2016, an in-house coffee shop and eatery, UK Coffee Shop, opened within the 45,000 sq ft UK Outdoor Clearance site.

McDonald's opened a 24-hour restaurant and drive thru on the edge of Parkgate Shopping in 2014 and plans for a 2,000 sq ft Starbucks drive thru coffee shop at nearby Foundry Retail Park were approved in 2015.

In a transaction worth around £175m, BMO Real Estate Partners (BMO) acquired Parkgate Shopping in September 2015 from the Hercules Unit Trust (HUT), which is advised by British Land and managed by Schroders.

Plans have also been approved for alterations in a bid to secure new tenants for the only two remaining vacant units on the site - the former BHS and Brantano stores.

The latest applications shows that Interest Trustees Ltd and Spread Trustee Company Ltd are now trustees of the Rotherham Unit Trust.


Parkgate Shopping website
Costa website

Images: Costa

Read more...

News: New Costa proposals to perk up Parkgate

As fit out work continues for a new Costa unit in Rotherham town centre, another is being planned for Parkgate Shopping.

Rothbiz reported first that "The Nation's Favourite Coffee Shop" was taking on the empty unit on Corporation Street that was vacated by fast food chain KFC last year.

Now a planning application has been submitted for a 1,800 sq ft standalone drive-thru unit to be occupied by Costa between Wilko's and Morrison's supermarket in the existing car park at Parkgate.

Part of Whitbread plc, Costa was founded in London in 1971 by Italian brothers, Sergio and Bruno. With over 2,000 coffee shops in the UK and more than 1,240 in 31 overseas markets, Costa is the fastest growing coffee shop business in the UK and is aiming to create 5,000 new UK jobs by 2020. It already operates in Rotherham at a 2,000 sq ft unit at Parkgate Shopping and the Waterfront development in Manvers.

Drive thru stores are operated by the company and by franchisees. Costa's turnover grew by 15.9% to £1.1 billion for the year to March 3 2016. Underlying operating profit was up 15.8% to £153.5m.

Advertisement

The proposed development, which would take up 45 parking spaces, would be single storey and include feature glazing, and red and grey render and include a drive thru, not currently available at the existing Costa on the park.

The owners of the park, together with potential operators and visitors have all shown an interest in an improved food and drink offer at Parkgate. A 4,000 sq ft Frankie & Benny's restaurant opened in 2012 to complement to the existing instore cafés and fast food outlets. A similar size Nando's opened at the end of 2015, a new development replacing the former Pizza Hut restaurant.

In 2016, an in-house coffee shop and eatery, UK Coffee Shop, opened within the 45,000 sq ft UK Outdoor Clearance site.

McDonald's opened a 24-hour restaurant and drive thru on the edge of Parkgate Shopping in 2014 and plans for a 2,000 sq ft Starbucks drive thru coffee shop at nearby Foundry Retail Park were approved in 2015.

Due to the small size of the proposed Costa unit, there is no requirement to undertake an impact assessment. On previous restaurant developments, Rotherham planners stated that "no evidence exists to demonstrate that the proposed development would have a significant adverse effect on the town centre."

Sequential tests ensure that development is located in the most sustainable location first (usually in town centres), before other, less sustainable locations are chosen. In this case, the applicants have discounted a number of sites in the town centre.

Advertisement

Parkgate ranks in the top ten of British retail parks ranked by the total retail spend attracted to each centre. Attracting over nine million visitors a year, the 575,000 sq ft retail destination is one of the largest retail parks in the UK. Home to over 40 shops, the park is anchored by the likes of M&S, Outfit, Next, Boots and H&M.

Recent opening include The Works and Smyth's Toys. A tenant is close to moving into the empty unit vacated by BHS, the national retailer that went into liquidation.

In a transaction worth around £175m, BMO Real Estate Partners (BMO) acquired Parkgate Shopping in September 2015 from the Hercules Unit Trust (HUT), which is advised by British Land and managed by Schroders.

The latest application shows that Interest Trustees Ltd and Spread Trustee Company Ltd are now trustees of the Rotherham Unit Trust.

Costa website
Parkgate Shopping website

Images: Whitbread plc

Read more...

News: Costa planning to open in Rotherham town centre

One of the perks for visitors and workers in Rotherham town centre is that they can get away from the daily grind in one of the many independent cafés and coffee shops, and now big name coffee brand, Costa is set to be added to the blend.

National chains have so far shunned the borough's town centre but now a branch of "The Nation's Favourite Coffee Shop" is on the menu.

A planning application has been submitted that would enable Costa to take on the empty unit on Corporation Street overlooking the redeveloped Minster Gardens that was vacated by fast food chain KFC last year.

Now part of Whitbread plc, Costa was founded in London in 1971 by Italian brothers, Sergio and Bruno. With over 2,000 coffee shops in the UK and more than 1,240 in 31 overseas markets, Costa has diversified into both the at-home and gourmet self-serve markets. There are now more than 4,275 Costa Express self-serve machines in the UK.

In the UK, Costa employs over 16,000 people and creates around 1,500 jobs each year. It is the fastest growing coffee shop business in the UK and is aiming to create 5,000 new UK jobs by 2020. It already operates in Rotherham at Parkgate Shopping and the Waterfront development in Manvers.

Costa's turnover grew by 15.9% to £1.1 billion for the year to March 3 2016. Underlying operating profit was up 15.8% to £153.5m.

Advertisement

The company said in a statement: "Over the past two decades the UK coffee shop market has seen unprecedented growth and, according to coffee experts Allegra Strategies, UK branded chains' outlets have grown at around 6% CAGR (compound annual growth rate) over 2008-2014, with further growth expected over the next few years. Nevertheless, UK coffee consumption remains relatively low in comparison to many other developed countries.

"While coffee venues continue to act as social and community hubs, customers' demands are evolving. Convenience and coffee quality remain essential but customers are becoming more sophisticated with fresher food, faster service, better loyalty schemes and a greater digital experience becoming increasingly important to drive customer satisfaction and grow revenue.

"As the UK's favourite coffee shop, Costa is well placed to capitalise on future market opportunities."

Advertisement

Costa operates a franchise model and the plans for the signage for the new Rotherham venture have been submitted by the QFM Group. The Sheffield firm successfully operate franchises for KFC, Costa and Taco Bell across Yorkshire, the North of England and Scotland. It is behind the KFC outlets at Manvers and Canklow and the planned development at Eastwood which is set to include a Costa and KFC alongside the Toby Carvery pub which opened last year.

Corporation Street has seen a reduced footfall since the relocation of Tesco across town from Forge Island.

Another closure saw NatWest vacate the prominent stone building at the top of the street but in the Old Market building next door, the UK's largest and most competitively priced bridal retailer, WED2B took the whole of the ground floor to open an outlet in 2015.

Costa website
QFM Group website

Images: Whitbread plc

Read more...

News: Costa & KFC to join Toby Carvery in Rotherham

New outlets for Costa, KFC and Hey Potato! are planning to join the Toby Carvery at a new retail development in Rotherham.

A prominent brownfield site at Eastwood is set to be transformed by a regeneration scheme centred around new food retail units. The vacant one hectare site at Mushroom Roundabout was previously home to a D.C. Cook car dealership but has been empty since 2008 following demolition.

In September, Northern Retail Ltd secured planning permission for a two-storey Toby Carvery pub and family restaurant, a two-storey KFC restaurant and two smaller restaurant / take away units, together with over 100 car parking spaces and vehicular access via Aldwarke Lane and Sycamore Road.

Wilton Developments and fast food specialists, QFM are also involved in the plans, which state that the development would create 73 jobs.

Now a new planning application has been submitted for signage at the scheme which shows that the remaining units are set to operate as franchises of Costa coffee and Hey Potato!

Sheffield-based QFM, specialise in fast food retail developments. It operates a number of franchises in the area and brought forward similar developments at Manvers and Canklow.

A licence application has recently been submitted by Mitchells and Butlers for its planned Toby Carvery pub restaurant on the site.

Images: Costa

Read more...