News: Reytons confirm Rotherham return

A repeat of The Reytons’ homecoming gig in Rotherham is set to take place in 2027, reports Visit Rotherham.

The concert held in the summer of 2024 drew thousands of attendees from across the nation. It marked the largest outdoor music event ever held at Clifton Park on the edge of Rotherham town centre, attracting around 20,00 people.

The follow up event is to celebrate ten years of The Reytons.

The announcement comes days after a triumphant performance at Manchester's Co-op Live, the UK's largest entertainment arena.

An update on social media reads: "It’s officially happening… We’re returning to Clifton Park in July!!!

"The Reytons are heading back to home soil, Let’s go to Disneyland… "

Priority pre-sale sign ip is open now.

The date announced today is Saturday July 10 but the application is listed as a two day event with Rotherham Council.

Visit Rotherham revealed in October that promoters had submitted a licence application that would enable them to hold large scale events in Clifton Park in July 2027.

Advertisement
The application to Rotherham Council is from Communion ONE Ltd, the company created when FKP Scorpio and Communion Presents merged in 2024. FKP Scorpio was the promoter that worked on the previous Reytons event in Rotherham and Communion ONE currently promotes events for the band.

Listed as a two day event, the application is time limited for July 9 to 11 2027 and would technically allow three outdoor music concerts to be provided in the park during this period.

If approved, the licence would enable the provision of live and recorded music outdoors on Friday July 9 and Saturday July 10 between 2:00pm and 10:30pm, and on Sunday July 11 2027 between 2:00pm and 10:00pm.

Alcohol would be allowed to be on sale between 12 noon and 11:00pm on the Friday and Saturday, and between 12 noon and 10:30pm on the Sunday.

Mirroring the layout for the 2024 gig, the stage is set to be situated on the extended car park area off Doncaster Road, with bars, toilets, food areas, backstage and medical tents all enclosed in a "steelshield."

The perimeter is again shown around the car park, along the tree line on Middle Lane, along a tree-lined avenue towards the museum, across the field towards the fun park and back along the path opposite the play area. Plans show two customer entrances and exits - one opposite the fun park and one in the field that backs onto Clifton Grove.

The similar 2024 application allowed for two gigs, where in reality, only one took place.

Local businesses and accommodation providers are likely to welcome the news. A study was commissioned and Sheffield Hallam University revealed that the event contributed an impressive £1m to Rotherham’s economy and £1.36m benefit for South Yorkshire.

The journey for The Reytons began with 350 people at Plug (now Network) in Sheffield, via The Leadmill, O2 Academy, the fruit and veg aisle at Tesco Extra, and Magna in Rotherham (the 4,500 capacity 2022 gig which sold out in ten hours), before reaching the 12,500 capacity Utilita Arena in Sheffield in 2023.

The Rotherham event at Clifton Park in 2024 was a career highlight for the band, who since then have played at massive European festivals, Wembley Arena and Co-Op Live. A world tour is already scheduled for 2026/27 taking in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Holland, France, Belgium and Spain.

The Reytons website

Images: The Reytons

Read more...

News: Are The Reytons readying a return to Rotherham and Clifton Park in 2027?

Paperwork has been submitted for a possible repeat of The Reytons’ homecoming gig in Rotherham, reports Visit Rotherham.

The concert held in the summer of 2024 drew thousands of attendees from across the nation, with some travelling from as far as Glasgow and Southampton. It marked the largest outdoor music event ever held at Clifton Park on the edge of Rotherham town centre, attracting around 20,00 people.

The connection to the borough has grown since then with the fourth album, called A Love Letter to a Broken Town, described by the down-to-earth indie rock band as being "for the community, the roots and the towns that made us..."

With press and launch events taking place in Rotherham town centre earlier this year, including a signing event and shop on Forge Island, a celebration was also held in All Saints' Square when the album was announced as reaching no. 1 in the official chart.

Now, Visit Rotherham has revealed that promoters have submitted a licence application that would enable them to hold large scale events in Clifton Park in July 2027.

The application to Rotherham Council is from Communion ONE Ltd, the company created when FKP Scorpio and Communion Presents merged in 2024. FKP Scorpio was the promoter that worked on the previous Reytons event in Rotherham and Communion ONE currently promotes events for the band.

The application is time limited for July 9 to 11 2027 and seeks to allow three outdoor music concerts to be provided in the park during this period.

If approved, the licence would enable the provision of live and recorded music outdoors on Friday July 9 and Saturday July 10 between 2:00pm and 10:30pm, and on Sunday July 11 2027 between 2:00pm and 10:00pm.

Alcohol would be allowed to be on sale between 12 noon and 11:00pm on the Friday and Saturday, and between 12 noon and 10:30pm on the Sunday.

Advertisement
Mirroring the layout for the 2024 gig, the stage is set to be situated on the extended car park area off Doncaster Road, with bars, toilets, food areas, backstage and medical tents all enclosed in a "steelshield."

The perimeter is again shown around the car park, along the tree line on Middle Lane, along a tree-lined avenue towards the museum, across the field towards the fun park and back along the path opposite the play area. Plans show two customer entrances and exits - one opposite the fun park and one in the field that backs onto Clifton Grove.

The similar 2024 application allowed for two gigs, where in reality, only one took place.

Local businesses and accommodation providers are likely to welcome the news. A study was commissioned and Sheffield Hallam University revealed that the event contributed an impressive £1m to Rotherham’s economy and £1.36m benefit for South Yorkshire.

The journey to Clifton Park for The Reytons began with 350 people at Plug (now Network) in Sheffield, via The Leadmill, O2 Academy, the fruit and veg aisle at Rotherham Tesco Extra, and Magna in Rotherham (the 4,500 capacity 2022 gig which sold out in ten hours), before reaching the 12,500 capacity Utilita Arena in Sheffield in 2023.

Since the Rotherham event in 2024, the band has played at massive European festivals and Wembley Arena, with a show scheduled for the end of this month at Manchester's Co-op Live, the UK's largest entertainment arena. A world tour in 2026/27 takes in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Holland, France, Belgium and Spain.

The Reytons website

Images: The Reytons / Communion ONE

Read more...

News: £50m Leger MBO completes

The Rotherham-based Leger Shearings Group, the UK’s largest escorted coach touring holidays operator, has passed into the sole ownership of chief executive Liam Race and chief financial officer Andrew Oldfield, following a management buy-out (MBO) that sees the pair acquire the remaining shares in the business.

The deal, valued in excess of £50m completes a journey the pair began in 2019, when Race, Oldfield and colleague Chris Plummer acquired an initial 30% stake in escorted coach tours company Leger Holidays from Ian Henry who had led the company for over 35 years.

2020 saw the company acquire the assets of iconic coach holiday brand Shearings, following the collapse of former owner Specialist Leisure Group and the Leger Shearings Group was formed.

Race, Oldfield and Plummer increased their holding to a majority stake in 2024, at which point Ian Henry moved to non-executive chairman. The latest transaction sees Race and Oldfield acquire the remaining interests held by the Henry family, taking the two executives to full ownership of the group. The MBO is funded by NatWest, which continues its long-standing relationship with the business.

Ian Henry, exits the business and chief product officer Chris Plummer, a fellow participant in the 2019 buy-out, who has just celebrated 20 years with the business, retires from the group as part of the transaction. Race and Oldfield paid warm tribute to both, crediting them with a central role in the group’s growth and transformation.

Since the initial MBO in 2019, the Canklow company has more than doubled in size. The acquisition of former competitor Shearings is credited with driving that growth and the 2022 acquisition of Arena Travel broadened the product range further, adding its specialist-interest brands.

The buy-out follows a sustained period of growth for the group, which has now delivered 20 consecutive months of growth, with sales and forward bookings both ahead of any previous year at this stage.

In recent years, Leger Shearings Group has been at the forefront of reinventing coach touring, redefining it as a premium experience, often combining luxury, convenience and sustainability while offering travellers an increasingly attractive alternative to flying. Race and Oldfield take ownership with a clear agenda for the next phase, centred on the premiumisation of the Leger brand. This includes Lumina, the group’s new flagship touring experience, which departs for its first tour in April 2027.

Leger Shearings Group carries holidaymakers across the UK, Europe and beyond, combining large-scale escorted coach touring with a growing portfolio of specialist-interest travel. Its brands include the well-known Leger Holidays and Shearings names, alongside crafting-holidays specialist Stitchtopia and bridge-holidays specialist First for Bridge. The group employs around 170 people and carries approximately 100,000 passengers each year.

Advertisement
Liam Race, chief executive, said: “This is a hugely proud moment for Andy and me, and the natural next step in a journey we started in 2019. Ian built something remarkable over more than 30 years and taking full ownership of Leger Shearings Group is both a privilege and a responsibility we don’t take lightly.

“The business is in the strongest shape it has ever been. We’ve delivered 20 consecutive months of growth, forward bookings are ahead of where we have ever been at this point, and we have ambitious plans to build on that. We’re premiumising the Leger brand, and our new flagship experience, Lumina, sets off on its first departures this April, with more exciting developments still to come. Through all of it our focus stays exactly where it has always been — on the customer, and on the repeat business that great service earns us.”

Race added a personal tribute to his outgoing colleagues: “Ian and Chris have been instrumental in everything we have achieved. Ian leaves an extraordinary legacy, and we wish Chris a long and happy retirement. We are proud to carry the business they helped build into its next chapter.”

Andrew Oldfield, chief financial officer, said: “Completing this buy-out puts the business on the firmest footing it has ever had, and we’re doing it from a position of real strength — record forward bookings, sustained growth and the continued backing of NatWest, who have been alongside us every step of the way. It gives Liam and me the platform to keep investing in our product, our brand and our people, and to pursue the growth opportunities we can clearly see ahead.”

Chris Plummer, who retires from the business, said: “It has been one of the great privileges of my career to help build Leger Shearings Group alongside Liam, Andy and the team. I retire immensely proud of what we have achieved together and completely confident in the future of the business. I’ll be cheering them on.”

Ian Henry said: “Liam and Andy have been at the heart of this company’s growth and transformation. They led the business through the challenges of the Covid era and on through recovery and impressive growth, and they have built a great team of talent around them. It has been the privilege of my career to build this business, and I leave it in excellent hands. I wish them every success.”

Relationship director Andy Croasdell of NatWest, said: “We've worked alongside Leger Shearings Group through several significant milestones in its journey and have seen first-hand the ambition and capability of Liam, Andy and the wider team.

"This latest transaction is the culmination of a long-term succession plan and reflects the confidence we have in the business, its leadership and its future growth prospects. We are delighted to continue supporting the company as it enters this exciting new chapter.”

Shakespeare Martineau (legal) and KPMG (tax) advised the company, and Browne Jacobson advised the Henry family and Chris Plummer with NatWest providing the debt facility to support the transaction.

Leger Shearings website

Images: Leger Shearings

Read more...

News: Rotherham tour operator on the road to a record year

Rotherham-based Leger Shearings Group, the UK's largest escorted coach tour operator, has posted impressive financial results for 2025 and has carried on performing well this year too.

Coach tours are in demand despite consumers having less discretionary spending available for holidays.

The Canklow company, which has over 200 employees, offers self-drive breaks, holidays to the UK and Europe, specialist Battlefield Tours, and educational experiences across four different brands.

Since an initial management buy out (MBO) in 2019 and the acquisition of Shearings in July 2020, the group's presence in the UK has increased significantly. A 2024 injection of funding from NatWest followed.

For the year ended December 31 2025, Leger Holidays Ltd posted its strongest trading EBITDA (earnings before taxes) to date, totalling £6.1m, a 21.29% increase compared to 2024. Consolidated turnover for the year amounted to £79.8m, reflecting a 3.1% increase from the previous year.

The board said that the company had maintained a strong focus on product innovation, continually developing and refreshing its holiday portfolio across both brands with new itineraries, destinations and experiences designed around evolving customer preferences. The ongoing investment in the product range and customer proposition helped sustain demand and underpins the Group's growth strategy.

Advertisement
Customer satisfaction remains high, with the Group's two principal brands independently rated 'Excellent' on Trustpilot as at June 2026, with Leger Holidays scoring 4.5 out of 5 and Shearings 4.3 out of 5, reflecting continued strong approval from clients.

Forward bookings were described as strong with Leger and Shearings each tracking double-digit growth for both the 2026 and 2027 seasons, building at record levels.

Into 2026 and the company recorded the highest sales day in the company’s history, exceeding the previous record by more than 25%. It went on to post 15 consecutive months of sales growth and a record-breaking May. July saw Simon Bingley join the group's board as Commercial Director.

In addition to competition in the market and the impact of geo-political events and natural disasters, the company picked out how demand for holidays is affected by local economic conditions. The accounts add that: "During 2025, rising costs across the economy have affected the cost of holiday arrangements and resulted in consumers having less discretionary spending available for travel. However, this has been compensated by the high level of consumer demand for coach tours in the UK and Europe."

Looking ahead, the company is set to launch Lumina in 2027, a brand-new flagship coach offering, and the first launch since 2015's Luxuria.

Liam Race, CEO at Leger Shearings Group, explained that people "love the stress-free, ultra-comfortable side of coach travel – no flying, no airport drama, no hanging around wondering what's gone wrong. It's a kinder way to see Europe, and a more sustainable one. Lumina takes everything people already love about that experience and pushes it a step further. After more than a decade in the making, we can't wait to welcome you on board."

Leger Shearings Group website

Images: Leger Shearings Group

Read more...

News: Tourism continues to boost Rotherham's economy by half a billion pounds a year

In Rotherham, visitor numbers are up, more people are staying within the area, and the economic impact is huge, with over £500m generated directly and indirectly by the tourism sector in 2025, reports Visit Rotherham.

Rotherham is ahead of Barnsley in terms of total tourism visits, economic impact and jobs supported.

Visit Rotherham has looked at new data, commissioned via the South Yorkshire Local Visitor Economy Partnership and processed by Global Tourism Solution’s STEAM Report, which shows that increases have continued each year on the back of high profile events and investment in family friendly attractions.

A total of £539m was generated directly and indirectly within the local Rotherham economy through visitor and tourism business expenditure in 2025, with the economic impact 5.8% up on the £509m recorded in the previous year.

The stats showed that there were 5.4 million tourism visits to Rotherham in 2025, up by 0.7%, and that visitor activity and spend supports more than 4,492 full time equivalent jobs in the borough.

Over half a million visits (593,000) were made by visitors staying within Rotherham as part of a holiday or short break, up 0.9% on the previous year and generating 1.4 million nights in local accommodation.

STEAM data for South Yorkshire 2025:

	Tourism Visits	Visitors Staying	Economic Impact	Jobs Supported
Sheffield	18.7 million	1.9 million	£2.0 billion	16,203
Doncaster	10.17 million	873,000	£1.05 billion	8,612
Rotherham	5.4 million	593,000	£539 million	4,492
Barnsley	4.09 million	600,000	£431 million	3,593
S. Yorksire	38.3 million	3.9 million	£4.0 billion	32,788

A highlight for 2025 was Rotherham hosting the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Flower Show when over 60,000 visitors attended Wentworth Woodhouse for the world-famous gardening event.

As the world’s first Children’s Capital of Culture in 2025, Rotherham has been redefining how creativity, civic purpose and collaboration can be shaped by children and young people. With events across the borough including music, sports and cultural events animating Rotherham town centre, organisers said they had achieved 83,743 "active participations" in activities during the 2025 festival year.

2025 also saw continued success at Gulliver’s Valley with the family theme park bringing attractions such as the “Land of Lights” to Rotherham for the first time.

Advertisement
In the town centre, and continuing the move towards more leisure uses following the opening of Arc Cinema on Forge Island, 2025 saw the re-opening of the Empire Theatre after a £1.8m restoration.

At Clifton Park, one of Yorkshire’s best free days out, the revamped water splash opened in 2025 and now welcomes over 30,000 people in the summer seasons enjoying the new paddling pool and splash pads.

Like the rest of South Yorkshire, Rotherham does well to attract visitors for a day out - the data shows that 4.8 million tourism visits were made by day visitors in 2025 (up 0.6% on 2024). Day visitors make up a huge 89% of total visitors to the area.

In Rotherham, day visitors enjoy the award-winning Clifton Park, and the unique events space and hands-on exhibits at the Magna Science Adventure Centre. Sports fans come for football, rugby and boxing, and less mainstream sports events such as the Open Water National Championships held at Rother Valley Country Park.

Tom Austen, founder of Visit Rotherham, said: “The report makes for fantastic reading and shows that Rotherham continues to be a place that people want to visit and invest in.

“We still need to shout more about what we've got here. Other destinations would love to have attractions like Magna, Wentworth Woodhouse, Gulliver’s Valley and Grimm & Co. And 70% of Rotherham is open countryside with picturesque villages and country parks created from former coalfields and industrial areas.

“That's why I set up Visit Rotherham at visitrotherham.com - to tell people about what Rotherham has to offer, the new venues and attractions opening, the busy events calendar, and the best places to go.

“A lot of it is about changing Rotherham’s image and people’s perceptions. Rotherham, and South Yorkshire, is a great place for people who like a good value family day out, want to learn about our heritage, like to get outdoors, or enjoy the theatre, live music and a decent pint.

“The website also helps local people find out all of the amazing things that are happening in their hometown that they can get involved with and be proud of.”

Looking ahead, further investment in tourism in Rotherham is planned. At Wentworth Woodhouse, a unique holiday let is being created in the Grade-I listed mansion, and the RHS is set to return in 2028.

A new £10m tram-train stop at Magna is enabling operators to host more music events, and at Manvers, plans are moving ahead for a £14m project to create a whitewater course.

And from nearly 400 bids, Rotherham has been shortlisted to become the UK's first Town of Culture in 2027.

Visit Rotherham website

Images: Gulliver's Valley / WWPT

Read more...

News: Local opposition to Rotherham hotel's new alcohol licence

Rotherham Council considering if a prominent hotel can reopen its bar and host late night events again.

In 2024 the authority, which has legal responsibilities to place homeless households in emergency accommodation, was criticised for using the Carlton Park Hotel to provide homeless accommodation without consulting locals.

Witness reports included “violent crime, burglaries, trespassing on private property, prostitution, sex in public, urinating in public, begging”, and “open drug use."

Boston Castle Ward member, Cllr. Taiba Yasseen said that there were serious safeguarding risks given the Moorgate hotel's location close to Oakwood School and Thomas Rotherham College.

Hotels and Resorts Ltd has recently applied for new licence that would cover the Sale of Alcohol, for consumption on and off the premises, the provision of Live Music and Recorded Music (indoors); and the provision of Late-Night Refreshment (indoors).

Reduced from 1am in an earlier proposal, the operators are seeking authorisation to allow the activities on every day of the week the between 10am and 12 midnight. Extended hours to 1am are requested around bank holidays, having previously been requested to 4am.

The applicant states: "Our intention is not to establish Carlton Park Hotel as a nightclub or unrestricted latenight entertainment venue. We simply want to reopen the hotel's pub/bar and restaurant for our hotel guests and the surrounding community and restore Carlton Park to the reputable hotel and hospitality venue it historically was.

Advertisement
"We want to restore the hotel pub/bar and restaurant so hotel guests can have a meal and a drink without leaving the hotel and local residents can use and enjoy Carlton Park's facilities.

"The neighbouring Brentwood Hotel licence provides a useful local comparison for reasonable operating hours and activities on Moorgate Road. We seek a broadly comparable operating framework, including the same clearly defined seasonal extensions, while withdrawing the broad and less-defined extensions in our original application."

The licence would come with a number of management controls covering Challenge 25, CCTV, SIA registered door supervisors and staff training,

The council's licencing team have been unconvinced by the application and stated in its representation that it: "is opposed the grant of this application as it considers that the applicant has not sufficiently demonstrated that the steps they are proposing will sufficiently promote the Public Safety, Prevention of Crime and Disorder, Public Nuisance and the Protection of Children from Harm licensing objectives."

This is based on a lack of detail in the application regarding management controls and noise mitigation for nearby residential properties.

Alan Pogorzelec, Licensing Manager at Rotherham Council, also said in the representation: "It is understood that the hotel is currently used to temporarily accommodate homeless individuals. The applicant has not taken into consideration the vulnerable nature of these people, nor the potential impact that the sale of alcohol within the hotel is likely to have. The Licensing Authority is concerned that this activity will increase the already significant levels of crime and disorder within the area, and the applicant has not provided sufficient information of the steps that would be taken to prevent this."

A number of issues have been raised by Cllr. Yasseen and residents which were discussed when the Licensing Sub-committee met this week.

Carlton Park Hotel website

Images: Carlton Park Hotel

Read more...

News: Progress for restoration of the South Tower at Wentworth Woodhouse

Visit Rotherham is reporting that work will soon get underway on a unique holiday let in Rotherham after a fundraising target was reached.

A planning application has now been submitted regarding the restoration and future of the South Tower at Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham.

Rothbiz reported earlier this year on leading preservation and heritage charity, The Landmark Trust, launching fundraising for plans to create a "truly elegant place to stay" at the Grade-I listed mansion.

Founded in 1965, The Landmark Trust works to save historic buildings in danger of being lost forever. Sensitive restoration offers "landmarks" a new future by making them available to everyone for self-catering holidays. The lettings income from the 200+ extraordinary buildings in the charity's care supports their maintenance and survival in our landscape, culture and society.

A campaign to raise £500,000 launched last year with plans to restore the secluded eyrie and a rare survival of 18th century feminine taste within the monumental Rotherham mansion and create a holiday let for two people.

According to Visit Rotherham, 937 individual Landmark supporters and charitable trusts are supporting the Wentworth Woodhouse plans.

Advertisement
The detailed planning application, drawn up by Donald Insall Architects, states: "The proposals aim to restore the historic character of the South Tower’s upper chamber while reconfiguring adjacent rooms to provide essential facilities for a holiday let. The scheme supports Landmark’s wider objectives of sustainable reuse and public engagement with heritage, contributing to the longterm stewardship of this nationally significant building.

"The proposals aim to sensitively adapt the interior of the South Pavilion to provide holiday accommodation, while retaining and enhancing its historic character to the high quality expected of a Landmark Trust property. The upper chamber will be restored and presented as a sitting room, reflecting its late 18th century decorative scheme and historic use.

"Secondary spaces within the South Quadrant will be reconfigured to provide a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen, with a restrained decorative approach appropriate to their historic function.

"Access to the accommodation will be via a discreet route from the rear of the building, avoiding disruption to the principal elevations and respecting the historic setting. The works are designed to be conservation-led, materially appropriate, and aligned with Landmark Trust’s commitment to sustainable heritage management.

"The proposals support the long-term stewardship of the building, enabling public engagement with a historically significant part of the estate while ensuring its continued use and maintenance."

The Landmark Trust commissioned detailed preparatory research and analysis on the interior, and plans include reinstating the magnificent decorative ceiling, lost in the 20th century.

As the two trusts wait on planning approval, the main contractor for the project, Dobsons of Ilkley, has been selected following a competitive tendering process.

Correspondence from 1778 between the estate steward Benjamin Hall and architect John Carr reveals that the upper room of the South Tower was being fitted out for private use. The work was overseen by Lady Rockingham, who also directed the furnishing and decoration of other ancillary buildings such as the Conservatory and Tea Room which is now known as the Camellia House.

The son of the Fourth Earl Fitzwilliam, Charles Viscount Milton, used the top floor as his study in the years leading up to his inheritance of the title in 1833, with the 1832 plans labelling the room as such. The room was likely then used as a study or archive store until the house was leased for use by Lady Mabel College in 1949.

Comprehensive external repairs were carried out by the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT), which completed in June 2022 and earlier ideas to utilise all three storeys of both the Pavilion and Quadrant were discounted, judged to be too invasive.

Plans, which also require Listed Building Consent, show the upper chamber as a sitting room, the reconfiguration of secondary spaces within the South Quadrant to provide a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen, and the integration of sustainability measures to improve thermal performance and energy efficiency.

Wentworth Woodhouse website
Landmark Trust website

Images: Wentworth Woodhouse / Donald Insall Architects

Read more...

News: Rotherham Council refuses licence for proposed Bassingthorpe events space

An application for a licence for a proposed new sports and recreation facility in Rotherham has been refused.

Rothbiz reported earlier this year on plans for the site of the Guest & Chrimes pitches on Bassingthorpe Lane near Greasbrough.

A premises licence from SME Enviromental Holdings LTD, the company behind a number of regeneration projects in Rotherham town centre, including The Empire and The Bunka. would have allowed the outdoor provision of live & recorded Music, Plays, Films, & Dance; Late Night Refreshment; and the Sale of Alcohol.

The application was for between May and September and limited the provision licensable activities to a maximum of 16 occasions between 11am and 12 midnight on any day of the week.

The Licensing Sub-Committee heard about the access arrangements on Gin House Lane with applicant, Mark McGrail critical of the lack of council maintenance of the highways in the area.

South Yorkshire Police withdrew its objections and instead put forward 28 management controls, largely focusing on the production of event management plans for each event.

Advertisement
The council's Environmental Health department objected to the proposals, stating that proposed management conditions "remain largely aspirational and lack sufficient detail to provide confidence that events will be effectively managed and controlled in practice," adding that the applicant's intention to hold events like galas and farmer's markets was not reflected in the application.

Local councillors gave their support for local events and activities in the ward but were opposed to the application.

McGrail told the meeting: "There will be sports facilities, there will be a restaurant, there will be a cafe on there, a community element on that site, we've got padel courts planned. When that facility is done, we still need to apply for a premises licence regardless. This [current application] pre-empts that facility and for us, it determines which avenue we go down. But there needs to be an understanding that it is part of a bigger picture other than just a field getting a licence. It is part of a larger community - 2,400 houses, community, school, everything else.

"This application has been reduced to a point so we are not essentially having events every day. We can still hold sports and recreational activity events but we want it to be a controlled environment where we can deliver something better for the community."

Rothbiz reported last month that landowners are looking for a partner to deliver a proposed 2,000 home development, a "well-connected 21st century garden community," at Bassingthorpe Farm.

Images: Google Maps

Read more...

News: Manvers whitewater course plans submitted

A planning application has been submitted for a new whitewater course at Manvers Lake in Rotherham.

The £14m project involves a new 250m channel for both paddlesport and public recreation, together with an additional channel for the training and education of professional and volunteer swift water rescue training.

Rothbiz reported on the official launch event last year at the Waterfront regeneration project that has transformed the area following the closure of the Wath Main & Manvers Main colliery complex. It now includes 450 homes, business parks, a hotel, pub, retail outlets and neighbourhood facilities. Operated by a trust, a boat club provides facilities for sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, and other activities, while the lake also supports open water swimming, fishing, and cycling.

The proposed new facility is based on a new channel running along the North East bank of the lake. The channel would cut into the bank along the line of the existing footpath that runs around the lake.

A pumphouse will lift water at a rate of up to 10 cubic metres every second, 3 metres [10 feet] from the lake into a start pool out of which the water will flow down the course back into the lake. The facility makes use of the existing water resource of Manvers Lake, recirculating water through the channel without the need for significant additional water supply.

Advertisement
The application sets out: "The course and the channel system is designed to accommodate two main user groups:

1) Water safety and flood rescue training, education, demonstration and research.
2) Whitewater canoeing, kayaking, rafts and duckies (small inflatables); both recreational and competitive.

"This venue has the potential to become a national centre for flood rescue training with Fire crews from the whole of the UK attending. The whitewater course is also suitable for all capabilities all the way up to international competitions.

"The facility represents a significant investment in the area and will make a meaningful contribution to the appeal of the Dearne Valley as a visitor destination, while also supporting the operational readiness of rescue services.

"The facility will attract visitors from across the region, create employment opportunities and contribute to the ongoing regeneration narrative of this former industrial landscape."

The plans also involve a new launch area for the dragon boats on the main lake with terraces behind for picnicking and views of the lake. An extension to the existing parking is also proposed, as is a replacement of the existing footbridge and a new access for the emergency vehicles to the east.

The proposals will result in the loss of some modified grassland and scrub habitat so applicants say that habitats accross the site will be improved.

With the plans going through the system, the Trust continues to focus on securing the £14m capital investment required.

Manvers Lake Trust website

Images: Manvers Lake Trust / Alistair W Baldwin Studio

Read more...

News: Gulliver's brings Great British Summer Savings to Rotherham

The big name operator of a family theme park in Rotherham is backing the government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme designed to help people enjoy days out for less.

Visit Rotherham reports that from June 25 to September 1 2026, VAT will be slashed on eligible activities, helping families "enjoy the weekend treats, the days out, the small plans that make life enjoyable during the cost of living squeeze while supporting the businesses that depend on summer footfall."

Great British Summer Savings will be a targeted and temporary scheme, introduced alongside free bus travel for children that will run from August 1 to 31 and covers participating local bus services across England.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said: "I want families to be able to enjoy the little treats this summer. Great British Summer Savings will help families enjoy time making memories together while boosting business across the UK.

"This comes on top of support we’ve already put in place including freezing fuel duty, taking off £117 off energy bills, and freezing prescriptions and rail fares – all to help families with the cost of living."

Advertisement
The VAT rate on eligible activities will be cut from 20% to 5%. The reduced rate will apply to:

- Children’s menu meals served in restaurants for consumption on the premises
- Children’s and family tickets for cinemas, theatres, concerts, shows and exhibitions
- Admission tickets, for both children and adults, to a range of attractions, including: amusement parks, fairs, museums, zoos, soft play centres, circuses, adventure parks, nature reserves, wildlife parks and observation attractions.

The scheme is estimated to cost about £300m with £100m to fund the free fares scheme.

Julie Dalton, managing director of Gulliver’s Theme Park Resorts, said: "Government support for the UK’s visitor economy is always welcome, so it’s great to see the launch of the Great British Summer Savings Scheme which will help families get out and enjoy the fantastic attractions on their doorstep.

"At Gulliver’s, we’ve already applied these savings to ticket prices across our four UK resorts - Gulliver’s Kingdom in Matlock Bath, Gulliver’s World in Warrington, Gulliver’s Land in Milton Keynes and Gulliver’s Valley in Rotherham – so combined with our latest summer ticket offer, the next few weeks are the perfect time for families to come and enjoy great value days out with us.

"As a family-owned business, we understand the importance of providing affordable days out and short breaks for children, parents and carers and we’re proud to have been creating these fun-filled adventures and lasting memories for the last 48 years."

Opening adjacent to Rother Valley Country Park in 2020, Gulliver's Valley is the company's fourth park aimed at families with children aged two to 13-years-old and each offering a great variety of rides, attractions and accommodation options, as well as a calendar packed full of special events throughout the year.

Gulliver's Valley website

Images: Gulliver's

Read more...

News: Changes on the way at popular Rotherham pub restaurant

The future of a pub restaurant in Rotherham is unclear after its owners carried out a wide ranging review of its business.

The Brecks in Rotherham is part of Whitbread's Beefeater portfolio and is connected to Premier Inn Rotherham East, part of the UK's biggest hotel brand that is also owned by Whitbread.

Having undertaken a review, bosses at the leading hospitality business are putting in place a refocused growth plan in the UK to replace all remaining branded restaurants.

Expanding its "Accelerating Growth Plan" will see 197 branded restaurants replaced "with a more efficient and tailored F&B [Food & Beverage] offering for our guests."

The company said it had seen positive early results two years into the original plan to optimise the delivery of F&B at a number of sites by converting lower returning branded restaurants into a higher margin and more efficient, integrated F&B offering, and converting space into new hotel rooms.

Whitbread added that it had already agreed the sale of 51 branded restaurants for £50m and agreed terms for the sale, subject to conditions, on a further 60 sites.

The sales are expected to be as going concerns over the next 24 months with the investment into creating more efficient integrated restaurants set to take place in the 2027 financial year.

Advertisement
An update from Whitbread said: "Moving to a 100% integrated F&B offering will improve the guest experience and add more higher returning extension rooms and we will deliver 15% - 20% returns on capital by FY31 [the 2031 financial year].

"With over 500 integrated restaurants already operational across our UK estate, it is clear that this F&B format is preferred by our hotel guests and delivers better margins and returns than the branded restaurant format."

Dominic Paul, Chief Executive at Whitbread plc, said: "Owning a significant proportion of our property is a unique strength which powers the growth of Premier Inn while supporting our resilience as a business, underpinned by a strong balance sheet. But we can improve our approach. We will refocus our capital spend and recycle more of our freehold real estate, driving increased margins and returns, reducing our capital intensity and increasing cash returns for shareholders.

"By making our assets work harder and focusing on the highest returning projects, we will be able to continue to take advantage of constrained supply to strengthen our position in both of our core markets, whilst at the same time deliver attractive financial outcomes for shareholders.

"In the UK, by reallocating some of our capital spend and building on the success of our Accelerating Growth Plan, we plan to convert all our remaining branded restaurants to an integrated food and beverage offer that is preferred by our hotel guests and will unlock the addition of more highly profitable extension rooms. Our continued efforts to drive our commercial plan and efficiencies will extend our market-leading position and allow us to take share from our competitors, many of which are struggling to grow."

The Premier Inn on East Bawtry Road secured planning permission last year for a 4,800 sq ft two storey extension to the east of the current hotel. It would provide an additional 16 bedrooms but two current rooms would be lost to create a new corridor. It would take the total rooms at the site from 62 to 76.

The update from Whitbread added: "Against a backdrop of limited UK supply growth, we will open a further 3,000 higher returning extension rooms (including the original plan and the extension of the plan) that are being added in locations where we know from our trading data that, at certain periods, demand outstrips supply and so we are confident that these additional rooms will deliver highly attractive financial returns."

Whitbread website

Images: Google Maps

Read more...

News: Mixed use plans for former Rotherham pub

A new set of plans have been submitted that would bring back to life a vacant pub on the edge of Rotherham town centre, reports Visit Rotherham.

Updated following earlier approved plans, they include a restaurant, a café and a small Bed & Breakfast (B&B).

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.

Rothbiz reported in 2024 that an application was 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.

Pad Thai Cafe has been in operation at the site for a number of years after 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."

Now Visit Rotherham reports on the latest plans that replace the previously approved single-restaurant scheme. None of the external alterations approved under the earlier permission are included in this revised submission.

If approved, the conversion would be carried out without external changes. All modifications proposed are internal, relating purely to the reorganisation of the building’s internal layout and operational model.

Advertisement
Plans show that, on the ground floor, the restaurant will occupy the main frontage of the building, accessed from Rawmarsh Road. It will provide indoor dining and bar facilities. The café will be situated at the rear of the ground floor with its own seated areas and service counter.

The first floor will be internally reconfigured into four ensuite double bedrooms. These will operate as a small-scale B&B. The café will act as the functional hub for the B&B, providing breakfast for guests as well as check-in, key collection and visitor support.

Plans explain that they a create "a coherent and commercially viable mixed-use arrangement that maximises the long-term sustainability of the premises.

"The proposal represents a positive and sustainable re-use of an existing building by introducing three complementary commercial uses. The restaurant and café will provide community-facing food and drink services, while the B&B introduces modest visitor accommodation without the need for external works. This diversification strengthens long-term commercial viability and supports local employment.

"The scheme avoids any visual or physical impact on the surrounding area, maintains adequate parking and access arrangements, and aligns with national and local planning policy promoting sustainable economic growth and mixed-use development."

The Crinoline Bridge Inn, as it was originally known, is thought to have opened in 1849, with the current building at one time showing 1919 above the door.

Images: Google Maps

Read more...

News: Rotherham Council highlights impact of events as it finds funds for more

Rotherham Council has set aside over £500,000 to continue to put on a range of events that boost footfall, support the local economy and help foster pride in place.

In recent years the focus has been on supporting events of different scales that have boosted participation as well as visitor numbers.

Supporting the hosting of national events such as the Women's Euros at the AESSEAL New York Stadium in 2022, The Reytons’ homecoming gig at Clifton Park in 2024 and the Children’s Capital of Culture Festival Year in 2025, have added to a programme of annual civic events and the Rotherham Show.

An update from Rotherham Council shows how the authority uses events to increase civic pride, improve the profile and reputation of Rotherham and promote community cohesion.

It adds that participation in the borough tracked at 10% below the national average in 2019, and Children’s Capital of Culture say that they have achieved 83,743 "active participations" in activities during the 2025 festival year.

For borough events last year, poor weather for the Christmas Lights saw a drop in audience, but better weather for Rotherham Show saw a significant increase in attendees. The region's biggest free cultural festival reached its largest audience to date in 2025 with 95,500. It meant that the Rotherham Show generated a return of £13.06 for every £1 invested by the council.

Linked to the Children’s Capital of Culture, a number of town centre events have been held with the aim of attracting specific demographics back to the town centre, increasing footfall, improving perceptions of safety, reconnecting communities and the town centre, and supporting local businesses.

Roots: Rotherham Street Carnival, WOW Rotherham and the UPLIFT Festival had a combined attendance of around 30,000. Audiences for town centre events have increased by 13% year-on-year from 2021 to 2025 with organisers stating that in terms of economic impact, the events generate an average of £3.64 for every £1 the council invests.

The impact of these events is set to continue with Rotherham Council recently approving £119,000 to support the council's events team, increasing capacity to focus on compliance, safety, security and risk management of events. Rothbiz reported earlier this month that the council was setting aside £424,219 for a further programme of events delivered throughout the next financial year.

Advertisement
Cllr. Lynda Marshall, Cabinet Member for Street Scene and Green Spaces at Rotherham Council, said: "Both local and national events support increased footfall across the borough, boost community engagement and strengthen Rotherham's cultural identity. Over the past five years, the events team has successfully expanded the programme by securing external funding and grants, however, the demand associated with securing and managing this level of funding, combined with the evolving safety legislation, is increasing pressure on staff capacity - the team can no longer sustain both the fundraising workload and the high safety standards required for delivering our events.

"To protect the continued growth and the success of our events, we urgently need additional staffing. Without this investment, we risk having to scale back local events for residents and may be unable to host national events in the future."

Visit Rotherham recently reported on which Children’s Capital of Culture events could continue in 2026.

A Rotherham Council report shows that Signals Music Festival and the Festival of Stories will continue, with UPLIFT Urban Sports Festival continuing on a Friday evening and one day (reduced down from the original three days). Otherham is set to be refocused, possibly in the guise of the recent Winter Lights Festival, but its game over for Plug In & Play as it is not set to continue.

The council's own events that are set to continue include the Rotherham Show, Bonfire Night at Clifton Park and the Christmas Lights Switch On in the town centre. A new event planned for April will celebrate St George's Day. The programme is also set to include WoW Rotherham, the Mayor's Parade, Armed Forces Day Armistice & Remembrance Day Parade, Reclaim the Night and Holocaust Memorial Day.

The Council's target for 2026/7 shows an uplift in visitor numbers of 3% (a target of 140,284) which acknowledges growth but also accounts for no major events planned this financial year.

Images: Children’s Capital of Culture

Read more...

News: Flying start for fundraising for Wentworth Woodhouse holiday let

A fundraising appeal to support the restoration of the South Tower at Wentworth Woodhouse has reached £240,000 in a matter of weeks.

Rothbiz reported last month on the Landmark Trust launching a campaign to restore a secluded eyrie and a rare survival of 18th century feminine taste within the monumental Rotherham mansion.

The charity works to save historic buildings in danger of being lost forever. Sensitive restoration offers "landmarks" a new future by making them available to everyone for self-catering holidays. The lettings income from the 200+ extraordinary buildings in the charity's care supports their maintenance and survival in our landscape, culture and society.

Following years of decay, the derelict Grade I mansion was bought in 2017 by the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT), who have embarked on the herculean task of restoring the place back to its former glory in a multi-phase project.

The Landmark Trust are now working with WWPT to save the South Tower, which sits at the most southerly tip of the building’s vast frontage. The tower’s fine upper chamber offers outstanding vistas of house and grounds and is reached via its own private footbridge.

WWPT carried out urgent external repairs to the South Tower in 2022. Yet inside this quiet hideaway, the once opulent plasterwork is crumbling, an exquisitely decorated ceiling has been lost and an elegant staircase is undermined by dry rot.

Advertisement
The Landmark Trust plans to repair the grandest room with traditional 18th-century skills using the finest craftspeople and their apprentices. As of now, the plaster ceiling has come down and black plastic sheeting fills its place, a marble panel by the brilliant English sculptor Joseph Nollekens had been removed for safety and dry rot is already engulfing the timber floor.

The Landmark Trust are now poised to act - to take on a long lease for £135,000 from the WWPT and develop a holiday let for two.

The parlour would become the drawing and dining room, and a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom would be created in the adjacent rooms. The approach would be, as it was from the first, via a handsome private footbridge from the elevated rear terrace.

Within the parlour, traditional 18th-century techniques would be used to re-create the Marchioness’s lost ceiling, guided by historic photographs, and drawing on the inventory to furnish her elegant chamber to evoke its character in its prime.

Without Landmark’s intervention, the South Tower will linger in dangerous deterioration at the furthest reach of the building, as this elegant room succumbs to damp and decay. This upper chamber is describes as a rare and exciting survival of undiluted female taste in the 18th century.

Dr Anna Keay OBE, Director of the Landmark Trust, said: "There really is nowhere that compares to Wentworth Woodhouse. This monumental Palladian palace in South Yorkshire is a miraculous survival. When I first saw this fascinating room a few years ago, I was struck by its combination of grandeur and intimacy, the glorious views south and west from its soaring sash windows, and by the perilous condition in which it stood. Two things were immediately clear: it needed urgent action to arrest its decay and – if we could just raise the necessary funds – it would make the most spell-binding place to stay."

Funding has already been made available to the project thanks to the H B Allen Charitable Trust and generous donations from early project Guardians means that over 70% of the necessary funds have already been secured.

Landmark Trust website
Wentworth Woodhouse website

Images: WWPT / Landmark Trust / Olivia Brabbs

Read more...

News: Rotherham hotel strengthens IHG's presence in the UK

Fairview Hotels has been confirmed as the new owner of a 91-bedroom hotel in Rotherham that has undergone a successful rebrand.

Rothbiz reported last year on the Ibis Rotherham East, situated just off Junction 1 of the M18 at Bramley, was one of three hotels sold to an owner-operator on behalf of offshore owners.

Based in Stevenage, Fairview Hotels boasts 12 strategically located properties throughout the UK, providing tailored experiences for both leisure and business travellers. It works with leading brands, including Novotel, Garner by IHG, and Voco by IHG.

The newly rebranded Garner Hotel Rotherham East adds to IHG’s leading position across essentials and premium segments as well as its success in launching and growing conversion brands, such as voco and Garner. Both of which have rapidly become popular with owners looking for a brand that delivers strong returns and performance.

Advertisement
Willemin Geels, Vice President, Development, Europe, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: "The continued growth that we’re seeing across the market is a testament to the confidence our partners have in IHG’s brands, and it is exciting to see our newer voco and Garner brands resonating with owners and guests alike. We know our owners value faster routes to market and stronger returns on their investment; conversion opportunities like these, supported by IHG’s powerful enterprise platform, help deliver exactly that.”

A midscale conversion brand Garner Hotels strives to become the leading choice for travellers of all ages seeking quality stays at an affordable price point – offering the all-important things guests value, including convenient locations, comfortable beds and free Wi-Fi. Guests will experience Garner’s signature ‘refreshing moment’ free drink and snack on arrival, as well as having access to fresh bean-to-cup coffee and the Garner Shop.

A Fairview Hotels spokesperson said: “We are delighted to grow our partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts through four new properties across their rapidly scaling voco and Garner brands. The opening of voco Letchworth Hall last year gave us valuable insights into the brand’s strength and how it can deliver and we are excited about bringing another voco hotel to a prime tourist area in the heart of Bloomsbury London. Building on this momentum, we look forward to expanding the Garner brand into Lincoln, Rotherham East and Chesterfield North - enhancing choice and quality for guests in these high‑demand locations.”

Fairview Hotels website
Garner Hotel Rotherham East website

Images: IHG

Read more...

News: Fundraising begins for unique holiday let inside one of the largest and most famous 18th century houses in England

A leading preservation and heritage charity has begun fundraising for plans to create a "truly elegant place to stay" within the historic mansion at Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham.

Founded in 1965, The Landmark Trust works to save historic buildings in danger of being lost forever. Sensitive restoration offers "landmarks" a new future by making them available to everyone for self-catering holidays. The lettings income from the 200+ extraordinary buildings in the charity's care supports their maintenance and survival in our landscape, culture and society.

When Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT) took over the Grade I listed mansion in 2017, decades of neglect had left one of the finest homes in the UK in a sorry state.

The roof of the south wing, known as the "Bedlam" wing, was one of the first to be tackled when £7.5m of Capital Works/emergency repairs began in late 2018. But whilst repairs having taken place to the exterior of the South Tower, the interior is in urgent need of repair.

The Landmark Trust has worked out the details of a scheme to take on a long lease from the WWPT to make a Landmark (a holiday let) for two in the South Tower.

Rothbiz reported on the plans fro holiday lets in 2024 and now a campaign is now underway to raise £500,000.

Work by both trusts has uncovered that in around 1770, the upper chamber of the South Tower was adopted by Mary, 1st Marchioness of Rockingham, as her parlour. She had it decorated with fine plasterwork and wall plaques on Classical themes, and the scheme is an important survival of feminine taste in the Georgian period.

The plan is to use the finest craftspeople and materials to recreate the glory of the South Tower and to recreate the decorative finishes of the upper chamber to as they were in the 1770s. The parlour would become the drawing and dining room, and a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom would be created in the adjacent rooms. The approach would be via a handsome private footbridge from the elevated rear terrace.

Advertisement
Proposals also include heating and hot water being delivered via an Air Source Heat Pump sited on the adjacent roof, to feed underfloor heating in the upper chamber and cast-iron radiators in the other rooms. The large windows in the upper chamber will be given slimline heritage glazing.

Updates from the Landmark Trust explain: "The glorious parlour used by the Marchioness of Rockingham needs urgent action. Inside the secluded South Tower, the once opulent plasterwork is crumbling and an exquisitely decorated ceiling has been lost to water ingress.

"With your help we will repair the grandest room with traditional 18th-century skills using the finest craftspeople, to evoke its character in its prime.

"This secluded eyrie in one of England’s most notable houses will, we hope, become a truly elegant place to stay."

Caroline Stanford, a historian at the Landmark Trust, said: "Acting in partnership with the Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust, Landmark has been developing this project for some time and we've just launched our appeal for the restoration of this secluded hideaway.

"The Landmark Trust aims to restore the upper chamber to how it looked under the second Marchioness in the 1770s and to convert adjoining rooms on the upper floor of the quadrant as bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen.

"This will turn these rooms into a magnificent and very special place that anyone can book for a self-catering holiday. There'll also be regular access to the upper chamber for day visitors. If the money can be raised, we can be on site in summer 2026. But the Landmark Trust needs your help to do so. If you can, please support the appeal to ensure the revival and survival of this unique part of the Wentworth Woodhouse story."

Landmark Trust website Wentworth Woodhouse website

Images: WWPT / Landmark Trust

Read more...

News: Gulliver's Valley hosts Duke and Duchess on flying visit to Rotherham

A new immersive learning destination at a Rotherham theme park welcomed prestigious visitors this week - Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.

The Duke and Duchess were shown around Skills Street CIC, located at Gulliver’s Valley theme park, to get a first-hand look at the groundbreaking education and training environment.

The centre, which is designed to revolutionise how young people engage with careers and skills development, has a focus on hands-on, curriculum-linked experiences. It opened for initial visits earlier this year and is now welcoming schools, colleges, and educational groups.

A highlight was the opportunity to show Their Royal Highnesses the Skills Street aviation experience, which offers students a full airport simulation - from check-in to boarding a real Boeing 737 fuselage and flying an industry-standard simulator. Visitors can also explore historic Rolls-Royce and Vulcan aircraft engines and learn about careers in aviation, engineering, travel, and tourism.

The visit also saw local primary and secondary school pupils involved in skills activity across six industry learning zones.

Advertisement
Julie Dalton, managing director of Gulliver’s Theme Park Resorts and a board member of Skills Street, said: “What an honour to have welcomed Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh to Skills Street. We were so pleased to meet them and showcase the amazing facility we have built here in Rotherham. They were extremely receptive to the aims of Skills Street as we develop new ways to help young people engage with careers and skills development, as well as our exciting plans for future growth.”

Skills Street features a wide range of sector-themed zones developed in partnership with leading organisations, including:

- Energy with E.ON – exploring renewable energy
- Health & Social Work with the NHS and Rotherham Council – showcasing over 380 career pathways
- Construction with Esh Group showcasing all aspects of the construction Industry
- Advanced Manufacturing with Gripple – focusing on robotics and automation

James Beighton, development manager at Skills Street, said: “To welcome Their Royal Highnesses to Skills Street was an absolute privilege. What a fantastic way to showcase the work happening locally to support the needs of education, business and communities across South Yorkshire. Days like today are proof of what we can achieve, working together to inspire our next generation workforce and stimulate our local economy, one skill at a time”.

Skills Street is part of a wider £20m investment by Rotherham Council to boost skills and leisure opportunities in the region.

Skills Street website
Gulliver’s Valley website

Images: Gulliver's

Read more...

News: Opening nears for Rotherham country park upgrades including new £7m café and venue called "The Waterfront"

Multimillion pound upgrades at two popular country parks in Rotherham are nearing completion and will soon be open to the public, according to Visit Rotherham.

At Rother Valley Country Park work began in 2024 on a £7.4m contract to build a new waterfront development, housing a new 150-seater eatery and indoor function space with views extending over the lake.

The new development will also include external landscaping with an area for play outside the café for younger visitors. In addition, visitors will also benefit from new car parking facilities to the East of the lake, which will greatly improve accessibility and visitor experience.

The new development is set to open in "Spring 2026," according to park operators, Rotherham Council. March is the expected opening month.

An update from the park reads: "We’re delighted to announce that The Waterfront will be opening in Spring 2026, bringing an exciting new café and function space to the heart of Rother Valley Country Park.

"Set in a stunning lakeside location, The Waterfront Café has been thoughtfully designed to deliver an exceptional visitor experience, with over 200 covers in a modern, light-filled setting that makes the most of the surrounding views. It will be a place to relax after a walk, meet friends and family, or simply enjoy great food and drink by the water.

"Alongside the café, The Waterfront Function Space will offer a versatile venue for events, celebrations and community gatherings, all within a striking contemporary building that connects seamlessly with the natural landscape."

The total budget for the project in the council's capital programme is £8,854,198.

Advertisement
Recruitment is currently underway for various roles at Rother Valley, including a venue & catering manager and head chef. Further roles are set to be advertised in January.

Council papers show that the delay in opening has been caused by the need for a power supply upgrade. A cabinet report stated: "The site handover at Rother Valley Country Park was completed in November 2025, however final completion is expected in March 2026 due to delays with the electricity connection with Northern Power Grid. In the interim period, the building will undergo furnishing, decoration and initial socialisation, leading to a soft opening in April 2026."

At Thrybergh, work got underway on a café refurbishment project and outdoor landscaping in the summer of 2025. The £790,000 upgrade has transformed the aging building at Thrybergh Country Park into a modern lakeside hub with improved indoor and outdoor seating, better access, and upgraded facilities.

Improvements include a new kitchen, an updated interior, a new outdoor terrace and fully accessible toilets and entrances.

The café will also feature modern design elements that blend with the park’s natural surroundings, while visitors with a sweet tooth are in for a treat, as the new café will serve ice cream.

Works were due to complete in December 2025 with a soft opening of the redevelopment works planned for January 2026.

Funding for both projects comes from the government's Levelling Up Fund, where Rotherham Council was successful in securing £19.5m for the town centre and £19.9m for a number of connected projects around the leisure industry.

Rother Valley Country Park website

Images: RMBC

Read more...

News: Courtyard by Marriott Sheffield opens in Rotherham

The newly built Courtyard by Marriott Sheffield has officially opened its doors at the entrance to the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham.

Rothbiz reported in 2021 that Essex-based developer, Stapleford Ventures Ltd, had secured planning permission for a six storey, 150 bedroom hotel on land off Highfield Spring and Poplar Way where the Waverley development meets the Morrisons roundabout at Catcliffe.

Leading independent hotel management company, RBH Hospitality Management, was appointed to run the new hotel further strengthening RBH’s relationship with Marriott International following the prestigious The Edinburgh Grand, a Luxury Collection, Edinburgh and Old Town Chambers Autograph Collection joining RBH’s portfolio earlier this year.

The 150-rooms include family and dog-friendly options which are designed in a natural, calming palette of browns and greens, with contemporary wood accents. The hotel also offers meeting and event spaces that draw on the city’s industrial heritage, aimed at both business use and community events.

Advertisement
At the heart of the hotel is Aspen Restaurant & Bar, inspired by the local community and named after the original meaning of Waverley: ‘a meadow of quivering aspens’. The restaurant serves up delicious dishes, including a signature Philly cheesesteak, sweet potato and butternut squash tagine, and Sunday roasts, in a stylish and relaxed setting. The bar’s cocktail list includes drinks inspired by the city’s steel-making history.

David Hart, CEO of RBH Hospitality Management, said: “Courtyard by Marriott Sheffield is a valuable addition to our portfolio, marking our first property in Sheffield. The opening also strengthens our long-term relationship with Marriott International as we continue to make progress against our strategic objectives of expanding our portfolio across the UK and operating a diverse mix of brands across the hotel chain scale, alongside our expertise in the luxury hotel market and independent hotel sector.”

Originally due to open in Spring 2023, work stopped at the site off Highfield Spring and Poplar Way, with master developer, Harworth Group issuing a statement in 2024 regarding "unforeseen challenges" faced by the hotel owner, Stapleford Ventures, who bought the land from Harworth in 2021.

Courtyard by Marriott website

Images: RBH / Courtyard by Marriott

Read more...