Page 6 - February #178

UK

SANDBOX VR CHOOSES HAMMERSON’S GRAND CENTRAL
FOR LARGEST SITE AND FIRST OUTSIDE OF LONDON

Hammerson has signed the world’s most advanced
virtual reality experience, Sandbox VR, as part of its
vision to diversify the use of Grand Central in the heart
of Birmingham and an ambitious strategy to reinvigorate
its assets through new brands, entertainment and
experiential concepts.
The 13,000sq ft unit - set to open this summer - is the
brand’s third in Europe and largest to date. This signing
supports Sandbox VR’s plans to expand across the UK
and Ireland, while elevating the experiential offer at
Hammerson’s Bullring & Grand Central, in-line with the
wider evolution of the destination.
Taking group virtual reality gameplay and competitive
socialising to the next level, Sandbox VR creates a truly
immersive experience within exclusively designed
interactive worlds, making players feel like they are living
inside a game or a movie.

DÖNER SHACK, THE BERLIN-INSPIRED STREET-FOOD CONCEPT, CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE TREMENDOUS GROWTH WITH THE ADDITION OF TWO NEW MULTI-UNIT FRANCHISE
PARTNERS, BOBBY SIDHU AND OMAR CHAGANI. THE UK’S LEADING FAST-CASUAL FRANCHISE BRAND WILL BE BOOSTING ITS PRESENCE ACROSS THE UK WITH 20 NEW STORES
ACROSS THE WEST MIDLANDS AND LONDON OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS. LONDON BASED FRANCHISEE, OMAR CHAGANI, WILL OPEN 10 NEW SITES ACROSS NORTH WEST
LONDON, MAKING HIS DEBUT THIS SUMMER. AN EXISTING COFFEE AND FAST-FOOD FRANCHISEE, OMAR IS NOW READY TO ADD TO HIS EXISTING PORTFOLIO WITH THE UNIQUE
DINING CONCEPT, DÖNER SHACK. BOBBY SIDHU HAS ALSO RECENTLY JOINED DÖNER SHACK FAMILY AND WILL BE OPENING 10 NEW RESTAURANTS ACROSS THE WEST MIDLANDS.
NEW UNITS OPEN AT THE BUN & BARREL
SOLSTICE PARK, AMESBURY OFFICIALLY OPENS

The RO has announced that Taco Bell, Greggs and GRIDSERVE are The brand new restaurant serving burgers made with the finest
now open for business at Solstice Park in Amesbury, Wiltshire. ingredients against a rock ‘n’ roll soundtrack has opened its
GRIDSERVE has opened an Electric Super Hub at Solstice Park, doors to the public.
which offers easy and reliable charging to those travelling on the The Bun & Barrel, a brand-new burger restaurant offering bone
A303. Eight High Power chargers have been installed with the ability marrow-infused burgers and barrel-aged cocktails, has officially
to add 100 miles in as little as five minutes and are powered by net opened in Harborne.
zero carbon energy. The restaurant is the brainchild of longtime friends, Harborne
RO has enjoyed tremendous success at the 160-acre mixed use Kitchen’s Jamie Desogus and Rob Hennebry, who met as
Solstice Park development, strategically located in central southern bandmates aged 21.
England on the A303 trunk road. The Bun & Barrel’s concept takes in Jamie and Rob’s mutual
There are already several leading international and national food love for music, with the interior celebrating musical heritage,
and beverage retailers as well as trade counter occupiers on the site whilst each service will operate against a rock ‘n’ roll soundtrack.
such as Home Bargains, Screwfix, Howdens, McDonald’s and Costa The restaurant is also home to a pool table.
Coffee. Added to these are Greggs, the well-loved British bakery The menu available at the site offers burgers made with the
chain that specialises in savoury products and sweet items and Taco finest ingredients, such as smashed patties infused with bone
Bell, the American fast-food restaurant chain that offers Mexican- marrow whilst demi-brioche bun is made from scratch by the
inspired foods. Harborne Kitchen team.

06 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL FEBRUARY 2023