Page 7 - April 2023 #180

NEWS INBRIEF

BLACK SHEEP COFFEE EXPANDS
STETSON OPENS FLAGSHIP IN THE Queensgate has announced that independent
coffee pioneer, Black Sheep Coffee, has signed for
UAE IN SEVEN DIALS a regional debut in Peterborough, as the brand
continues its rapid expansion across the UK. It will
Heritage American hat brand Stetson has open a 1,800sq ft kiosk unit on the ground floor
opened its first UK store in London, with of the centre in an excllent position adjacent to
the new location becoming a “significant anchor store Primark.
milestone” for the famous label.
The 1,165sq ft store is on Shaftesbury GOOTOPIA UNVEILED TO PUBLIC
Capital-operated Neal Street in the big Levisham Shopping Centre has announced the
tourist area of Seven Dials, becoming part of opening of Gootopia, the UK’s first high street slime
an area of Covent Garden known for niche store in a 1,600sq ft space loacted in the South Mall.
and indie stores, as well as a burgeoning The store also features ‘Goo-to-Go’, the world’s first
beauty community. slime vending machine. The unit features shelves of
While best known for its cowboy hats, ready-made slime, slime imgredients and activator as
the new store offers “an eclectic range” of well as a range of activities and experiences.
the brand’s signature styles including looks
from country-style outdoor headwear to
streetwear pieces. FOOD BRAND OPENS IN LONDON
The retailer said Stetson’s Seven Dials The Berlin-street food brand Döner Shack has
UK flagship is “a key moment in Stetson’s opened with a bang on Baker Street. Launched on
expansion” and significantly add to the 27 March, the fast-casual brand is spread across two
brand’s pan-European presence. floors and specialises in kebaps, chicken schnitzels
OXYGEN HAS ANNOUNCED THE and milkshakes, is an exciting new addition to the
famous street and aims to change the perception of
ACQUISITION OF JUMP EVOLUTION kebabs in the UK.

Building further presence within Greater introduce its latest customer experience- IFLY LAUNCHES INTO O2 ARENA
London, the UK’s first choice indoor family led proposition at its Croydon location. The O2, which is owned and operated by AEG and
activity brand, Oxygen, has announced the First introduced at Oxygen’s Wilmslow Crosstree Real Estate, has announced the opening
acquisition of regional trampoline operator, and Acton leisure parks, the proposition of iFLY, the indoor skydiving experience, marking the
Jump Evolution. The deal takes Oxygen’s is based on extensive customer research operators London debut. iFLY London has opened its
portfolio to ten parks across the UK. and focuses on the visitor experience, 4.3m wide wind tunnel at The O2, joining a plethora of
Jump Evolution, based in Romford in introducing a range of unique features that leisure operators such as TOCA Social, Boom Battle
Essex and covering 27,500sq ft, is a well- complement the play element. Bar, Hollywood Bowl and Oxygen Freejumping.
established operation that will become the These include enhanced facilities for
fourth largest site by revenue in Oxygen’s parents, with a ‘lounge’ concept providing
portfolio. best-in-class F&B and more comfortable RUDY’S PIZZA UNVEILS NEW SITE
It is also the second acquisition by Oxygen environments, complemented by the use Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana has announced a new
in the last six months, following the brand’s of technology to enhance every stage of opening in Manchester. The new 8,000sq ft location
purchase of RedKangaroo last November the visit. The proposition also features on Portland Street resides in the former Dawsons
and demonstrates Oxygen’s continued nine dedicated suites for children’s parties, Music & Sound site. Spanning two floors, including a
commitment to growth and transforming combining technology and innovative mezzanine, the space will be home to Rudy’s pizzeria
the indoor leisure market. design to create a unique setting. Oxygen and very own pizza school: Rudy’s Pizza Academy, a
Coinciding with the acquisition, has also invested in its team, introducing a world-class destination for pizzaiolo talent.
Oxygen has committed to investing in its new training programme to deliver a truly
portfolio with over £1.23m being spent to enhanced experience.

APRIL 2023 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL 07