Page 6 - #189 March 2024

UK

BULLRING & GRAND CENTRAL CONTINUES ‘FLIGHT TO
QUALITY’ WITH STRONG START TO 2024

Hammerson has announced that footfall at Bullring &
Grand Central continues to increase year-on-year with
strong visitor numbers continuing throughout January,
reflecting the Group’s focus on its repositioning of the
major asset.
Overall, footfall at Bullring has increased by six per cent
in January 2024, compared with a year earlier, reflective
of the influx of new store openings (200,000sq ft in total)
and entertainment offers the Group introduced last year.
High profile additions included Nike, which opened
its first-ever ‘Rise’ concept store outside of London
at Bullring, Inditex’s Bershka and Pull&Bear, who made
their regional debuts. TAG Heuer’s, first ever boutique in
Birmingham and M&S’ new 65,000sq ft food-led flagship
– now its largest in the Midlands.
Meanwhile, new leisure & entertainment brands
included Lane7 and Sandbox VR.

THE LANDMARK STATION HILL MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT IN READING, WHICH IS BEING DELIVERED BY A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN LINCOLN PROPERTY COMPANY AND
MGT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, HAS ANNOUNCED THAT LOCAL BREWERY, SIREN CRAFT BREW, WILL BECOME ITS FIRST OCCUPIER WHEN IT OPENS ITS DOORS IN MAY THIS
YEAR. STATION HILL WILL BE HOME TO THE BERKSHIRE-BASED BREWERY’S FIRST TAPROOM AND RESTAURANT WITH SIREN SIGNING A 15-YEAR LEASE FOR A 3,800SQ FT SPACE
ON FRIARS WALK. SIREN CRAFT BREW WILL BRING ITS EXCELLENT RANGE OF LOCALLY PRODUCED ALES, PORTERS AND LAGERS TO THE CENTRE OF READING, SERVING THE
RESIDENTIAL, BUSINESS AND MIXED-USE COMMUNITIES AT STATION HILL.
LEASING COMPLETES AT THE PRELUDE BY ORIOLE TO OPEN
ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT IN THE YARDS THIS MONTH

The O2 has announced that its Entertainment District, which is PRELUDE by Oriole will open in The Yards, Covent Garden - a
owned and operated by Waterfront Limited Partnership, a joint three-month pop-up restaurant, bar and innovation space from the
venture between AEG Europe and Crosstree Real Estate Partners, team behind acclaimed cocktail bars Oriole, Nightjar and Bar Swift.
is now fully leased, following a deal that will bring pan-Asian noodle PRELUDE by Oriole will pave the way for the second iteration of
bar, Chopstix, to the world’s most popular live entertainment, leisure award-winning speakeasy, Oriole, which will reopen in a permanent
and retail destination. location in The Yards, Covent Garden later this summer.
Considered the largest Asian-inspired quick-service restaurant At PRELUDE by Oriole, food and drink will be on equal footing,
brand in the UK, Chopstix will open a 1,991 sq ft space within The giving guests the opportunity to enjoy a brand-new list of cocktails
O2’s Entertainment District, marking a milestone moment for both featuring the likes of Brugal Rum, The Macallan and Highland Park,
the destination and the brand, which continues to grow its footprint accompanied for the first time by an à la carte food offering.
at pace, having already opened five new sites in 2024 across the UK. Argentine Head Chef Gustavo Giallionardo has created a menu
Chopstix at The O2 will boast brand-new state-of-the-art digital which explores the ways that Latin American ingredients and
screens, along with bold and bright signature interiors that make cooking styles intersect with those from the rest of the globe.
Chopstix so unique. Guests will be able to enjoy all of Chopstix’s PRELUDE comes from Speakeasy Entertainment, the group
irresistible menu favourites such as the brand’s renowned Caramel behind the award-winning Bar Swift and Nightjar, which opened in
Drizzle Chicken, Sweet & Sour Chicken and vegan favourite topping, 2010 and was voted one of the top three bars in the world at 50
All Leaf No Beef Teriyaki, served fresh by Chopstix Wok Masters. Best Bars 2012, 2013 and 2014.

06 RETAIL & LEISURE INTERNATIONAL MARCH 2024