Redwood recently supported Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council and its development manager Queensberry to announce Nando’s as the latest restaurant to commit to The Glass Works, Barnsley.
The legendary ‘peri-peri’ restaurant group has agreed to take 3,634 sq ft on a 20 year lease at the £180 million transformative town centre scheme that combines retail, leisure and cultural uses.
The announcement also follows a number of significant project milestones over the past 12 months of the phased redevelopment. This includes the opening of the hugely popular Barnsley Markets in a purpose built space in November, and Falco Lounge (part of the Lounges Café/Bar chain) in May. Building on the popularity of artisan and independent produce, Market Kitchen – a new food court comprising 11 outlets – will launch in the autumn, and is set to be fully occupied on opening.
The brand-new cultural anchor, Library @ the Light Box, also launched in July signifying further progress. The new state of the art building has been long awaited by the Barnsley community and is a major draw for visitors to the town centre, comprising a full service library, public workspace, IT suite, specialist children’s library, wellness hub and a community and cultural events space.
Jocelyn Holmes, Senior Leasing Manager, Queensberry, commented: “Everybody loves a Nando’s! We are really pleased with the way our food and beverage offers is developing. With Falco Lounge, Nando’s, and MEET we have secured a good range of brands for The Glassworks and we’re now talking to other operators both regional and national whom we feel will complement our line-up”
All the newly opened facilities are reporting footfall figures above expectation, with 5,000 people visiting the library on opening day and the market enjoying a 10 per cent increase in footfall year on year, since it moved into its new home.
David Shepherd, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Service Director of Economic Regeneration said: “When we first approached our plans to redevelop the town centre, we had two key ambitions. Firstly, to meet occupier demand for space in the region but also to create a leisure and cultural hub centred around our historic market which has been in the heart of the town since 1249. Securing the commitment of the likes of Nando’s, but also the success of the Library and market is proof that this strategy is paying off. Both are traditionally not seen as town centre anchors, but the knock on effects of our investment are already being felt elsewhere in the town with 15 successful independent restaurants opening in the last 18 months.”