The countdown is on as Rotherham’s new landmark leisure destination Forge Island enters the final phase of construction ahead of its grand opening to the public at the end of summer 2024.
Once home to a steel and iron forge and a major part of the industrial heritage of the town, the Forge Island development is being delivered by nationwide placemakers, Muse, in partnership with Rotherham Council. The scheme will include an 8-screen state-of-the-art boutique cinema, a 69-room hotel and a variety of independent restaurants, complemented by public spaces set in a stunning riverside location.
The family-friendly development is shaping up to be a vibrant foodie destination, with something for everyone to enjoy. South Yorkshire-based Rustic Pizza Co will open an 80-seater restaurant on site, joining Portuguese and Southern African eatery, Casa Peri Peri, created by Masterchef star, Bobby Geetha. Other independent gems include Estabulo Rodizio / Sakku Samba, a dual-branded fusion of Japanese-Brazilian cuisine honouring the Gaucho style of cooking, and luxury coffee shop Caffé Noor.
The buzz around Forge Island’s fast-approaching opening is spreading throughout the town. Local resident, Sam Clarkson, whose apartment overlooks the development, said: “All of a sudden it seems to have sprung up out of nowhere.
“I’m getting married next year and we have 400 guests coming, so having a trusted name like Travelodge that everyone knows on our doorstep is really great. Hopefully the development will have a domino effect and help put money back into other local businesses by bringing footfall into the town centre. It will give people more choice socially and bring more people in from other areas.”
Tony O’Brien, Travelodge, UK Development Director added: “We can’t wait to open our new hotel this summer. Rotherham is growing at pace and has one of the fastest growing economies in Yorkshire.
“With the railway station, the town centre amenities and Rotherham United’s AESSEAL New York Stadium within an easy walk, the Travelodge will be ideally located for business and leisure guests. This ground-breaking scheme is an excellent new leisure destination that I’m sure will be of great benefit to the Rotherham community and visitors to the area for many years to come.”
The Arc Cinema will open the first cinema in Rotherham in more than 30 years. It will offer two flagship Hypersense screens, including Dolby Atmos sound and a 4K Laser projector, creating a truly immersive experience.
After the topping out of the development, Brian Gilligan, Director of The Arc Cinema said: “The Arc Cinema is known for top-class facilities and we’re proud to say that the new location at Forge Island will be no exception.
“We also place a strong emphasis on building personal connections within the community which includes recruiting locally, and our aim is to create a meaningful place that belongs to the people of Rotherham just as much as it belongs to us.”
Later this spring, a striking new pedestrian bridge will open to the public, offering a vital connection from the town centre to Forge Island, as well as linking to the town’s remarkable engineering heritage. The 46-metre-long bridge takes inspiration from the world-famous Bailey Bridge; a portable, steel-truss bridge, designed by Rotherham-born civil engineer, Donald Bailey.
The bridge will be illuminated at night to make a striking visual feature of its unique structural elements to enhance the experience of everyone who visits Forge Island, offering pedestrians and cyclists an eye-catching crossing over the River Don.
Raife Gale, Senior Development Manager at Muse, said: “We always look to create places that will enrich the lives of the communities we serve for the long term. Forge Island will offer residents in Rotherham a fantastic leisure destination packed with amenities on their doorstep, but it will also create jobs and provide opportunities for local people too.”
Together with the Markets redevelopment, the improvements are a key part of Rotherham Council’s large-scale regeneration plans aimed at breathing new life into the heart of the borough.
Councillor Chris Read, Leader of Rotherham Council, said: “Forge Island is the single biggest investment in our town centre for decades and it’s successfully transforming a disused site into a landmark family-friendly destination we can all enjoy and be proud to have on our doorstep.”
Construction work on the £47m Forge Island scheme is led by contractor Bowmer + Kirkland, working alongside the wider project team which also includes Arup, Helm Consulting, Arcadis and re-form Landscape Architecture. The new pedestrian bridge was designed by FaulknerBrowne Architects.
