All of the 36,000 personalised granite stones that will make up the spectacular Everton Way have now been sold.  The paved walkway had been widened due to popular demand along the entire length of the exterior of the south stand at Everton Stadium, expanding earlier this season from the original plan of 28,000 stones which had sold out in 2023.  The final stones were secured by fans just days after work commenced on the huge installation, which will be a focal point for visitors to Everton Stadium – featuring personal messages that celebrate Evertonians’ births, marriages, anniversaries and loved ones.  Anyone who has purchased a stone on Everton Way still has an opportunity to purchase a replica stone, which will be presented in an Everton-branded display box.  These replica stones offer an additional memento, along with the option of a personalised A4 presentation certificate of authentication.   This can be done by logging into your Everton Way account, selecting ‘adding product to booking’ within the order, and choosing the replica option. More information can be found HERE  For supporters who missed out on the chance to be part of Everton Way, there are further opportunities to cement your place at Everton Stadium and be part of history.   The Club’s latest personalisation project, The Everton Fan Wall, offers the opportunity for fans to feature in a wall of ‘originals’, as part of a pictorial mosaic depicting Everton players who have realised unique achievements while representing the club, and those who have truly embodied the Everton spirit on and off the pitch.  Evertonians around the world can submit a photo for inclusion, with all of the personal images pieced together to create a magnificent, supporter-inspired mosaic.  Places on the fan wall are on sale now HERE  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The Centre, Livingston is gearing up to welcome Starbucks as its latest addition, with the global coffee giant set to open later this month. Taking a 3,200 sq ft unit with seating for 90 customers, the new Starbucks location is expected to start serving mid-February, adding to the shopping destination’s extensive mix of retailers and eateries. With over 150 stores and restaurants, The Centre already boasts household names such as M&S, River Island, Flannels, H&M, Hotel Chocolat, Wagamama, Nando’s, and Five Guys. Over the past year, the retail hub has also welcomed exciting new arrivals, including Cinnabon, Rituals, Søstrene Grene, Las Iguanas, BeLeaf Juice Bar, Beauty’s Inn, Pop Specs, Buzart, Afro Crest, The Designer Rooms, Loris Parfum, The Watch Lab, Barclays Bank, and Elite Smile Dental Clinic. Adding to the line-up, Hollywood Bowl is set to open a 26,000 sq ft entertainment venue at The Centre next year, reinforcing its position as a top leisure and retail destination. Rakesh Joshi, Director at LCP, part of M Core, said: “We are delighted to kick off 2025 with the opening of Starbucks at The Centre, Livingston, further strengthening our commitment to attracting high-quality brands to the shopping centre. “The past year has been fantastic, with the arrival of international names such as Cinnabon, Rituals, and Søstrene Grene. As we expand into more experience-led activities, we have exciting plans in the pipeline that will enhance the overall visitor experience.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Whitbread Plc, the parent company of Premier Inn, has secured the freehold of 35 Red Lion Square, WC1, with plans to transform the site into a hub by Premier Inn hotel. Situated at the junction of Theobalds Road, Drake Street, and Red Lion Square, the prominent eight-storey, 47,500 sq ft building was purchased from the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) for an undisclosed sum. The property has served as the organisation’s headquarters since 2006. As part of its ongoing London expansion strategy, Whitbread sees strong potential for a 150-bedroom hub by Premier Inn at this prime location. Jonathan Langdon, Senior Acquisitions Manager at Whitbread, commented:“hub by Premier Inn has been a tremendous success since its launch in 2014. We now offer guests 18 fantastic locations—15 of which are in London—and see huge growth potential for the brand.” “The first site we ever opened was an office-to-hotel conversion in Covent Garden, and we’ve successfully delivered many similar projects since. We plan to bring this experience to 35 Red Lion Square, transforming it into a high-quality hotel in a sought-after location.” “Converting underused office buildings into hotels has enabled us to establish hub by Premier Inn in some of London’s most vibrant areas while aligning with Whitbread’s Force for Good sustainability strategy. With this latest acquisition, we look forward to working closely with Camden Council to develop plans that benefit both visitors and the local community.” Expanding in the Capital Whitbread’s purchase of 35 Red Lion Square is part of its wider commitment to growing Premier Inn’s presence across London, where a significant portion of its future development pipeline is focused. The company is actively searching for 40 new locations for Premier Inn and hub by Premier Inn hotels within the M25. Designed for high-demand city locations, hub by Premier Inn offers a compact yet stylish format that allows for affordable stays in prime areas while delivering strong long-term returns. Hotel sizes vary, from the 60-bedroom hub by Premier Inn at Bank to the upcoming 690-room flagship hub at 5 Strand, set to open in 2028. Whitbread was advised on the acquisition of 35 Red Lion Square by Frame Real Estate Partners, while the Royal College of Anaesthetists was represented by Newmark. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Loungers has taken a major step in its expansion by opening its first-ever restaurant within a covered shopping mall at Merry Hill, further enhancing the vibrant leisure quarter at the popular Dudley destination. The new 3,200 sq ft restaurant, named Toledo Lounge, offers an extensive all-day menu featuring everything from indulgent brunches to evening tapas, fresh salads, and hearty burgers. This latest addition complements the £12 million investment made into Merry Hill’s leisure quarter over the past three years, joining a stellar line-up of dining and entertainment brands such as Hollywood Bowl, ASK Italian, Wagamama, and Wingstop. Alistair Winning, asset manager at Sovereign Centros, commented on the milestone: “Merry Hill’s leisure quarter continues to thrive, with record-breaking performance and an outstanding collection of casual dining experiences. The arrival of Toledo Lounge strengthens our food and beverage offering, creating an inviting space that enhances our vision for a vibrant, all-day destination.” John English, head of community at Loungers, shared his enthusiasm for the launch: “We’re thrilled to bring our ‘home-from-home’ experience to Merry Hill. Toledo Lounge is designed to be a welcoming, relaxed space for everyone, including families, with games, colouring books, and more. We’re looking forward to becoming a key part of this dynamic community.” The opening of Toledo Lounge follows a series of new signings and reinvestments across Merry Hill’s lower retail park, covering nearly 79,000 sq ft and reinforcing the centre’s position as a leading destination for shopping, dining, and leisure. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The first stones have been laid on Everton Way, as the biggest personalisation project at a UK stadium gets underway.  The meticulous six-month programme to install around 36,000 individually engraved granite stones in a unique paved walkway at Everton Stadium commenced this week.  And, following an extension by popular demand, supporters still have an opportunity to cement their own place in history by purchasing a stone that celebrates Evertonians’ births, marriages, anniversaries and loved ones.  Kevin O’Brien, Director of Intaglio Creative Ltd, who are managing the engraving and stone installations, declared: “It’s a momentous day!  “This is the culmination of years and years of planning and the hard work is really starting now.  “We’re down here on site and I don’t think you can underestimate the size and scale of this installation.  “When you stand at the bottom of Everton Way and look up towards the river, this is on a different scale.   “I’ve been involved in a lot of these up and down the country over the past 10 or so years, but here we are talking about 1,400 square metres and 36,000 individual stones, so it is without doubt the biggest personalisation project in the UK.”  The mapping of Everton Way, which sits immediately outside the South Stand, will allow Intaglio to eventually inform each stone owner where their message is located in the overall scheme.  The inclusion of larger granite stones representing Everton Giants, laid in and among the supporters’ own personalised stones, will also help with this wayfinding.   Kevin explained: “There’s such a variety of different sizes that precision is absolutely fundamental to making sure that Everton Way looks as good as possible.   “Supporters will be contacted directly once the overall scheme is installed, telling them exactly where in this installation their stone is going to be.   “That email will come with a simple map that will guide them to the location that their stone is in, and that will happen later in the summer when we’ve finished the whole installation and mapping.”  A recent further extension to the scheme, due to a growing waiting list of worldwide fans, means Everton Way will now stretch the entire length of the exterior of the spectacular, single-tier, South Stand and be increased from 28,000 stones to 36,000.  And there is still an opportunity to purchase a personalised granite stone, with a limited number available in a range of sizes and designs. These can be ordered by clicking HERE.  Kevin added: “We are nearly there in terms of getting everything ready, with just a few of the Everton Giants to finish, which will be the showpiece pieces within Everton Way.   “Once complete it will be amazing and, as an Evertonian, I can’t wait to see it finished.”  In addition to having a stone at Everton Stadium – and ahead of installation – supporters also have the chance to purchase a replica stone.  Presented in an Everton-branded display box, these replica stones offer an additional memento, along with the option of a personalised A4 presentation certificate of authentication.  Book your Everton Way stone HERE: https://evertonway.com/#/book/select-products  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

OPEN NOW: Chicken Fans queued overnight at new East Kilbride drive-thru for the Chicken Sandwich that ‘broke the internet’  On Monday 27th January Popeyes® UK, the home of Famous Louisiana Chicken, opened the doors to its fourth greater Glasgow restaurant at Nerston, East Kilbride, with people queuing for 11 hours to get hold of the Chicken Sandwich which ‘broke the internet’.   Banishing any January blues, the restaurant officially opened at 11am on Monday 27th January, with people queuing overnight. Tobey Ladds was the first to arrive on foot, while Reiss Blackhall was the first in the drive-thru line, both eager to be the very first to try the legendary Chicken Sandwich.   In true Popeyes® UK fashion, the brand brought its signature New Orleans energy and hospitality, treating chicken fans to hundreds of free Chicken Sandwiches and Popeyes® UK merchandise as well as keeping the crowds entertained with lively music.   Having tried Popeyes® once before and loving it, Tobey Laddsarrived at 12am with hot water bottles in tow to keep him warm whilst he secured his spot, saying: “I love Popeyes and it was so worth waiting outside for this- I arrived here at 12am last night. I remember the last time I was at the Glasgow store; it was absolutely brilliant!”   Tom Crowley, CEO at Popeyes® UK, said: “Opening the fourth restaurant in Greater Glasgow is a special moment for us. The response to our previous site openings in the west of Scotland, including the newly opened Braehead, have showed there’s a real appetite for the authentic Louisiana flavours we bring.”  Now the sixth Popeyes® UK in Scotland, the East Kilbride drive-thru will serve the full Popeyes® menu. The line-up includes fan favourites like the iconic Popeyes® Chicken Sandwich, Wings, Tenders and Signature Chicken Wraps. Each piece of Popeyes® famous chicken is marinated for 12 hours in a signature blend of Louisiana herbs and spices, then hand-breaded and battered for that world-famous ‘shatter crunch,’ and complemented by delicious sides like its Southern Biscuits and Cajun Gravy.  Popeyes® will also be serving up its breakfast menu from 8am to 11am. Packed with British breakfast classics with a New Orleans twist, the menu features the Big Cajun Roll, Cajun Hash Browns, and indulgent Nutella-topped buttermilk biscuits.  The new restaurant will be located in Nerston, East Kilbride and will bring over 80 new jobs to the local area.  To find out more about Popeyes® UK East Kilbride, visit the website https://popeyesuk.com/restaurants/east-kilbride or follow the brand on Instagram at @PopeyesUK or TikTok at @popeyesuk.  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The Gym Group has unveiled ambitious expansion plans for 2025, aiming to open between 14 and 16 new sites as part of its long-term strategy to launch 50 locations over the next three years. Accelerated Expansion Plans Building on a successful 2024 that saw the addition of 12 new gyms, the operator now manages 245 locations nationwide. To support its rapid growth, The Gym Group enlisted property consultancy Savills in April to identify and secure prime locations for its upcoming sites. Strong Financial and Membership Growth The announcement coincides with the release of the company’s pre-close trading update for 2024, which highlighted impressive results. Revenue grew by 11% year-on-year to £226.3 million, while membership numbers rose by 5%, climbing from 850,000 in 2023 to 891,000 by the end of 2024. Will Orr, CEO of The Gym Group, expressed optimism about the company’s trajectory:“We have delivered strong progress and momentum in our Next Chapter growth plan, resulting in FY24 profits exceeding the top end of our previous guidance. There is plenty more still to come as we execute our plan, and we look to 2025 with confidence. “We are well prepared for our key member recruitment period in the current quarter and beyond, with our strengthening new site pipeline and our flexible, high-value, low-cost offer making gym membership more accessible for all.” Looking Ahead to 2025 As The Gym Group positions itself for continued growth, its low-cost, high-value model is expected to attract a wider audience, particularly in the current economic climate. With its robust expansion strategy and increasing membership base, the company is poised to strengthen its status as one of the UK’s leading fitness operators. The year ahead promises not only new locations but also broader access to affordable fitness options, reinforcing The Gym Group’s commitment to helping communities prioritise health and wellbeing. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals