Three new entertainment venues have launched in Birmingham’s creative quarter, Digbeth. Gaming concept Chance and Counters is based in the Custard Factory, and ‘social sports bar’ The Floodgate and The Great Birmingham Bake Off, an interactive baking experience, are based on Floodgate Street. The businesses bolster Digbeth’s burgeoning and eclectic leisure, retail, hospitality and live music scene which includes Digbeth Dining Club, Baked in Brick, The Mill, The Arena, Dig Brew, The Mocking Bird and Ridding & Wynn. The Floodgate is the brainchild of three school friends, Stephen O’Reilly, Mike Gregory and Chris Ross, who pooled their skills and interests to create the social sports bar. The new venue brings social sports, such as Pit-Pat Table Golf, Baseball cages and even Curling, together with cocktails in an interior boasting a plethora of UV murals, hand painted by leading Birmingham street artists, Gent48. Previously a converted warehouse, The Floodgate Spans 10,000 square feet and also has an upstairs area for live music and the arts, private parties, conferences and corporate events. Chance and Counters blends the nostalgia of over 500 board games – both old and new – with local beers and ciders and an extensive food offering, which includes brunch, burgers and tacos. With two popular sites in Bristol and Cardiff already, the 3,500 square foot, 100-seater Digbeth venue marks their biggest venture yet. The interior features secluded booths and a bright, open area overlooking the river. The creators of London’s highest rated event, The Big London Bake, are bringing their award-winning concept to Digbeth. Launching this weekend, the Big Birmingham Bake is based in a fully kitted out marquee on Floodgate street, complete with 12 idyllic bake stations, a treasure trove of customisable decorations and is led by a team of professional bakers who will give hints and tips to help create the winning bake. The businesses launch as Oval Real Estate, the owners of the Custard Factory and 98 other buildings and sites in Digbeth, announce plans for a consultation on long terms plans for the Digbeth Estate. It is anticipated that these new elements will include new places to live, work and play including offices, shops, restaurants and cafes, new public realm, arts and culture spaces, capable of hosting a range of events and activities. The Framework will also introduce homes to the area, providing the opportunity for people to live and work within walking distance of each other. The plans are available to view at www.consultdigbeth.co.uk James Craig, Founder of Oval Real Estate said, “We’re excited to welcome Chance & Counters, The Floodgate and The Great Birmingham Bake Off to Digbeth. We’re really proud of the eclectic and rich leisure offer we’re building across Digbeth; with so much to see and do the area is fast becoming a destination in its own right.”

Plans for a new supermarket and hotel at Perry Court in Faversham, Kent, have been approved. Swale Borough Council voted in favour of the plans, which will see an Aldi supermarket and Premier Inn open on the site. Henry Davidson Developments (HDD) is leading the scheme with support from Pegasus Group. Scott Davidson, managing director of HDD, said: “We are delighted that councillors have approved this well-planned scheme that will bring significant economic benefits to the local area. “The proposed 84 bed Premier Inn is set to generate around 29 new jobs, with a target for 50% to be taken by those not in employment, education or training aged between 16 and 24. The new Aldi store will employ 50 full time equivalent employees, as well as supporting the expansion of facilities at the new Sheppey Distribution Centre which ultimately will provide 400 jobs and will broaden the retail offer in Faversham. “Thanks to the support and dedication of the team at Pegasus Group we now look forward to progressing this development at the soonest possible opportunity.” Steve Lewis-Roberts, a Senior Director at Pegasus Group, added: “We are extremely pleased that HDD’s vision for this development, that will bring much needed services to the new community and the existing town, has won the support of Swale Borough Council. “During the consultation process significant design changes were made to ensure a bespoke development that is right for Perry Court, and this was reflected by the fact that were no objections from statutory consultees and that the application had the support of the local Faversham Town Council. “It has been a rewarding project to be part of with all parties working hard to steer it towards today’s positive conclusion.”

Lidl GB has today announced that operations have started at its new £70 million Scottish distribution centre in Eurocentral. The new 58,500m2 warehouse, Lidl’s largest in Great Britain, is a base for 600 existing Lidl employees, who have relocated from the retailer’s existing distribution centre in Livingston.  The site at Eurocentral will support Lidl’s growing store estate across Scotland, set to reach the milestone of 100 locations in the new year. A further 12 new stores are planned over the next three years in locations including Dundee, East Kilbride, Cowdenbeath, Larkhall and Dumbarton. “We’re very excited to be celebrating the opening of our new Eurocentral distribution centre, which represents a pivotal moment in our ambitious growth plans across Scotland,” said Lidl GB Regional Director for Scotland, Ross Millar. “The warehouse underlines our commitment to creating more jobs for Scotland and I’d like to extend my thanks to both store and warehouse colleagues, who’ve worked so hard to get us to where we are today.” The discounter also plans to open a further four warehouses by 2025 in Bolton, Peterborough, Luton and Leeds. Lidl has experienced continued growth in Scotland over the years, currently sourcing over 300 products from 60 Scottish suppliers and plans to open its 100th Scottish store in early 2020.

Liverpool’s major waterfront regeneration scheme, Peel L&P’s Liverpool Waters, has taken a major leap forward. Planning permission has been secured to build a new Cruise Terminal Hotel at Princes Dock as part of the project. “We are very pleased to have received planning permission for the new Liverpool Cruise Terminal Hotel, a development that will play a significant role in the growth of the city’s already booming tourism industry. Months of work have gone into the planning for the project in terms of its delivery and the added value it will create for local people and we look forward to bringing these plans to fruition in the coming months and years,” said Dave Saville, Business Unit Director for Wates Construction North West. Wates Construction will deliver the scheme for Liverpool City Centre, which will see a four-star hotel built with 200 units. It will also include facilities such as a lobby bar, cafe, restaurant, business suite and back of house facilities as well as visitor and coach parking and a taxi pick-up and drop-off point. Liverpool City Council’s Planning Committee approved plans for the development at a meeting today, 08 October. Construction of the new hotel is expected to commence in early 2020 and will see Wates fulfil a commitment to provide extensive training and employment opportunities for local people as well as boosting the city’s economy through the appointment of local supply chain partners. “Liverpool should be the premier cruise destination on the west coast of the UK and our new terminal will underpin that ambition and make it a reality. This hotel is critical to the plan to create a world-class experience for the cruise companies and their passengers. The city is working with some of the very best in the construction industry to deliver the facilities and I’m delighted they’ve got the green light to start this hugely important scheme,” added Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson. Peel L&P’s £5 billion Liverpool Waters scheme is one of the largest regeneration projects in Europe, which will create five distinct neighbourhoods and breathe life back into the city’s northern docks.