King Pins opens new site
A new bowling & gaming experience, King Pins, officially opened its doors on 17 July at Trafford Palazzo, Manchester.
The bowling venue in Greater Manchester is designed for all ages with a variety of activities on offer, including 15 lanes of Ten Pin bowling, four lanes of Duck Pin bowling (a smaller version of ten-pin, with shorter, lighter pins), shuffleboard, ice-free curling, batting cage, karaoke and arcade games galore.
The new King Pins features two independent food concessions – pizza vendor PLY, and Asian street food vendor Little Bao Boy, as well as a dessert kiosk called Royal Treats.
The bar at the venue also serves a selection of bottled and draught beers including beer from local Salford brewery, Seven Bro7hers, alongside a variety of cocktails, alcohol-free options and homemade slushies.
Pricing for activities such as Ten Pin Bowling starts from £8 per adult and £6 per child (15 or under), with Duck Pin Bowling starting from £6 per adult and £4 per child.
Karaoke, the batting cage and ice-free curling start from £16 and shuffleboard from £8 per 30 minutes.
King Pins brand manager James Travis said: “We’re excited to open the doors and welcome people into King Pins at Trafford Palazzo. The venue has been in the works for a while, and we can’t wait to showcase everything we have on offer, from Ten Pin Bowling and arcade games to the top-tier food vendors and bar. We don’t call it the Crown Jewels of bowling for nothing.”
Mark Whittaker, executive director of property investment & management at Peel L&P added: "King Pins is a fantastic addition to Trafford Palazzo and the team are thrilled to welcome even more customers to enjoy our entertainment offering.
“King Pins is more than just bowling, also offering shuffleboard, karaoke, an arcade, and impressive food and drink vendors, making the experience a must for anyone wanting a fun-for-all trip.
"The opening of King Pins adds an exciting opportunity for new leisure and food operators allowing for those near and far to take advantage of Trafford Palazzo's wide offering."
Arc Inspirations to launch first East Midlands venue
Arc Inspirations is set to make its first foray into the east midlands with the launch of BOX bar in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, this November.
Set in a former bank, the bar will be using the site’s original layout, with touches of the Grade-II-listed building’s original architectural features on display.
The 16,000 sq ft venue on Thurland Street can hold 650 guests and is spread over two floors, featuring two private party rooms upstairs named the Bow and the Arrow.
The ground floor boasts a 17-metre-long bar, a two-metre-wide mirror ball and flat screen TVs.
The food offering will include pizza, cheese fondue, burgers and kebabs. Drinks on offer will include signature BOX cocktails like the Orange Blush Spritz and Wild Berry Spritz, as well as craft and global beers.
Arc Inspirations chief executive Martin Wolstencroft said: “We have been looking forward to opening our first-ever venue in the East Midlands and we’re absolutely thrilled to be launching BOX in Nottingham city centre. Nottingham is home to some of the best sports fans in the country, so we're confident that a premium sports bar like BOX will fit right in and quickly become a popular addition to the incredible nightlife and bar scene here.
“BOX has been a huge hit in major cities like Leeds, Manchester and most recently, Birmingham. We feel like this is the right time to bring the brand to the East Midlands, and with the festive season coming, BOX is going to be the perfect destination for guests to watch, play and party this Christmas.
“The new venue will create 75 jobs in the local area, including managers, bar, floor and kitchen staff and we’re truly delighted to be expanding our fantastic team. We know that the site holds architectural significance and we are incredibly pleased with how the conversion has gone, so we cannot wait to open our doors and show off BOX to the city of Nottingham.”
AK Whelan Management opens 11th site
South east multiple operator Austin Whelan opened his 11th site on 21 September under his family-run AK Whelan Management portfolio.
The latest acquisition is a freehold pub called Erin’s on Beckenham high street in Bromley, south London.
Formerly known as the Manor House, the pub was previously a Slug and Lettuce site. It has undergone a £750,000 revamp and will be named after Austin’s daughter Erin.
The site is Whelan’s second Beckenham pub. It will focus on top quality food and drink with live entertainment.
The layout of Erin’s has been reconfigured to seat 206 with a new central bar the focal point and zoned areas for different activities each with a distinct ambience.
Towards the front of the pub are bifold doors which opened during warmer weather, with seating outside on four tables.
There is a modern Irish feel to the décor, with shopfronts, mirrors, bric a brac, a dark blue ceiling and marron and gold tiles.
- If you have any information regarding new openings, refurbishments or property details you think could be used in this weekly round-up section, along with hi-res landscape images, please email amelie.maurice-jones@wrbm.com or rebecca.weller@wrbm.com.
