property UK leisure property sector ‘remains resilient’ ToM WaLkEr


Te effects of the economic downturn were felt to differ- ent degrees across the leisure market in 2010, according to property firm Christie + Co. Christie + Co’s Business


Te Brannigans venue in Blackpool is to be sold


Cougar Leisure estate goes under the hammer


MarTin naSH


Christie + Co., acting on behalf of admin- istrators Begbies Traynor, is marketing six pubs and bars formerly owned by Cougar Leisure, including the Brannigans branded bars in Blackpool and Manchester and the Mood branded unit in Newcastle. Cougar instructed the sale of 11 sites


in 2010, with Christie having sold the Townhouse pub in Whitley Bay to Wear Inns; the Berkley in Wigan to Amber Taverns; and sites in Edinburgh, Liverpool and Romford to individual operators.


Hull City owners planning leisure village scheme?


ToM WaLkEr


Assem Allam, who acquired npower Championship club Hull City AFC in December, is rumoured to be interested in acquiring the club’s home KC Stadium and developing it into a large leisure village. According to the Yorkshire Post, Alam


wants to increase the capacity of the Hull City Council-owned venue from 25,000 to 38,000 and to establish a large mixed-use development around it. Hull City AFC currently shares the venue with Super League rugby club Hull FC.


Work starts on Morecambe Dome demolition


PETE HaYMan


Lancaster City Council (LCC) has announced that work has started on the demolition of Morecambe Dome, which closed in March 2010. In December 2008, the local authority


decided to shut the aging entertainment venue amid plans for the potential redevel- opment of the town’s central promenade. LCC also revealed in a 2008 condition


survey that Morecambe Dome would be in need of £561,000 worth of investment to refurbish and repair the building.


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Outlook 2011 publication found that the late night sec- tor remained under pressure, although the budget fitness, spa and cinema businesses performed well in 2010. The budget health and


fitness sector remained particularly robust, with transactional activity show- ing signs of being at pre-credit crunch levels. Fitness4Less, the Gym Group and Pure Gym led the field in acquisitions, exploiting the opportunity to expand their low-cost concepts into key locations.


Christie + Co said the low-cost health sector was one of the most robust Deal activity remained subdued in the mid-


dle and at the top end of the fitness market, although private equity interest in the sector showed a marked increase on 2009.


Council ends YES Project agreement PETE HaYMan


Oak Holdings has confirmed that Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council (RMBC) is to terminate an agreement for the £350m YES Project. The local authority has


issued the developer with notice of its intention to end the deal, which will come into effect on 31 January. Oak Holdings entered into


a preferred developer agree- ment for the leisure and sports scheme with RMBC in May 2003, which has encountered delays due to the downturn. In a statement, Oak Holdings blamed the


Te local authority pulled out nearly eight years aſter agreeing the deal An Oak Holdings spokesperson said: “Oak


failure to secure the necessary funds to com- mence the development phase for RMBC’s decision to cancel the deal. However, the devel- oper said that it would review its options and is intending to continue in its role as operator of the Rother Valley Country Park.


continues to own the valuable freehold of the A57 land adjacent to the site of the YES Project – the consented access land. “Oak is also engaged in a consultancy proj-


ect in the Czech Republic which is continuing and a longer term UK consultancy project.”


Mixed-use scheme planned for Gloucester PETE HaYMan


Gloucester City Council (GCC) has entered into exclusive negotiations with Stanhope over plans to redevelop the city’s Kings Quarter. The local authority will work with the London-based developer to draw up a concept


Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital


project for the site, which is likely to include bars, restaurants and public squares. GCC leader Paul James said: “Once deliv-


ered, it will give a massive boost to the city’s economy and its performance as a shopping and leisure destination.”


Twitter: @leisureopps © CYBERTREK 2011


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