A BIG name bar chain has been revealed as the next occupant of Warrington town centre’s £142million Time Square development.

Revolution is set to move into two units totalling 7,580sq ft in the site’s biggest letting outside of anchor tenant Cineworld.

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The bar and restaurant will occupy the currently vacant space bordering Academy Way, near to Warrington Borough Council’s new offices and the Time Square Car Park.

Councillors have been recommended to approve the lease during a Town Hall cabinet meeting next Tuesday, May 24.

The meeting’s agenda states: “The lettings of the leisure spaces, and principally the restaurant units within the scheme, are important as they are one of the main sources of income to the scheme and determine the long-term viability of the project.

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“Warrington and Co has been working with Muse Developments as the council’s development manager on the Time Square scheme together with a specialist leisure property agent, Metis Real Estate, to identify commercial users for all of the remaining leisure units.

“It is now widely recognised that, post-Covid, the restaurant and casual dining market is going through a significant period of re-alignment with a number of major operators either being wound up or being absorbed by the other operators.

“There is therefore a smaller number of operators looking for new sites and those that are are expecting significant discounts on normal market rates.

“In response to this market contraction, Warrington and Co embarked on a very active marketing campaign with the appointment of a PR agency – AVER, a specialist in the food and beverage sector – to raise the profile of the scheme.

Warrington Guardian:

“The council has also widened the type of operator that it is looking to attract into the scheme, from the very large chains that have been subject to financial difficulties within the last six to 12 months to more niche and innovative operators who offer a different dining and leisure experience and one that could arguably enhance the quality offer and attractiveness that it wishes to achieve with Time Square.

“However, the continued success of Time Square means that it is still attractive to larger operators despite harder financial operating conditions.

“It has always been the intention of Time Square that the town centre leisure offer is improved both in quality and choice, and at the present time this operator is considered to be a clear national leader in this and sets a very high quality benchmark for others to follow if they become part of the tenant line up.

“The standard of fit out is anticipated to be very high, which will reinforce the quality nature and perception of the scheme and what Warrington is trying to offer within its town centre.

“Based on the advice of both Muse and Metis Real Estate and following the extensive market engagement exercise carried out on behalf of the council, it is believed that the terms of this offer represent a market response to the requirements of the council at this time.”

Revolution Bars Group, which also comprises of the Revolucion de Cuba brand, was founded in the 1990s and now has 56 locations nationally.

Up to 50 jobs could be created by the opening of its Warrington branch.

Along with the new Warrington Market and Cookhouse, other occupants of the rejuvenated Time Square include the University of Chester, the Botanist, Costello’s Bar, Gravity Trampoline Park, Newtons Bar and Heavenly Desserts.

Also soon to be opened is Parlour, a New York City-inspired bar and eatery.