Business owners in the Baltic Triangle have welcomed news of a new BOXPARK opening in the popular city centre district, with one saying it will fit in with the "edgy vibe" of the area.
BOXPARK is a multi-purpose entertainment venue that has become known for its spectacular showings of England matches at the men's 2021 European Championships and the 2022 World Cup. There were countless videos of pints flying in the air as England scored in their London venues.
Last month, planning permission was approved for the venue's first venture outside of London, with its current sites in Shoreditch, Croydon and Wembley. The new BOXPARK will take over the historic Canning Hall, as part of the Cains Brewery Village.
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Earlier this week, exact plans for the venue were revealed. The venue hopes to stage “regulated entertainment” including film, indoor sporting events, boxing or wrestling, live and recorded music from 8am to 1am and 2am the morning following New Year’s Eve.
Independent food stalls will also be present. It is hoped 150 jobs will be created as a result of the development.
But BOXPARK could be criticised for offering something readily available in the Baltic already. The prospect of a chain setting up in an area renowned for its unique independent venues may also cause concern.
The ECHO asked current business owners in the Baltic think about the development.
Ethan McGack, who runs Wayward Barbers on Jamaica Street, visited one of their sites in London last April. He said: "I thought it was class. There were good vibes, it was busy enough and it had nice pop up shops there too."
He said it's good to have new things in the Baltic Triangle, but expressed some concern about a chain in the area. He said: "It's all independent business in the Baltic and in the Cains Brewery Village, isn't it? We'll have to see how it gets on."
By contrast Kevin Doran, the owner of the Baltic Hotel a few doors down, doesn't worry about BOXPARK's status at all, labelling it a "small independent". He said: "They're not what you would consider a multinational chain, they're not a Wetherspoons."
"It's nice when you see these types of independents in the area, whether they're local or not. They're going to be employing people."
Kevin welcomes any new arrivals to the area, even if they're in the same business as him. He said: "If they were to open another hotel, I wouldn't feel like it was competition. I'd feel like it was great for the area. It would actually bring more people here. And we need more footfall."
Footfall is the keyword, mentioned by nearly everyone we spoke to about the plans. While everyone relishes working in that area of the city centre, they are not blind to the difficulties of the current economic climate.
Kevin said: "Hospitality has faced some headwinds over the last few years."
Paul Duran is head chef of Michelin-recommended restaurant and wine bar Manifest on the nearby Watkinson Street. He is anxious for the area to grow faster.
He said: "10 years ago the Baltic got voted one of the most up and coming areas in the country, but it hasn't filled that potential as fast as people thought." He puts it down to people still thinking the Baltic is too far away from other city centre attractions.
He added: "We found when we first opened that people would be like, 'oh, you know, it's a bit out the way, isn't it?' But you walk six minutes that way and you're at the John Lewis Lewis car park. We're literally a stone's throw from town."
Referring to the planned train stop at the old St James station on Parliament Street, he predicts "a real explosion in the area" if it opens.
Cameron Titchmarsh, a supervisor at Ditto Coffee also on Jamaica Street, is similarly unconcerned about BOXPARK. He said: "Anything that's coming into the Baltic to try and give people a bit more choice, I think it's always a good thing.
"If you look back like 10 years ago, this place around here was a waste ground. So anything else that's coming in, I think it's a positive in my eyes."
He argues that many venues that seem independent are actually owned by a small number of people. He added: "I don't really see the difference between that and another a big chain as it were. I think the term gets thrown around quite loosely."
There is no shortage of unique food venues, while Camp and Furnace and Content offer indoor, large scale entertainment events, including screenings of live football games. But most seem confident that BOXPARK's similarity to other Baltic venues is a strength, not a weakness.
Kieran Owens, from KO8 fitness who we found in the SVARA Radio space around the corner, shares this sentiment. He said: "From what I've seen from previous BOXPARKS, they still keep that cool sort of edgy vibe that the Baltic's known for."
Again, more traffic to the area is key for him. He added: "I don't think we can be too resistant to change. I'm not saying change as in like out with the old, in with the new.
"But the more venues the better. Obviously, it's something that's got to fit in with the vibe, be cool and have the right type of vendors. But for me, BOXPARK is a great idea. I don't really see the negatives."
One owner mentions that some residents might be unhappy about another new venue. But this an area in the city centre that is continuing to expand and has unique offerings compared to the rest of town.
Amidst ongoing struggles for hospitality, with a cost of living crisis affecting small businesses and customers alike, venues like BOXPARK may be key for the Baltic Triangle's future.
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