LONDON BRAND LIFTS OFF IN NOTTINGHAM, June 2007

London restaurant and bar operator Rocket is close to signing a deal for a new site in Nottingham.

Lace Market Square - a new mixed use development in the fashionable Lace Market area of the city will be the location for Rocket's first venue outside of the capital.

The food led operator, Rocket, will be the first restaurant to open on the site - which is due for completion next month. Their operation will be based on the ground floor of the principal building that covers 4,500 sq ft and a terrace overlooking the development's unique 11,000 sq ft landscaped square.

Rocket, owned by Spring & Greene, is a family-run firm that has three restaurants in London, in various fashionable locations; just off New Bond Street in Mayfair, at Putney Bridge and Old Broad Street in The City. Rocket in Nottingham will offer a mix of relaxed dining, similar to its other outlets and specialises in pizza, fresh salads and seasonal produce.

The contemporary Lace Market Square development is a showcase for Nottingham, combining high quality bar and restaurant accommodation at ground floor with 46 luxury apartments aimed at owner occupiers above (now over 70% sold). Central to the development is the public piazza, designed by award-winning landscape architects Wolfgang & Heron. The piazza will bring a new dimension to eating out in this part of the city - with outdoor dining on the Lace Market's only public square giving a continental feel to the scheme.

In addition to the space being acquired by Rocket, Lace Market Square also has
a two storey glazed "pavilion" of approximately 4,400 sq ft for A1 and A3 use still available.

Lace Market Square has been developed by Nottingham developer Bildurn who are also responsible for the £25m leisure and retail scheme nearby, The Pod, that will also be occupied by a 142 roomed IBIS hotel.

Sean Akins, Director of Bildurn Properties commented "We're delighted that Rocket has identified Lace Market Square as a good fit for its first provincial operation."

The Lace Market is well known for its fashionable eateries. There are around 370 leisure units in the city centre, including pubs, clubs, café bars and restaurants - adding weight to the fact that the British now spend more on dining out more than any other country in Europe. The new square is guaranteed to enhance the city's dynamic cultural and social life, the development neighbours sophisticated eateries and top fashion retailers.

Operators who have recently opened in Nottingham include Strada, Piccalinos, The Curry Lounge, expanding Midlands operation Tonic, Big Wok and Dim T - which opened close to the Lace Market late last year.

David Hargreaves from agents Fisher Hargreaves Proctor added: "The public piazza is turning out even better than the computer generated images suggested. Rocket has been talking to us now for the past few months and we are delighted to be able to attract a London based operator to the scheme. We also have interest in The Pavilion which also benefits from the piazza and a large external seating area.

"This piazza will be the finishing touch to the Lace Market and will provide superb facilities to all those who work in the Lace Market and the ever increasing number of residents."

Nottingham has also been named one of the top five retail destinations in the UK, closely behind London's West End, Glasgow, Birmingham and Leeds. Demand for space in remains high, with retailers being attracted by demographics, spending power and the lack of out-of-town competition.

www.lacemarketsquare.co.uk

For further PR information contact Kathryn Greenwood at Eden PR on 0115 852 4717, fax 0115 950 9175 or email Kathryn@edenpr.co.uk