Residents of Castlemilk, a neighborhood on the outskirts of Glasgow, are still waiting for a promised supermarket despite funding from Glasgow City Council. The council awarded £3.3 million in funding to the new owners of the run-down Braes Shopping Centre in 2022 to develop the precinct and attract business. However, only £450,000 of the funding has been released for environmental work, and no UK supermarkets have plans to open stores in Castlemilk. The community has been campaigning for access to affordable fresh food, as the area has limited options and mostly frozen food. The Braes Shopping Centre, described as a 'war zone', is in need of redevelopment, and further plans need to be approved for the remaining funding to be released [065fa781].
In other news, the Marks and Spencer Food Hall in Cheltenham's Kingsditch Retail Park is set to close on June 8, following the closure of the M&S Home store next door. The closure comes as M&S plans to open a new Food Hall at The Centrum Retail Park in spring 2025. Customers have expressed disappointment and concern about the closure [3cd55dfa].
Meanwhile, Cinnabon, a major American bakery chain, will open its first outlet in The Centre, Livingston this summer. The Centre is one of the largest shopping centers in Scotland, and Cinnabon is known for its icing-covered cinnamon rolls and a variety of flavors. The new kiosk will also offer drinks such as espressos and milkshakes. The director of The Centre, Livingston, plans to announce the arrival of more new brands to enhance the overall experience for visitors [75e2da21].
In Manchester, Nell's Pizza is set to open a new location in Altrincham in September 2024. The new restaurant will be their fifth location and will feature a large bar and outside area. Nell's is known for their large 22-inch pizzas and inventive twists on New York-style slices. The restaurant is expanding from their existing locations in Manchester and is excited to be part of the vibrant Altrincham community. The new location will be conveniently located near the Altrincham Interchange [d33d3db0].
Back in Scotland, Bonnie & Wild, the food hall in St James Quarter, has opened Scotland's first illy Caffè. The café offers a variety of coffees, hot chocolates, and a curated selection of specialty teas. It also features pastries and cakes from well-respected bakeries in and around Edinburgh, including Le Petit Francais. The illy Caffè is open from 9am to 9pm and aims to complement the food and drink offerings in the Scottish Marketplace at Bonnie & Wild, which includes Scottish craft beers, whiskies, rums, and gins. The opening of the café is part of Bonnie & Wild's continuous evolution and ongoing innovation to provide first-class hospitality to its guests [087966a6].
In Caldicot, Wales, Castell Coffi, a family-run independent coffee shop, is gaining popularity as a celebrity hotspot. The shop, known for its homemade Welsh cakes, has already had two celebrity visitors: Mackenzie Crook from Pirates of the Caribbean and Detectorists, and comedian Omid Djalili. The shop's Welsh cakes, made from a recipe created by the owner's mother, have been selling out every day. Due to their popularity, the owner plans to brand the Welsh cakes. The coffee shop is also coinciding with the appearance of a television film crew in Chepstow, who are filming the second season of Channel 4's comedy-drama series The Change, directed by Mackenzie Crook and featuring Omid Djalili [64ca0a15].