Football club kicks plans for disused foundry building into touch
ROTHERHAM United have blocked the transformation of Guest & Chrimes into a £4.5 million leisure and music venue, the Advertiser can reveal.
A government grant was secured by RMBC to revive the dilapidated former brass foundry beside New York Stadium.
But the Millers have pulled the plug on the idea, which would have seen an 800-capacity venue created with an area outside for festivals and matchday fanzones.
The move means another blow for Rotherham’s town centre regeneration, with Forge Island behind schedule and the new markets already nearly £10 million over budget.
The Guest & Chrimes plans — using a £31.6 million Towns Fund grant — had a target completion date of summer 2024.
Part of the grade II-listed building — where New York hydrants and the first screw-down taps were made — was lost to fire in 2018.
Guest & Chrimes — opened as Chrimes Brothers in 1843 — still had hundreds of employees by the 1960s but closed just before the turn of the century.
United’s last publicly-declared ambition for the site came in 2017, when chairman Tony Stewart outlined plans for a leisure and trampolining complex with hotel annex.
Simon Moss, RMBC assistant director for planning, regeneration and transport said: “Rotherham Council secured £4.5 million through the Towns Fund Deal targeted to develop the former Guest & Chrimes building into an entertainment venue, primarily hosting live music events.
“However, an agreement could not be reached with the leaseholders of the building, Rotherham United Football Club, on terms that would allow the development to take place.
“We remain open to further dialogue with the football club on any plans they may have to find a suitable alternative opportunity for the landmark building.
“We will be in a position to confirm the wider programme of works progressing through the Towns Fund in due course once all the relevant negotiations have taken place.”
Rotherham United were unable to comment before our deadline yesterday.