Altrincham is set to get a brand new bowling and entertainment venue in the space once occupied by Rackhams.
The Stamford Quarter has confirmed that Lane7, a national bowling brand with 11 sites across the UK, will be taking over the 12,640 sq ft lower ground floor of Foundation.
Currently under construction, Foundation is a major new mixed-use development being built on the site of Rackhams, the former House of Fraser department store which closed down in August 2020.
The project is a joint venture between Bruntwood and Trafford Council, joint owners of the Stamford Quarter, and Lane7 is the first new operator to be announced.
Darlington company Lane7 has proved a real success story since launching its first venue in Newcastle in 2013.
Its site on Deansgate in Manchester opened in 2021 and features a bowling alley as well as multiple arcade games, foosball, beer pong and darts. It hit the headlines when eight-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt paid a visit on two separate visits to the city.
Lane7 is being billed as an anchor operator for both Foundation and the Stamford Quarter as a whole, and will certainly act as a significant new attraction at that end of the town centre.
Foundation will feature 25,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space on the ground and lower ground floors in total, with a further 50,000 sq ft of commercial workspace above.
A number of other retail, hospitality and leisure brands are set to be announced for the ground level as it seeks to become a new hub of shopping, dining, drinking and leisure in Altrincham.
James Tootle, Head of Retail & Leisure at Bruntwood, said: “We’re thrilled to announce Lane7 as our first occupier at Foundation.
“Our ambition is to create a vibrant destination that transforms this side of Altrincham and Lane7 is the perfect brand to cement this vision.
“Fiercely independent and brilliant at what they do, Lane7 will provide a superb leisure anchor for Foundation and the Stamford Quarter as a whole. Lane7 will sit alongside a whole collective of hospitality and retail brands at Foundation creating an exciting new hub at the heart of the Stamford Quarter.”
Graeme Smith, Lane7’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “The opportunity with this venue was exceptional and gives us an amazing blank canvas to be really creative.
“We opened Lane7 Manchester and the response from our guests in the city has been phenomenal since opening more than two years ago, Altrincham seemed like the perfect fit.”
Lane7 will join a burgeoning community of independent shops and brands in the Stamford Quarter, including locally grown boutiques like Skanda Clothing, vinyl, coffee and beer specialists Stutter and Twitch and Altrincham-based jewellery studio Muse.
Cllr Liz Patel, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration, added: “The redevelopment of Altrincham town centre is very exciting and we are delighted that Lane7 are on board with us. This will be a fabulous addition to the new Stamford Quarter.”
Foundation is set to be opened in the summer.
