Merchant Gate offices full as Gravity moves
Gravity Fitness, a provider of indoor leisure activities, has relocated its head office to English Cities Fund’s mixed-use Wakefield scheme in a 6,683 sq ft deal.
The business has agreed terms for five years for the space at 2 Burgage Square.
Gravity, which has caught the eye with projects such as the £10m redevelopment of Debenhams at Liverpool One into a venue with e-karting, urban golf and bowling, will relocate from Colorado Way at the Juction 32 development in Castleford next month.
The English Cities Fund is a strategic joint venture between national urban regenerator, Muse Developments, Legal & General and Homes England, working collaboratively at this site with Wakefield Council and Network Rail.
Knight Frank and JLL’s Leeds offices advised the landlords, while Savills represented Gravity.
Victoria Harris of Knight Frank said: “The decision by such an innovative and successful company as Gravity to move their head office to Merchant Gate is a ringing endorsement of this magnificent development.
“The regeneration of Merchant Gate has provided a timely boost to Wakefield’s economy and has underlined the city’s importance and attraction as a strategic location for prime office, retail and leisure occupiers.”
Harvey Jenkinson, co-founder of Gravity, added: “Wakefield is the perfect base for a head office from a recruitment and logistical standpoint. Our new offices are about 50m away from Wakefield Westgate, which is the main arterial route from Leeds to London.
“Merchant Gate is very up and coming location, with good food and drink for the staff at lunch and after hours on a Friday. We are also expanding. This move will help our drive for growth. We currently have 50 staff and hope to recruit a further 10 by the end of this year.”
Gravity, which launched as a trampoline park operation in 2014 next to the indoor ski slope Xscape at Castleford, has just secured a £30m investment from Sculptor Real Estate as it seeks to build on a turnover of £27m.
Jenkinson said: “This backing will help us realise the full potential of the Gravity brand, ensuring the rollout of our business plan and achievement of strategic objectives.
“We look forward to further establishing Gravity as the international name in active entertainment and providing our customers at every site with the best possible experience.”
