Major hotel chain Travelodge has officially opened Travelodge Rotherham Central – the town’s first branded hotel – at the new landmark leisure destination Forge Island.

Travelodge Rotherham Central, a 69-room hotel, is the first occupier to open at Forge Island – a once-derelict site now transformed into a family-friendly destination being delivered in partnership with Rotherham Council and nationwide placemaker, Muse.

A special ribbon-cutting ceremony took place this week led by Council Leader Cllr Chris Read and Travelodge’s UK Director of Development, Tony O’Brien, to mark this major milestone which represents a multi-million-pound investment for the town.

Read more here.

Rotherham town centre has become an ‘urban playground’ for three days with the arrival of an action-packed free youth festival!

UPLIFT Skate and Art Festival is now in its third year and will take place between Thursday 25 and Saturday 27 July.

The event features free skateboarding, BMX, roller-skating, parkour, dance, live music, and sport and craft workshops.

The line-up includes Roller Girl Gang hosting roller disco sessions in All Saints’ Square and a pop-up BMX, Skate and Scooter Park at Bridgegate. The House Skate Park from Sheffield will run a pop-up skate park offering free-skate sessions, demonstrations, and coaching sessions at Upper Millgate, while urban sports specialists from Nova City Activity Centre will land in the Minster Gardens with workshops and taster sessions.

A live music stage on Church Street will offer the chance to hear young musical talent from Rotherham and South Yorkshire. Crafts, knick-knacks, crochet creations and jewellery created by Rotherham’s next generation of makers will be on sale at a Young Makers’ Market, in the Imperial Buildings.

Minster Yard will be the site of sporting activities when Rotherham United Community Trust hold freestyle skill sessions, as well as craft workshops.

See the Facebook event page for more details here.