The first restaurant has signed up to The Co-Operative development in Coventry, bringing a new dining experience to the city.

Steakout, which already has eight venues – predominantly in the South East – is investing around £500,000 and creating 20 jobs at the restaurant inside the former Co-Op in the city centre.

The deal follows hot-on-the-heels of the first office being taken at the scheme, which is seeing the former Co-Op building transformed into a mix of high-spec apartments, office, retail and leisure space by award-winning developers EDG Property.

Steakout has been operating for a decade and prides itself on high-quality food in relaxed, stylish surroundings.

As well as offering a range of steaks, burgers and chicken dishes, its menu also includes a selection of ice-creams, milkshakes and gelato.

Managing Director Kaysor Ali said Coventry has been on the company’s radar for some time and that development at The Co-Operative – as well as across the city centre – made this the ideal moment to launch in the city.

He said: “We offer something different to diners – somewhere they can relax, socialise and eat great food, prepared the way they want.

“We have worked hard to ensure that people don’t only come to eat, they come for a great dining experience – eating out is a leisure activity and, therefore, diners want to enjoy their time in our restaurant.

“Steakout is very popular in London and the South East and we also have a venue in Leicester. We’ve been looking at Coventry for some time and waiting for the right opportunity – and we feel The Co-Operative is perfect for Steakout.

“Just like us, it’s bringing something different to Coventry which, itself, is undergoing a renaissance particularly with winning UK City of Culture 2021.

“We are very much looking forward to opening in the city and we want to employ people from the local area, who should get in touch with us as soon as possible.”

Neil Edginton, Managing Director of EDG Property, said The Co-Operative is attracting strong interest.

He said: “We are thrilled with the start we’ve had at The Co-Operative and, because of the history of the building, it’s really caught the imagination of the city.

“Steakout will be great for the city and for The Co-Operative. It’s fair to say that the business is quite discerning about the locations it chooses so the fact that it has opted to come here is a genuine seal of approval for us.”

Potential buyers at the landmark regeneration of The Co-Operative in Coventry will be given an exclusive view of areas of the building as yet unseen since work began.

The second phase of one and two-bedroom apartments is being released for sale at The Co-Operative at a preview event on Thursday, May 17, after the apartments in the first release were snapped up when they were made available earlier in the year at a private event.

The preview will be a chance to see where the new private residents’ lounge, with rooftop terrace, will be situated and is one of many additional features being included by award-winning EDG Property.

With this being the first preview inside the construction site, visitors on the evening will get a sense of the scale of the overall development, including the private residents’ park. They will be given the chance to reserve off-plan on the night and a mortgage advisor will be available to assist with transactions.

The boutique apartments at The Co-Operative are being marketed by agents Knight Frank and those interested in attending the event need to first register with the firm by calling 0121 233 6495.

Neil Edginton, Managing Director of EDG Property, said the development – which was recently hailed as Property Deal of the Year at the Coventry & Warwickshire First Awards – was progressing well.

He said: “On the commercial side, the first company has moved into offices and we have deals in place for operators in the café/restaurant units within the scheme.

“The first apartments were reserved in a VIP event in January and we picked up an award at the Coventry & Warwickshire First Awards for the regeneration project we are undertaking here.

“So the development is moving along very well and there is very positive interest in the next release of apartments, especially as it’s an opportunity to get a first look at areas within the building that have been hidden since the store was closed, including where the new private Resident’s Lounge will be.

“Right now, it is just a blank canvas but once complete we see it as a great place for residents to socialise or a space where they can work from home in comfortable surroundings.  It’s one of the many features that will set The Co-Operative apart.

“This is an early opportunity to reserve a home off-plan and the appointments on the night are rapidly being filled so we’d urge anyone interested to get in touch with Knight Frank as soon as possible.”

Work started on The Co-Operative last year when EDG Property revealed it would be creating a modern, high-spec mixed-use scheme at the same time as retaining much of the 1950s architecture – including the lettering on the outside of the building which fronts Corporation Street.

Neil added: “There’s enormous positivity about Coventry – and the wider region.  The city is set to showcase itself as UK City of Culture in 2021 and, therefore we believe The Co-Operative development is perfectly timed for buyers wanting to invest in the city and enjoy everything Coventry has to offer.

“From what we’ve seen to date, there is no doubt that commercial operators and potential apartment buyers want to be part of Coventry’s journey and its exciting times ahead.”

To register an interest in attending on May 17 call selling agents Knight Frank on 0121 233 6495 or email info@edgproperty.co.uk

(Pictured: A CGI of how the new residents’ lounge could look once the development is complete)

A Coventry freight forwarding firm is expanding after moving into a landmark city centre building.

Retail Transport Services is set to take on a new member of staff after moving into Hawkins, the office element of The Co-Operative scheme, in Corporation Street, to accommodate its future growth plans.

The company, which works with suppliers and hauliers to transport freight by sea, air and road, had outgrown its former base at Kings Chambers and has moved into a new larger office at the development.

The additional space is enabling the firm to take on a new accounts and administration apprentice through Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber Training and also look at expanding further by creating even more jobs to drive the business forward.

‘The Co-Operative’, based at the former Co-Op building, is a mix of high-spec apartments, office, retail and leisure space by award winning developers EDG Property.

The next phase of apartments will be released soon after the first ten were snapped up and RTS’s move marks another landmark in the exciting scheme for the city.

Dave Hughes, managing director of Retail Transport Services said: “We are very excited to move into our new office. It is a high-end scheme which has been refurbished to a very high standard, and its quality reflects the work of the business.

“We are currently on a mission for growth and our new office, which is double the size of our former site, will allow us to expand considerably.

“We are committed to helping people take a step on to the career ladder and our move means we are already taking on a new apprentice who will be starting with us in June.

“This will be our third apprentice, one of which has been with us for ten years, and they will be able to gain valuable experience in the office and also spend one day each week studying towards their qualifications.

“Coventry is seeing a huge amount of investment, with developments taking place across the city centre which will make it an even better place to live and work, and we are extremely pleased to be in the heart of this.”

Neil Edginton, managing director of EDG Property, said: “We are delighted to formally welcome Retail Transport Services to Hawkins, the first phase of The Co-Operative development.

“It is a highly-successful business and we look forward to seeing its future growth plans come to fruition in its new city centre home.

“As Dave and his team settle in, we will be busy finishing the next phase of the development which will include 63 high-quality apartments and a number of new restaurants.”

Jonathan Moore, of Holt Commercial, acted on behalf of EDG Property, with Retail Transport Services signing a 10-year lease.

Award-winning EDG Property – which is developing The Co-Operative building in the city centre – teamed up with agents Knight Frank to unveil the highest-specification one and two-bedroom apartments seen in Coventry to date.

Ten apartments were released for sale on the VIP night and each of them was snapped up by keen buyers wanting to be part of the high-profile scheme.

Each apartment is being fitted out to a high spec while the whole development will offer a range of extras not seen before in a city centre scheme – such as an internal residents’ park, exercise areas and private residents’ lounge with rooftop terrace.

Neil Edginton, Managing Director of EDG Property, said: “There was a real buzz in the room at the invitation-only event. There are buyers in Coventry who have been waiting for this kind of high-spec, city centre development and we are thrilled to be giving them exactly what they want at The Co-Operative.

“From the outset, we have stayed true to the existing property and are restoring many of the features of the old Co-op that people remember and love, including The Co-Operative lettering that fronts Corporation Street.

“But, on top of that, we are providing luxury and amenities that you will not get from any other apartment scheme in Coventry.

“We knew ahead of the evening that there was very strong interest but to reserve the first ten we released within days of the event is testament to what we are aiming to achieve at The Co-Operative.”

The next release of luxury apartments at The Co-Operative is imminent and all those who wish to be added to the database for more information on EDG Property’s forthcoming event, please email info@edgproperty.co.uk or call 0121 654 9404.