Smoke on the water as new restaurant hits town

BARBECUE-style restaurant Rub Smokehouse is to open in Birmingham city centre.

The Nottingham-based eatery has signed up on a unit at Regency Court in the city centre, as has Karaoke Box, a karaoke and cocktail bar.

They have taken the final two units at Picton’s leisure scheme. 

The lettings follow a period of investment by Picton, a property investment company, which was designed to reinvigorate the Regency Wharf estate in an attempt to make it a key destination in Birmingham’s entertainment/leisure market. 

The initiatives included the commissioning of two street murals by London-based professional graffiti and street art company Graffiti Life.

Karaoke Box, which selected the site for its first unit outside of central London, signed a new 15 year lease on a 5,500 sq ft courtyard unit at a rent of £14.50 per sq ft. 

Rub Smokehouse has also signed a new 15 year lease on the 7,500 sq ft “Sky Bar” unit at a rent of £9.25 per sq ft.

Regency Wharf will also host a regular street food market, the first of which launched earlier this month.

Organised by the Scoff Street Food Collective, the market offers food from a number of local kitchens as well as entertainment from circus performers, street magicians and DJs.

Laurence Jones, senior asset manager at Picton Capital, said: “With Karaoke Box and Rub Smokehouse now signed, Regency Wharf is on track to reach its full potential. 

“The impressive changes to the built environment and excellent new additions to the occupier line up, should ensure the estate becomes an increasingly popular destination in Birmingham’s busy restaurant and leisure market.”

Bilfinger GVA and Wright Silverwood advised Picton on the lettings.