Tom Austen

In 2009, the store's owner, Dannii Paston, was the first retailer to move into a unit in the refurbished Grade II-listed Imperial Buildings at the top of the High Street. Since then, Dannii and husband Chris have worked tirelessly at the specialist in fun fashion, alt style and pop culture, expanding and relocating in town at the same time as launching an online store and taking on new challenges such as their Over The Rainbow café a few doors down.

Rothbiz reported last week that work had begun on a new branch of Smoke & Pepper in Rotherham town centre. Delivered by Rotherham Council in partnership with Muse, the £47m Forge Island development in Rotherham town centre includes an 8-screen boutique cinema operated by The Arc Cinema, a 69-roomed Travelodge Hotel. Food outlets include Vetro Lounge and Heavenly Desserts.

The most recent McDonald's in Rotherham opened in Dinnington last year, creating 70 full time equivalent jobs. Now a planning enquiry has been made to Rotherham Council regarding an unused piece of land close to Wath town centre. Feasability plans from Valli Forecourts show a mixed-use development comprising a Petrol Filling Station (PFS), a drive-thru coffee shop and a drive-thru restaurant on land adjacent to the A633 Station Road near Wath roundabout.