Southwater Grand Opening
Telford & Wrekin Council will host the official opening of Southwater on Saturday 18 October with a day of celebration and entertainment.
The council is joining forces with Free Radio for an action packed day with quality food and craft stalls and live music on stage plus dance and entertainment from a range of street theatre artists as well as a whole host of activities taking place across Telford Town Park and Southwater One.
The day will mark the official opening of Southwater, the new £250m entertainment, eating and hotel development which has transformed the town centre.
The official opening will start at 2pm with the market and street entertainment.
The day will end with a bang when Free Radio presenters Sam and Mark take the stage at 6pm entertaining the crowds and counting down to a grand theatrical opening ceremony with an underwater themed procession of giant fish lanterns and music around the lake, culminating in a firework display finishing around 8.30pm.
Mike Everitt, the winner of the council’s “Telfie” competition will push the plunger that will start the lantern parade and firework display. The “Telfie” competition asked local people to take a selfie in front of one of Southwater's new features.
Southwater’s new facilities will also be open on the day including the 11 screen IMAX Cineworld, ice rink, tenpin bowling and Mecca Bingo plus a huge choice of places to eat such as Bella Italia, Mimosa, Harvester, Chimichanga, Pizza Express, Nando’s and Zizzi’s.
The whole event is free and everyone is invited to come and join the fun and help to make a mark in Telford’s history.
Southwater is the first part of a £250m regeneration of Telford town centre and will soon be followed by a £200m regeneration of the Telford Shopping Centre.
The Southwater development is a public/private sector partnership that is aimed at creating a vibrant night time economy in Telford town centre and raising Telford’s profile as a major regional destination.
Telford & Wrekin Council leader, Kuldip Sahota, said: “Southwater has already proved a huge success with thousands of visitors to the Southwater One building, lake and new restaurants and cinema.
“We have been delighted by the response from our residents and their enthusiasm for the new development.
“The official opening next month will be a time to celebrate what we’ve achieved and for everyone to come and have a fun day out and enjoy everything that Southwater has to offer.”
