TOCA Social signs largest site to date at Westfield London
September 1, 2023
Interactive football entertainment concept TOCA Social, which counts Harry Kane and Leah Williamson amongst its backers, is to launch its third and largest site to date at Westfield London.
Construction is due to start next year on the 35,000 sq ft venue, which occupies an entire floor of the former Debenhams department store. It will feature 25 game boxes and two bars with modern-Americana style dining to complement the interactive football gaming.
Scott Parsons, UK chief operating officer of landlord Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield said: “Our strategy focuses on evolving and transforming our spaces in line with changing consumer demand, creating cutting edge entertainment and retail experiences that are second to none.” He added: “We’re excited to sign TOCA Social to Westfield London, the latest example of a URW partnership to repurpose a traditional anchor department store into a fresh and dynamic offer. Recent sales data reported that dining is up 21% and entertainment is up almost 36% at Westfield London – clearly an area that is booming for us now and one we expect to continue with the opening of Toca next year.”
TOCA Social attracts a broad range of customers, from families, millennials and Gen-Z to corporate events trade; according to TOCA Social President Alex Harman, 50% of their guests do not consider themselves football fans, and around 40% are female. He commented “There is a clear and accelerating trend of people wanting more experiential entertainment. We really feel we have only scratched the surface of the London market and there is room to grow further.” TOCA Social’s first venue – at London’s O2 – attracted 300,000 customers in the last year alone. A second will launch in Birmingham in early 2024.
With TK Maxx having taken another floor of the former Debenhams, discussions are underway to deliver another exciting leisure use on the remaining space. The repurposing of Debenhams to introduce dynamic new offers builds on Westfield’s partnership with global entertainment and hospitality brand Ministry of Sound to launch its co-working and fitness offer The Ministry, complete with rooftop restaurant and bar, on the site of the former House of Fraser, opening next year.
DCL acts on behalf of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield in respect of F&B and leisure leasing at Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City.
