This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
MALAYSIAN developer UEM Sunrise Berhad is hoping an “eatertainment” offering of table tennis, dining and drinks will attract residents, workers and visitors to its new $800 million Melbourne CBD tower.
Paddle Battle, by the team at Home of Hospitality, will anchor the retail precinct of the soaring 86-level Aurora Melbourne Central, operating out of the 1,680 sqm lower ground floor on a 15-year lease.
The deal was secured by Retail Realm in conjunction with Azeta Real Estate.
Paddle Battle is table tennis social club complemented by a dining experience and bar, and billed as the first time “the table tennis Eatertainment phenomenon has arrived on Australian shores” after success across Europe and the USA.
“With a sophisticated food, beverage, and entertainment offering, the experience is designed to suit social occasions as well as corporate events,” according to UEM Sunrise.
Located next to Melbourne Central train station, Melbourne Central shopping centre, Emporium and Bourke Street Mall, the tower will have 959 apartments, 252 serviced apartments operated by Scape Living, 3,460 sqm of office space and 3,500 sqm of retail.
“We have been waiting to bring this project to life in Melbourne for many years now, the idea came about long before the pandemic hit. We spent countless hours researching and developing the concept and even travelled to America and England to check out the concepts over there,” Home of Hospitality managing director, Eleanor Barratt said, adding that finding the perfect space has been “worth the wait”.
The Aurora Melbourne Central retail precinct is set to open in the September quarter.
“UEM Sunrise has been searching for a unique offering to the Melbourne hospitality market, and we’re proud to host a new Eatertainment offering in Paddle Battle, which will become an exciting destination in the CBD for Melburnians and tourists alike,” UEM Sunrise director, Australia, Ong Chee Wei.
“We are witnessing the city quickly reinvigorating after the end of COVID-19 restrictions, so it’s no surprise our retail precinct is also attracting significant interests.”
