An entertainment business has appointed Stärka to secure a series of new sites in the UK and internationally after it secured £30m funding to support its expansion plans.

In February, Gravity announced it had been backed by Sculptor Real Estate, the property business of Sculptor Capital Management Inc.

Gravity, which was established in 2014 as a trampoline park operator, now has 17 sites in operation UK-wide, as well as newly-opened international locations in Mauritius and a second location in Saudi Arabia, which both run as a franchise. This takes its franchise sites to six.

Leisure and real estate advisory business Stärka is seeking sites of between 50,000 sq ft to 100,000 sq ft+ in prime UK cities, leading regional destinations and internationally. It will have a focus on dominant shopping centres and large mixed-use schemes to add to Gravity’s existing domestic portfolio. 

The focus will be predominantly on supporting the expansion of Gravity’s Gravity Max concept, which includes e-karting, bowling, urban golf and a modern F&B offering with a bar concept and live entertainment. In August 2020, this was successfully launched in Wandsworth London with Liverpool One and Westfield Stratford expected to open this year. 

Harvey Jenkinson, co-founder and chief executive at Castleford-based Gravity, said: “We are delighted to appoint Stärka to help us in our growth journey. Stärka is a leading industry specialist and a trusted partner to find the best sites for us to continue our growth momentum.”

David Bell, co-founder of Stärka, said: “Gravity has transformed the experiential leisure sector in the UK, fast becoming one of the most in-demand brands among landlords and consumers alike, and there are still locations in the UK that would be perfect for Gravity Max.

“The opportunity in the UK and internationally is significant, with Gravity’s longevity, creativity and adaptability the perfect concept for cities globally. With Sculptor Real Estate’s backing the vision from Michael and Harvey, we have a fantastic proposition.”