Every visit to Royal William Yard feels like a holiday, stepping into a neighbourhood that’s alive with people, bustling studios, cafes, restaurants, and shops.

The buzz around here has really grown this past year, especially as we continue the regeneration of Melville. This Grade I listed beauty, complete with its iconic clock tower, is hard to miss and has recently caught the eye of the Royal Town Planning Institute Awards judges, who’ve this month nominated it for not one, but two accolades.

And it’s easy to see why; the building is now home to fantastic businesses like Pho, BLOCK, and Everyman Cinema, all of which have swiftly integrated into the community. The versatility of the Yard has allowed these businesses to flourish alongside their long-established neighbours.

We’ve also welcomed exciting new brands, including the much-anticipated News Café, which has made the leap from Miami to Mills Bakery. This super-cool restaurant pays homage to its namesake in Florida, which started as a humble newsstand and grew into one of the world’s most celebrated diners.

And there’s still a few spaces available for businesses looking to move to the Yard, with workspace at the aforementioned Melville and Mills Bakery. There are also available spaces in the Brewhouse building, which sits opposite Mills Bakery overlooking the Marina, as well as at the New Cooperage building. The beauty of these buildings are that they cater for all types of occupiers, with spaces from 106 sq ft – perfect for a start-up or growing business – right through to requirements of over 11,000 sq ft too.

Urban Splash has proven it’s committed to this fantastic waterfront neighbourhood for the long haul and, as well as these new brands coming here, we’ve also recently been working with our friends at Poppy Developments to give more people the chance to live at the Yard, creating 24 one- to four-bedroom townhouses within the Yard’s New Cooperage building.

They each front a private courtyard, all while being close to the water and everything else the Yard has to offer. Poppy has just shared some stunning images of these homes, and they’re on the market now.

We’re also working on creating another great amenity at Melville, with the South West Coast Path Association moving into a new visitor centre in the building. It’s bound to be another fantastic resource for residents and visitors alike.

And, as we gear up for the festive season, there’s a packed schedule of events lined up! Join us for Christmas wine tasting at Le Vignoble wine bar, and don’t miss the festive food and craft market in early December. We’ll also be hosting a series of art exhibitions in the Yard’s galleries, like Ocean Studios, alongside music and comedy nights at Steel Brew. And for the adventurous, we have weekly stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) events for those brave enough to take the plunge into the water.