St James Quarter, the 1.7 million sq. ft retail-led lifestyle district in Edinburgh, has let 30,000 sq ft of space to TOCA Social, the world’s first interactive football and dining experience, combining immersive football-based gaming with modern Americana-inspired cuisine. The new brand launched its first venue at The O2 in London last year, boasting three bars, selfie booths, arcade machines and a Willy Wonka inspired dessert room, and has since announced expansion into Birmingham and even Dallas in the US.
TOCA was founded by Eddie Lewis, a two-time U.S. World Cup and former MLS and English Championship midfielder who developed the TOCA Touch Trainer, a ball machine that is the centre of all TOCA experiences.
The latest signing at St James Quarter will further cements the lifestyle district’s position as a new entertainment, culture and fashion hub that merges seamlessly with the city’s cultural offering and events calendar. Blending the ancient spirit of the city with the dynamic and cosmopolitan soul of the new, it will be yet another reason to visit Edinburgh.
TOCA Social will add 22 boxes and 2 bars in Edinburgh, while supplementing the other nine event spaces at St James Quarter that will host an array of fashion and music events.
Ed Corrigan at St James Quarter, commented: “TOCA Social has been something of a phenomenon since launching last year, their venues and the interactive experiences they offer have proved immensely popular and we expect them to be a key fixture for social activities both for local residents and visitors to Edinburgh.”
Alex Harman, President at TOCA Social, added: “We are delighted to launch our next TOCA Social venue in Edinburgh. The St James’s Quarter development is an amazing addition to the city centre and is the perfect home for our first venue in Scotland. TOCA Social gets everyone up and playing – whether competitively or just for fun, alongside world class food and drinks. It’s been a huge hit since we launched at London’s The O2, and we can’t wait to bring it to Edinburgh next year!”
St James Quarter has gone from strength to strength since opening in June 2021, and offers an impressive and growing list of names at the retail led destination, which includes & Other Stories, Mango, Zara, REISS, Bershka, Pull & Bear, Stradivarius, Miele, Next, H&M, JD Sports, John Lewis and many more.