A first-of-its-kind eatertainment offering, Paddle Battle by the team at Home of Hospitality, has signed on as the anchor tenant at Aurora Melbourne Central retail precinct. 

Paddle Battle will open in the lower ground floor of Melbourne CBD’s tallest building as a table tennis social club complemented by a dining experience and bar.

The 15-year lease for 1,680 square metres of premium retail space marks the arrival of the table tennis eatertainment phenomenon in Australia, following success across Europe and the US. With a sophisticated food, beverage, and entertainment offering, the experience is designed to suit social occasions as well as corporate events. 

The Aurora Melbourne Central retail precinct is part of the $800 million flagship mixed-use development – an 86-storey tower comprising 959 residential apartments, 252 serviced apartments, 3,460 square metres of office space and 3,500 square metres of premium retail space. 

UEM Sunrise director for Australia, Ong Chee Wei said they are proud the development would host a pioneering eatertainment venue, which is expected to be a major drawcard to the precinct for other major retail brands.

“Aurora Melbourne Central offers residents, workers and visitors unparalleled convenience and connection to neighbouring amenity such as Melbourne Central train station, Melbourne Central shopping centre, Emporium and Bourke St Mall – this places Aurora Melbourne Central as a primely located retail hub, ready to enhance the vibrancy of the CBD,” Ong said.

“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.

Home of Hospitality managing director, Eleanor Barratt added, “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. Finding the perfect space has been worth the wait, and we are excited for Paddle Battle to be opening soon.”

The Aurora Melbourne Central retail precinct is set to open in Q3 2022.