Boost for Sunderland hospitality and leisure venues with real-time app pilot

A North East city has been chosen as the location for the pilot of a new app designed to support navigation around hospitality and leisure venues.

Real-time information app The Locale is set to be piloted in Sunderland before being rolled out across the country.

The app, founded by Grant Thompson, has been developed in a bid to benefit both businesses and users, providing real-time information about what bars, restaurants, cafes, retail and other cultural outlets have to offer.

The Engine Room and Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens have already signed up to work with the app.

Grant Thompson, founder of the company, explained: “What [the app] allows us to do is to communicate on behalf of venues in real time so they are able to share their information.

“It will tell people when they are open, what the queues are like, how long they may have to wait and can also navigate customers towards the venues. It can showcase what a venue has to offer and any special information they want to share.

“It also gives businesses the opportunity to promote their Covid procedures so that customers will feel confident, comfortable and safe to visit.”

Sharon Appleby, head of business operations at Sunderland BID, commented: “This is a great opportunity for city centre businesses to be the first in the country to try an augmented reality app which can provide up to the minute information.”

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