Pjazza 1902: New hotspot blends community engagement and B2B offerings

Over the past few weeks, Pembroke has welcomed an addition to its entertainment offering, with the newly inaugurated Pjazza 1902 seeing one of Malta’s heritage sites transformed into a recreational destination, straddling the needs of the business community and the general public.

The site – originally built more than 110 years ago in the honour of King Edward VII – lay derelict for over 25 years, after a fire engulfed the popular disco – Raffles – which resided on its premises. Yet, an extensive multi-year restoration has resurrected the space; today, it features myriad eateries, children’s activity areas, and B2B meeting spaces.

“We wanted to revitalise this historic building, and transform it into a vibrant hub,” says a representative from Pjazza 1902. “This was a vision to preserve the heritage of the past, while opening it up to new and diverse opportunities for interaction today.”

Towards the entrance, two kiosks – a salumeria, Bottega Vecchiarelli, and a coffee shop, Brunch Bunch – offer brunch and lunch snacks during the day, while, in the evening, they open to the post-9-to-5 crowd seeking a moment to unwind. Inside, the dining spot, Nineteen 02 Restaurant, boasts an offering which caters to young and old alike, while an indoor play area keeps the little ones entertained.

“Having this space for kids allows parents to enjoy their meal without having to constantly worry; there’s someone on-site to oversee everything, which makes dining out a stress-free experience for families,” the representative explains.

The childcare centre at Pjazza 1902, Dawra Durella, also serves the local community and those working in the area, offering colourful areas as well as a safe and stimulating envionrment for children aged 3 months to 3 years. “Here, kids can explore, play and learn, while parents can go about their work knowing that their children are in good hands. After all, it’s about that peace of mind, isn’t it?”, the representative smiles.

Moreover, within Pjazza 1902, a gym, multi-purposes areas, and outdoor sections, have allowed it to “create something different to what other entertainment hangout spots were offering. Our priority was to involve the community in more diverse ways,” the representative says. Furthermore, “this is a form of one-stop shop, so to speak, in that both businesses and the general public can enjoy and indulge in many forms of activities – but all under one roof.”

The B2B offering, he continues, is catered for through the site’s multi-purposes area – known as Il-Venju – which can host product launches, network events, and business meetings. These can also be transformed to welcome organised events for diverse audiences.

“We’re keeping our spaces open to innovative ideas, which could range from hosting a summer school or cooking classes for kids on one day, and a business event on the other. We’re also open to shifting the space to cater to small-scale public events, such as festivals,” the representative explains, adding that Il-Venju has both indoor and outdoor areas, which increase the flexibility of the site.

“The space is designed so that it can provide to different needs. For instance, it can be used to host a small wine or beer festival, or a Euro Cup village, for example – so event planners have additional options available at their disposal.”

There is purpose behind the concept, the Head of Sales and Marketing stresses. “Pjazza 1902 aligns with CE Group’s strategic vision to prioritise sustainability, and quality craftsmanship, in the build and renovation itself, while sustaining community engagement in the offerings we have launched.”

“And even though there were some challenges to complete the project to our high standards, we took our time to do everything well; we wanted to create a new hotspot for the island – one which could not only be enjoyed by families, but which offered a variety of opportunities for self-development and the creation of connections.”