Debenhams: Bowling and mini golf set for Coventry site

Local, national, international and oddball news stories

Debenhams: Bowling and mini golf set for Coventry site

Postby dutchman » Fri Oct 15, 2021 4:06 pm

Part of a former Debenhams store will be turned into a bowling alley and adventure golf course, it has been revealed

Image

The shop closed at Coventry's West Orchards Shopping Centre along with others around the UK earlier this year when the business ceased trading.

The owners of the centre say they are investing £2m into the scheme which will also include a bar and restaurant.

Deals have been agreed for other parts of the former store, it said.

Twelve lanes of ten-pin bowling along with the golf course will take over the whole of the former store's footprint on the second floor of the shopping centre, said manager Andy Talbot.

"We want to increase and enhance retail of course, but to do that we feel we should be putting in more leisure uses to make it a true multi-use building," he explained.

Deals have also been agreed for part of the ground floor space with another retailer, and a 13,000 sq ft unit on the first floor, he said.

"There are no ready-made operators to come in and take the whole thing."

"Anything that gives people another reason to come into the city has got to be great for Coventry," he added.

The operator said it was too early to reveal details of the partnerships, but said it hoped to do so in the coming weeks.

It's hoped it will be open for business next Easter.

:bbc_news:
User avatar
dutchman
Site Admin
 
Posts: 50286
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:24 am
Location: Spon End

Re: Debenhams: Bowling and mini golf set for Coventry site

Postby dutchman » Thu Jun 01, 2023 9:16 pm

Fresh bid for plans for new Coventry bowling alley and adventure golf venue in former Debenham's store

Image

A much-anticipated new bowling alley and indoor adventure golf course in Coventry city centre could finally get the go-ahead. Plans for a "family entertainment centre" providing the activities have gone to the city council for approval.

Called 'The Smithford Social' the venue would be on the second floor of West Orchards in the old Debenhams store.

It would also host trendy new activities such as AR Darts and ShufflePucks shuffleboard. A small bar and catering would be on offer and likely to be used mainly by people doing the activities, operators say.

The venue would open from 9am to 1am - seven hours after West Orchards usually shuts - and create around 70 jobs. Plans have been developed by "experienced leisure and hospitality operators" and the building's landlords.

West Orchards' owners, who bought the centre in early 2021, are investing £2 million in the project according to the centre's website.

The scheme was revealed in late 2021 - months after Debenhams shut - and there were hopes to open by mid-2022.

West Orchards manager Andy Talbot said at the time: "We hope that by putting leisure into the shopping centre, it will give people another reason to visit Coventry city centre.

"And that will enhance the retail offer because it's not just about shopping, it's about eating, drinking and having fun as well."

But plans hit a snag last December (2022) when a bid to change the unit's use was rejected by the council. An officer judged that the centre's bar could draw in customers separately - and wouldn't be "ancillary" to the main activities.

This meant a "lawful development certificate" couldn't be used to change the shop's overall use as applicants wanted.

A planning application for a "mixed use" of the empty shop including a 'Sui Generis' drinking establishment went in last month and expires in June.

Image
User avatar
dutchman
Site Admin
 
Posts: 50286
Joined: Fri Oct 23, 2009 1:24 am
Location: Spon End


Return to News

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 12 guests

  • Ads