DP Leisure announces development of fifth 360 Play FEC in Redditch
Following the success of its four existing venues in Milton Keynes, Stevenage, Leicester and Basildon in the UK, DP Leisure (DPL), operator of the 360 Play family entertainment centre brand, has announced that it is to open a fifth UK site in 2017, in Redditch in Worcestershire.
Already firmly established as a leading brand name within the UK’s family entertainment centre sector, the newest 360 Play site will be located within the Kingfisher Shopping Centre in Redditch town centre, a departure from the norm as far as the location is concerned with all the other 360 Play venues being sited on leisure parks or similar.
Kingfisher Shopping Centre is owned by Capital and Regional, with funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. (Oaktree). The site is home to a diverse range of retail stores and eateries, but the addition of 360 Play will bring a whole new offer to the centre as a retail and leisure destination for families.
The opening of the latest 360 Play venue is scheduled for mid-February 2017 and DP Leisure is developing the 12,000 sq. ft. former Woolworths unit to accommodate its newest operation which will become home to all the classic 360 Play elements which have proved so popular with families with young children over the years.
The design and master planning of this latest project has once again been carried out by DPL’s sister company DP Associates (DPA), while DPL will project manage the build on site. Pre-manufacturing of many of the key play elements and structures that will be housed within the shopping centre location is currently underway in workshops at DPL’s headquarters in Milton Keynes.
The newest 360 Play FEC will follow the company’s unique family play time ethos and provide to the families of Redditch space and time to play without the distractions of modern life. With a wide range of activities for all young children, from toddlers to 10-year-olds, 360 Play also actively champion parents getting involved too, so families are encouraged to put away their phones, stop thinking about the to do list and just play! A true family experience is therefore on offer.
Among the attractions will be a two-storey play structure, dodgem cars, a carousel, creative and messy play and the 360 Street imagination play zone, a feature at all 360 Play sites. This is made up of individual play units such as a fire station, supermarket, pizza parlour, vets, car garage/body shop and dressing up boutique and is designed to stimulate the creativity in young minds, while also providing an opportunity for parents to get involved in play with their children. A party zone offering a dedicated area for children’s parties will also be included.
“We are delighted to announce the planned opening of our fifth 360 Play family entertainment centre in the UK,” said Managing Director Duncan Phillips, “and are particularly excited to be moving into a shopping centre location. This is obviously something totally new for us but we are confident our offering will complement what is currently available to shoppers and will become a key element of a visit for families with young children. The retail experience these days is changing in many ways and this is a great opportunity for ourselves and Capital and Regional to create a genuine retail and leisure destination and to provide a new experience for visitors.
“We offer a unique product concept and will create a fun, stimulating, engaging and entertaining family play facility based on the successful model we have previously used. I’m sure it will be very popular with families with young children from throughout the area. We can’t wait to start the build!”
Ken Ford, Executive Director at Capital and Regional, said: “We’re delighted to welcome 360 Play to Kingfisher Redditch. When it opens in February, it will offer our customers an entertainment offer that will be unrivalled in the area. As the first 360 Play to open within a shopping centre environment, I believe it will not only provide very exciting leisure amenities for children and families, but will also enhance our wider retail and food and beverage offer.”