A new £10m go-karting and entertainment venue in a former Liverpool ONE department store will now open in the New Year.
In February, the shopping complex’s co-owner Grosvenor won planning permission from Liverpool Council to develop an indoor electric go-kart circuit and leisure facilities in the upper levels of the former Debenhams unit, vacated by the collapsed department store last year. It had been expected that Gravity Activity Entertainment, operators of the new venture, would open its doors to paying customers by the end of the year.
However, it is anticipated that work on converting the former department chain location will not complete until 2023 and as a result, will push back the originally proposed opening date. Announcing Gravity as the operator of the new facility, Grosvenor said in April it had hoped the leisure attraction, which could include bowling and an indoor golf centre alongside the go-kart track, would seek to open in the last three months of 2022.
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In November, property management firm Momentum Group, who were appointed to transform the site on behalf of Gravity, confirmed their role in the project and said in a statement they expected the venue to open in the New Year. A Gravity employee told the ECHO that “mid next year” was now being eyed as a possible launch period.
The 100,000 sq ft space will play host to a variety of attractions across two floors of the building which had been home to one of Liverpool ONE’s flagship anchor stores since its opening in 2008. A Liverpool Council planning committee hearing was told that “extensive marketing” had been undertaken by Grosvenor, who had been unable to find a retailer willing to take the whole unit.
In May, Marks and Spencer confirmed it would seek to occupy the lower floors of the former Debenhams building on Lord Street, relocating from its iconic Church Street location after almost 100 years. All staff will be offered the opportunity to relocate to the new store, which will feature a new foodhall, as well as clothing and home departments.
As part of the wider transformation of the Lord Street building, an application has been lodged with Liverpool Council for the creation of a rooftop terrace and performance space. The firm hopes the new attractions will bring in 700,000 visitors each year and employ 250 people.
A date is yet to be confirmed for the rooftop planning application. The ECHO contacted Gravity for further comment.
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