A new family entertainment centre featuring a bowling alley, darts and a diner has opened in Llanelli, creating 30 jobs. Pinopolis has opened a huge 17,000 sq ft complex located at the former CEM Days car showroom on Sandy Road.
The venue is centred around four lanes of 'Brunswick Spark' bowling and is the only place in Wales to offer the US-originated immersive and dynamic bowling experience. It includes soft play facilities, bowling alley, arcade, sports court, indoor go-karting, street food, and bar.
The fit-out was part-funded by a six-figure loan from the Development Bank of Wales following an introduction by Visit Wales. Pinopolis directors Georgia and David Edwards previously owned and managed The Play King children’s soft play area at Dafen Industrial Estate. The Play King opened in 2011 but was forced to close in March 2020 due to pandemic restrictions.
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Mr Edwards said: “Covid meant that we took the decision to close The Play King and transfer the assets to create this new family entertainment centre but it wouldn’t have happened without the support of the Development Bank. We are so grateful that they stepped in with the funding needed to complete the fit-out and bring this amazing new facility to life for the benefit of our customers, both young and old alike.”
Explaining the idea for the business, Ms Edwards said: "There was a real gap in the market for a family entertainment centre in Llanelli, somewhere which offered lots of different things all under one roof, catering for every age and every demographic - and that's what Pinopolis does now.”
Though the pandemic brought the development of Pinopolis to a halt, the business is now open with the owners planning to expand the premises further next year.
Senior investment executive Navid Falatoori said: “Pinopolis is the first of its kind for Carmarthenshire and a real asset for local people and tourists alike, providing much needed all-weather leisure facilities and creating jobs.
“It’s a flagship destination attraction for the area that will be continuously developed by David and Georgia over the coming months and years to ensure that it is firmly on the Wales tourism map.”
Corporate finance advice to Pinopolis was provided by John Saunders of Cardiff-based Cadre Advisory. Mr Saunders said: “We have worked closely with the proprietors and the Development Bank on this over a 2-year period to bring this exciting new Covid delayed project to the marketplace.”
The funding for Pinopolis came from the £50 million Wales Tourism Investment Fund, financed by the Welsh Government.
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