DP Leisure (DPL), operator of the 360 Play children’s entertainment centre brand, is to open its first 360 Play site in a shopping centre next year.
The 12, 000 square foot FEC, a redevelopment of the former Woolworths unit in Redditch’s Kingfisher Shopping Centre, will be the UK’s fifth 360 Play attraction.
Kingfisher Shopping Centre is owned by Capital and Regional, with funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. (Oaktree). The addition of 360 Play is expected to further establish the shopping centre as a family leisure destination.
“We are particularly excited to be moving into a shopping centre location, ” reported 360 Play Managing Director, Duncan Phillips. “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.”
Among the attractions aimed at 0-10 year olds will be a two-storey play structure, dodgem cars, a carousel, creative and messy play and the 360 Street imagination play zone, a feature of all 360 Play sites. The zone consists of individual play units such as a fire station, supermarket, pizza parlour, vets, car garage/body shop and dressing up boutique and is designed as a creative space to fire young imaginations. The new venue will also offer an area dedicated to children’s parties.
Ken Ford, Executive Director at Capital and Regional, said the new attraction would enhance the shopping centre’s retail, food and beverage offer:
“When it opens in February, it will give our customers an entertainment offer that will be unrivalled in the area.”
“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, ” added Phillips.
