DP Leisure (DPL), operator of the 360 Play family entertainment centre in Milton Keynes, has announced that it is to open a second venue in Stevenage, Herts., in the UK.
Related: DP Associates’ company profile
Following the successful launch and product development of the first 360 Play centre, DPL will open another, larger centre at Stevenage Leisure Park, with a planned opening date of late 2011. The new unit, at over 24, 000 sq. ft., will feature the familiar blend of creative play and amusement which has proved so successful at the company’s Milton Keynes site.
DPL’s sister company DP Associates (DPA) has been working on concept designs, master plans, planning applications and more for the project for the past six months, with planning approval being granted at the end of August.
“It’s now full steam ahead in all departments to ensure we are ready to open as planned later this year, ” said company Managing Director Duncan Phillips. “We are delighted to have found such a great site in which to create our second 360 Play venue and I’m sure the success we’ve enjoyed in Milton Keynes will be replicated in Stevenage.”
The new centre will feature a wide range of children’s/family orientated activities and attractions now key to the 360 brand experience and there will be three main zones offering different types of experience, encompassing physical play, creative play and skills play. Rising through the centre of the building and forming the core activity for physical play will be a major three storey play structure with a variety of slides, climbing elements, obstacles, crawl through tubes, ball zones and other familiar soft play features.
360 Street forms the heart of the creative play zone with Luigi’s Pizza Parlour, Vets and Pets, Twizzel’s dressing up shop, ‘build it, break it, make it’ and 360 supermarket. New for Stevenage, this area will also feature a fire station, the car body shop, music store and baby care rooms.
The skills zone will feature rides and hands-on activities, with a floor pick up dodgem track, 5m interactive carousel, climb zone and a sports skills area incorporating interactive giant sports games.
Other facilities will include a bespoke classroom for 360 mini chief and 360 cookery classes, a private hire suite, Party zone and a café area. The site also has an outdoor zone ‘Club 360’ due to open in June 2012 featuring sand/water play, outdoor dining and outdoor play space.
“We have created a popular and very successful mix of attractions, activities and facilities at our first site, ” added Duncan Phillips, “so will be including similar elements within the Stevenage site, as well as further developing some of these to enhance them still further.”
About DP Associates
DP Associates is a strategic leisure company providing a multi-disciplinary service to leisure venue operators, developers and investors.
The founding of DPA by Duncan Phillips followed over 20 years of operational experience within the theme park industry, coupled to the design and creation, on green field sites, of highly successful attraction venues.
A wide range of expertise and services is available to clients. From initial concept design and master planning through architect and supplier briefings to implementing and opening an attraction or venue, DPA’s experience allows the company to conceive imaginative, entertaining and immersive project solutions which bring to life the client’s vision.
Additionally, DPA’s expertise extends throughout all operational aspects of a project, including visitor flows, guest demographics, attraction choice and operation, staff training and more. DPA also provides solutions for existing venues, be it in relation to individual ride based attractions, both old and new, other elements of the entertainment and facility offering or visitor numbers.
And now the company has extended its range of knowledge, expertise and services to cater to the health and fitness industry and the requirements of operators within that sector.
For further information please contact DP Associates on 01908 608577, email mail@dpassociates.uk.com or visit www.dpassociates.uk.com
