Multi-million pound plan for new bowling alley and inflatable course at Inverness Shopping Park 'will create 60 jobs'
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A multi-million pound plan to create a new 10-pin bowling centre and inflatable activity course at a busy Inverness retail park will create up to 60 jobs, its applicant claims.
Hercules Unit Trust, which owns Inverness Shopping Park, is seeking to create the major new facility inside the building that currently houses Sports Direct and the Everlast gym. In their application the trust says the existing tenants "wish to vacate the premises".
If the proposals get the greenlight from Highland Council, the new bowling alley and inflatable course will also house a bar, diner and amusements.
In a supporting statement lodged with its application, Hercules Unit Trust said: "The proposals represent a multi-million pound investment at Inverness Shopping Park... providing a family entertainment centre accommodating a ten-pin bowling centre on the ground floor with associated bar, diner and amusements; and an inflatable activity course with associated café and amusements on the first floor.
"The ten-pin bowling centre will provide an inclusive, fun, affordable and sociable leisure experience for friends, families or work colleagues appealing to a broad range of consumers.
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"Alongside bowling, the food, drink and amusements will provide a complete entertainment experience and will increase dwell time."
They added: "The ten-pin bowling centre is expected to employ 40 people (around 30 full-time/10 part-time jobs) and the inflatable activity centre is expected to provide 20 full-time jobs."
In their statement, they add that the new inflatable activity course "will comprise of a raised interconnected inflatable arena with associated padding allowing the user to bounce uninhibited and providing innovative inflatable entertainment for all age groups.
"A wide range of activities will be offered including, for example, fitness classes, adult only sessions, disco sessions, party packages including sleepover parties for uniformed groups such as brownies and scouts, and corporate team building events."
The proposals would not result in any external alterations to the existing building.
The application comes just two months after the Black Isle Brewery lodged plans for a new brewery and bar site directly across from the gym on scrubland on the opposite side of the Eastfield Way road.
