Golf experience expansion plans putt in place for Watford site

Experiential leisure entertainment company Puttshack’s ambitious growth plans have gained additional momentum following a £5m investment into a new Watford site.

Set to open in summer 2020, the 21,600 sq ft site at Watford’s intu shopping centre will follow the launch of Puttshack’s intu Lakeside development, set for 19 August, with both being major steps towards the company’s ultimate aim of opening a new site every 12 weeks.

Co-founded by Steve and Dave Jolliffe, founders of Topgolf and World Golf Systems, and Adam Breeden, founder of Flight Club, Bounce and All Star Lanes, Puttshack’s two new sites will combine its automatic tracking and game scoring technology with extensive food and drink menus to deliver an ‘enhanced leisure experience’ for customers of all ages.

Puttshack CEO, Joe Vrankin, said: “We are incredibly excited to announce these new regional openings, which form the first of many in our national expansion plan.

“Puttshack is changing the competitive socializing landscape by combining mini golf with cutting edge technology and a first-class food and drink offering to deliver a high quality, immersive experience that appeals to a broad customer demographic.

“We want to bring that enhanced leisure experience to customers at all parts of the day; from encouraging families to join for a unique daytime activity to providing a party venue with DJs for an alternative late-night experience.”

Rebecca Ryman, regional managing director at intu, added: “Puttshack is a genuinely exciting concept that truly embraces the competitive socialising trend. Our portfolio of some of the UK’s most popular retail and leisure destinations means we are well placed to support its ambitious expansion plans at intu Watford and intu Lakeside.”

Puttshack’s rapid expansion follows an equity raise of £27m in June 2019 with lead investor Promethean Investment.