The Light opens flagship Huddersfield site
A leisure company is expanding its entertainment footprint with the launch of a new flagship site in Huddersfield.
The Light has opened its largest venue yet inside the former House of Fraser in Kingsgate Shopping Centre, with the opening bringing 90 new jobs and supporting Kirklees Council’s regeneration plans.
Spread across 70,000sq ft, the site features a six-screen cinema and 15 different attractions, including bowling, mini golf and laser tag.
The expansion follows a multi-million-pound funding deal with Barclays and is part of wider plans to invest £15 million in new sites.
James Morris, chief executive of The Light, said: “Huddersfield is the latest evolution of our entertainment model, which is continuing to deliver exciting results.
“With the backing of Risk Capital and Barclays, we now have the ability to accelerate our growth, which will help to re-purpose other spaces and cinemas across the UK, providing landlords and developers with a unique and commercially attractive solution, protecting cinema, re-imagining spaces and delighting customers.
“We are delighted to have been able to transform the House of Fraser in partnership with Kirklees Council and the Kingsgate Shopping Centre to create one of the most exciting indoor entertainment venues in the UK.
“We are immensely proud to be part of the regeneration of such an amazing town.”
Duncan Irvine, relationship director at Barclays Corporate Banking, added: “We are pleased to have been able to support The Light with this new facility and are excited to be part of their ambitious plans for the years ahead.
“This lending further exemplifies Barclays’ ongoing commitment to help clients to invest for their future and support economic prosperity across the UK.”
Want your business, product or service to be seen regionally and nationally? Bdaily helps you get your story in front of the right audience, every day. Find out how Bdaily can help →
Join more than 55,000 subscribers by signing up to our daily bulletin each morning here.
Enjoy the read? Get Bdaily delivered.
Sign up to receive our popular Yorkshire & The Humber morning email for free.
Unlocking investment potential before year end
Give us certainty to deliver better homes
Hormuz: Safe passage - not insurance - the issue
Don't get caught out by employment law change
When literacy thrives, our businesses thrive too
Building a more diverse construction sector
The value of using data like a Premier League club
Raising the bar to boost North East growth
Navigating the messy middle of business growth
We must make it easier to hire young people
Why community-based care is key to NHS' future
Culture, confidence and creativity in the North East