And finally… Retail’s new escape plan?
A new arrival is preparing to be locked up at Leeds’ Merrion Centre, with interactive entertainment concept Prison Island set to open its first venue in the North of England at Town Centre Securities’ shopping destination, taking 11,000 sq ft across two floors.
The immersive gaming experience will see teams of up to five people tackle a series of themed ‘cells’, testing their physical ability, skill, teamwork, and problem-solving powers.
There will also be interactive darts and golf, adding to the growing list of experiential leisure concepts taking up space in retail and mixed-use destinations.
Prison Island will create 18 full and part-time jobs when it opens on Merrion Street and will become the concept’s fourth UK location, after Belfast, Maidstone, and Camden.
Leeds is joining a network of more than 110 Prison Island sites globally, and is expected to open in time for Christmas.
Ryan Lyttle, director of Prison Island Leeds, said: “The Merrion Centre is a superb location and felt like a natural fit for Prison Island.
“It’s a busy, well-established leisure destination in the heart of Leeds, with excellent transport links and strong footfall from residents, students, workers and visitors to the city.
“Being surrounded by other leisure, hospitality and entertainment operators also makes it an ideal location for a competitive socialising concept like ours.
“We’re most looking forward to finally bringing the Prison Island experience to Leeds. We’ve seen how well the concept works in Belfast, particularly because it appeals to such a broad audience and every visit can be completely different.”
Charles Newman, asset management director at Town Centre Securities PLC, owners of the Merrion Centre said: “Its decision to launch its first venue in the North of England here in Leeds is a fantastic endorsement of the Merrion Centre as a destination for leisure and entertainment.
“The scale of the new venue, combined with the variety and interactive nature of the experiences on offer, will bring something genuinely different to our visitors. It’s another exciting addition to the Centre and one we’re confident will prove popular with people living, working, studying and visiting the city.”
