Blackpool approves former Woolworths amusement arcade conversion
Crown Leisure has had its plans approved to transform the vacant store into an entertainment complex with arcade games, an adult gaming centre, and a coffee shop.
The building sits at 13-19 Bank Hey Street and has had a troubled history. It was originally a Woolworths, before the store closed in 1994. When it was last open, the building held a Poundland. That has been closed since around 2020, leaving the building vacant for roughly four years.
Crown Leisure’s ambition to bring the building back to life earned approval from Blackpool Council’s planning officers, who granted the scheme permission to change the complex’s use from retail to leisure on 24 July. Crown Leisure submitted its application for the scheme in 2022.
Under plans designed by Alan Jones, the new Crown Leisure location will have arcade machines and games on its ground floor. The first floor would hold a café and kitchen, prize shop, and toilets. The second floor would be for offices, while the building’s basement would be relegated to storage uses.
Place understands, thanks to its readers, that the complex has already opened – despite planning permission only being secured last month.
You can learn more about the project by searching application reference number 22/0678 on Blackpool Council’s planning portal.
It’s been open for over a year as Blackpool Amusements. Not sure why this is dated today when all the this work was done 18 months ago
By Peter
Hi Peter – the story is about 24 July planning permission approval. Interesting that the permission, which wasn’t labelled as retrospective, seems to have come so long after the work was done. Thanks for letting us know.
By Julia Hatmaker
You’re a little late to the party…. The amusement arcade opened in February!!!!!!
By Bpoolguy
Has it? Interesting! Planning permission was only approved on 24 July, which is what the story is based on. I’ve adjusted the article to clarify where we garnered our information from. Thanks for letting us know.
By Julia Hatmaker
Blackpool resident here. It’s been an arcade for some years already.
By Travis
Thanks, Travis! Interesting to note, as the planning permission only went through 24 July for the change of use… which is what the article is based on.
By Julia Hatmaker
Hartes was in a different former Woolworths, on Bond Street.
By Anonymous
The site was subject to contributions towards trees due to it being a change of use and a legal agreement had to be drawn up between council and applicant hence the delay. The applicant has paid £20,000 towards new trees in the area.
By Dan
I remember it best for the Meccano models that were in the display windows on the sea front that changed every year
By Anonymous