News


David Lloyd entering family entertainment market F


ormer health centre owner, David Lloyd, is planning to open a new chain of family


entertainment parks.


No longer associated with the well-known chain of gyms that bears his name, Lloyd’s David Lloyd Adventure Parks is working with property investment specialist Holmes Investment Properties to launch the new venture, which will open next year. HIP, which is listed on the Berlin bourse, has secured a £42m development loan that will act as a war chest with which to acquire and construct the sites,


Larry’s Lanes adds Hartlepool alley


Hartlepool by Rubicon Pastimes. The project was financed by a bank loan, which


A


allowed the firm to refit premises and install a bar and food area. Lloyd Nichols, managing director at Rubicon


Pastimes, said: “This loan from Yorkshire Bank has provided us with the investment we need to completely refurbish and fit out our new bowling alley. We are really excited about the future and look forward to continuing to expand the business in the years to come.” The firm also owns a similar family entertainment centre in Scarborough, which was purchased


in 2013. Larry’s Lanes was


created after Nichols was


granted planning permission to change an arcade and children’s soft play area into a tenpin bowling alley.


new bowling centre, Larry’s Lanes, has just been opened in Seaton Carew in


which will then be leased to David Lloyd’s Adventure Parks.


Chief executive of Holmes Investment, Martin Helme


said: “We believe that David Lloyd is the most successful sports venue entrepreneur in Europe, and he is now concentrating on building a unique, exciting business that people will flock to. “Holmes Investment Properties, our property


division, are experts in funding and development, so it makes sense for Lloyd to leave this part of the process to us.”


Award for Innovative C


Holmes is also raising initial equity of up to £6m through a private placement. Lloyd plans to roll out three or four sites in quick succession, and hopes to have 12 open by 2021. Each park will have 22 activities ranging from indoor


soft play, trampolining, climbing walls, and a 6m-high zip wire that can travel up to 50kph. Entry to the park will be free but visitors will pay for access to activities via smart watches, which also act as a security measure by stopping entry into an activity for someone who is too young for it.


ash handling equipment manufacturer Innovative Technology has been given a Queen’s Awards for Enterprise: Innovation 2017. Managing Director, Peter Dunlop commented: “We are honoured to receive this award for Innovation. This is the


company’s 4th Queen’s Award in our 25-year history having previously won in 1997, 1999 & 2014. The Queen’s Awards are one of the most prestigious business accolades in the UK and are only awarded to companies demonstrating the highest level of excellence. The award this year demonstrates that innovation is at the heart of everything we do, something which has been the Company’s Ethos since day one.” The firm will be invited to attend a reception at Buckingham Palace later this year.


Dunlop added: “This is


a historic time for Innovative Technology as we celebrate 25 years in the cash handling industry. As a company, we are experiencing a significant, sustained period of growth, which has allowed us to increase our staff and office locations and expand our product range; cementing our position as a market leader in our field. The Innovation Award was granted for our flagship NV200 banknote validator, sighting it’s modular, versatile design as a real innovation for the cash handling industry. We’re proud to receive the Queen’s Award and will be celebrating next month when ITL staff from around the world gather in the UK for a day of fun activities and celebrations to mark our 25th anniversary.”


acquired Benchmark Games for an undisclosed sum. The deal has now


been officially completed and


Elaut is already planning to expand its range of products. Benchmark is known for its high-profit games and self-


Elaut buys Benchmark T


he Elaut group has


contained merchandise machines. The production facilities and the staff will be maintained in Hypoluxo, Florida.


Al Kress, co-founder and president/owner of Benchmark said he is confident that his products and employees, with a “strong emphasis on research and development for outstanding new products” will “thrive” under the new owner. Eric Verstraeten, CEO of Elaut, said: “The Benchmark


staff brings a lot of new product as well as wonderful creative people to our organization. We are looking


forward to work together and serve our customers the best we can.” Benchmark is located in Hypoluxo with a 58,000 sq.


ft. modern manufacturing facility. The company manufactures games like Slam a Winner, Monster Drop X’treme, and also designs and manufactures equipment such as ticket dispensers, ticket takers and Tickets to Prizes machines. Elaut has offices in the US, in Lakewood, New Jersey and an HQ in Belgium, with other offices in Germany and Spain.


May/June 2017


www.globalamusementsandplay.com 5


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