Plymouth’s £53million cinema and restaurant complex is complete and the first wave of businesses are now all open – with more on the way.
The huge national British Land Company Plc has ploughed vast sums into developing the Drake Circus The Barcode complex, so named because of its black and white stripes, on the site of a former coach station in the city centre.
It is literally across the road from British Land’s Drake Circus Shopping Centre mall, and another huge block of city centre real estate, which includes the Debenhams and House of Fraser department stores, also owned by the FTSE 100 firm.
The public can walk through the new leisure development, which has walkways through from the city centre to Bretonside, thus connecting the Drake Circus Shopping Centre area to the waterfront.
The huge building contains a 12-screen Cineworld cinema, with the UK’s third largest IMAX screen and a 4DX auditorium, and four restaurants, plus Plymouth’s first indoor golf centre.
The Zizzi, Five Guys and Nando’s restaurants all opened on Monday, October 21, with Cosy Club opening on Tuesday, October 22, along with the Cineworld multiplex.
The Paradise Island Adventure Golf centre, a 16,000sq ft unit on the ground floor , opened on Thursday, October 24.
There is disabled access and a large underground car park too.
And British Land a second wave of restaurant openings is expected soon – including the much anticipated Sky Bar, which sits atop the edifice.
A spokeswoman for British Land said talks were ongoing with a series of potential operators, and names could be announced in the next few months.
Meanwhile, Barcode bosses are in discussion with Jobcentre Plus and City College Plymouth about setting up a series of work-based skills academies specifically to train staff for leisure jobs with newly arriving companies at the complex.
With eight of six of the available commercial units now occupied, it leaves eight vacant, but a spokeswoman for British Land said: “This is the first wave of openings, there will be a second.
“There will be an announcement in the coming months, there are discussions with various people.”
She said that includes an operator for the Sky Bar nd added: “They (British Land bosses) are talking to various people. That will be announced in the coming months. That will be really exciting.”
She said no names of potential tenants for the Barcode can be revealed but would eventually it would feature a “diverse” range of businesses.
Greg Lumley, Drake Circus mall’s centre director, how has a 100,000sq ft cinema complex to look after too, but is unpeturbed and said: “We are really pleased about this. It is great for the city, and for people to be able to cut through to the waterfront.
“We are also pleased these great brands here and have extended opening for the shopping centre. There are a lot of changes in Plymouth.”
The Nando’s outlet in nearby Old Town Street closed, with all staff moving a few hundred yards to the new 144-cover restaurant in The Barcode.
Nando’s manager Warren Hignett moved across to the new unit, but has added six new staff to his existing team, to make a total of 42, and says more jobs could follow.
At the nearby Zizzi diner, a new name to Plymouth, general manager Jonny Passmore said, as a Plymothian returning to the city, he is delighted to be bringing the 170-cover restaurant to The Barcode.
He said it had created up to 40 jobs and is the only Zizzi in the South West apart from in Exeter and Falmouth.
Cosy Club is part of the Loungers chain, which also has an outlet at Plymouth’s Royal William Yard.
Five Guys and Paradise Island Adventure Golf, which has created 10 jobs, are new to Plymouth.
Council leader Tudor Evans said The Barcode will be significant for the city and added: “This will transform Plymouth.”
He added: “It’s really important for Plymouth and show confidence in Plymouth. It’s important for the city centre, where shops are, buses are, and people are.
“It’s a unique combination of facilities that will be welcomed by the community and visitors. People will come from all over the region for the third largest IMAX screen in the country and for a 4DX cinema.”
With Drake Circus Shopping Centre extending its opening hours, Cllr Evans said it would mean the city is now an evening destination.
“We have talked about ‘alive after five’ and now we have the attractions we need to make that a reality,” he said.
