A North Tyneside bowling alley has unveiled plans for an outdoor winter party zone with firepits, tipi-style bars and themed party nights.
Gutterball, which opened at the Royal Quays in North Shields last year, is two weeks away from opening its Lost In Wintertown experience, complete with plans to host a Christmas pantomime in a 200-seater covered arena called the MegaDome.
The project is the brainchild of Gutterball and Lane7 boutique bowling alley owner Tim Wilks and fellow North East leisure entrepreneur Nigel Holliday, who have come together with a plan to bring fun back into families’ lives after swathes of entertainment fall by the wayside amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Lost In Wintertown will be home to fairground rides, North East street food vendors, firepits, a tipi-style bar area, giant yurt and the MegaDome arena.
The arena is poised to host a range of performances including the pantomime Aladdin, performed by i-Stage theatre company, Disney-themed singalong events by Let It Snow Productions and nighttime party nights featuring Queen, ABBA and Beyonce tribute acts plus live singers, DJs and comedians.
Mr Wilks said: “With all kinds of family-oriented fun, pantomimes and work Christmas parties being cancelled this year due to Covid, we want to inject some much needed festivity back into the calendar. “Crucially, this will be done in a safe and secure way in the lead up to Christmas and beyond. We all need something to look forward to right now!”
Mr Holliday added: “Lost in Wintertown brings together a range of key attractions from all of those things people are going to miss most this winter, not least in the run up to Christmas.
“As two operators with a long history in leisure, and recent experiences of operating leisure businesses during the pandemic, we will be strict on maintaining all appropriate safety measures.”
Lost In Wintertown is also supporting Cash for Kids with a contribution from the ticket sales going to the charity.
Dependent on appropriate Covid restrictions, it will open from December 4 into 2021.
Gutterball, which has indoor bowling, arcades, mini golf and other attractions will also be open throughout.
Mr Wilks added: “We have everything crossed that the current lockdown will have worked sufficiently to allow us all to emerge with positivity on December 2, in a way that will enable us all to celebrate Christmas with a few more of the traditional things we love about the season.”
Tickets for shows and details on full attractions can be found at www.lostinwintertown.co.uk or by following @LostInWintertown on Instagram and by searching Lost In Wintertown on Facebook.
