Major plans revealed to transform shopping centre into huge entertainment centre

Ryan O'Neill

22 May 2024 at 6:44 am·2-min read

The Capitol Shopping Centre is set to be partly transformed into a huge indoor entertainment centre -Credit:John Myers

A Cardiff shopping centre is set to be partly transformed into a huge indoor entertainment centre. The major plans would see part of the Capitol Shopping Centre on Queen Street turned into a bustling entertainment complex with bowling, karting, virtual reality games and sports bars.

According to the plans submitted by NewRiver Retail, the north-east side of the ground floor, first floor and basement of the Capitol centre would have its shopfronts demolished and replaced along with a new covered outdoor seating area.

If the plans are approved, the area of the centre towards Station Terrace will be converted into an indoor entertainment centre by leisure company Gravity, which runs a number of entertainment centres in the UK including its huge £10m Gravity MAX in Liverpool which opened in 2023. Its Cardiff site would be its first in Wales.

Gravity's proposals for the Capitol include e-karting involving electric karts, virtual reality facilities, indoor golf, I-Combat, karaoke, darts, electric gamebox, bowling, a family entertainment centre, a sports bar and refreshment areas. The plans include covered outdoor seating areas on the Queen Street side of the centre near the main entrance of the shopping centre. The existing canopy would be retained and repainted black and a new canopy built on the side near Station Terrace.

An artist's impression of the new Gravity entertainment centre at the Capitol Shopping Centre -Credit:Townscape Architects

A vacant unit at the Capitol on Queen Street -Credit:John Myers

The plans would also improve the frontages of the units on Queen Street and Station Terrace to make them more visible and improve footfall to the Capitol, which has seen a number of high-profile proposals fall by the wayside in recent years.

Queen Street was once Cardiff's main shopping area but has been hit with antisocial behaviour issues and an increase in vacant units. Last year plans for a new food court at the Capitol, which promised all-day dining and retail as well as 100 jobs, were dropped to the dismay of local traders. You can read more about the issues facing Queen Street here. Last year saw the historic Dock Feeder Canal off Queen Street reopened after months of work as part of efforts to revive that part of the city. You can read more about that here.

Planning documents from Cooke & Arkwright say the vacant Capitol units have received "little interest from potential retail and leisure occupiers" other than from short term tenants or retailers. While some of the units will be kept for retail and shops, the documents say Gravity "has the potential to draw new visitors to the city centre" and "enhance the vitality, viability and attractiveness of the city centre."

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