New details released about £10m plans for former Debenhams store

New details have been revealed about a new £10m entertainment venue coming to Liverpool ONE.

Following the closure of the former Debenhams store at the Lord Street centre, the shopping complex’s co-owner Grosvenor won planning permission from Liverpool Council to develop an indoor electric go-kart circuit and leisure facilities in the upper levels last February. Announcing Gravity Activity Entertainment as the operator of the new facility, Grosvenor said in April 2022 it had hoped the leisure attraction, which could include bowling and an indoor golf centre alongside the go-kart track, would seek to open in the last three months of that year.

It is now expected the venue will open its doors to the paying public this summer. Ahead of that, Gravity has sought to secure an alcohol licence and has lodged an application with Liverpool Council.

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The company has applied to the local authority to operate between 7am and midnight from Sunday to Thursday and 7am to 2am Friday and Saturday. Gravity would supply alcohol from 10am to midnight four days a week, extending to 2am at weekends.

Live music would be played from 10am to midnight every day, with recorded music from 7am to midnight and 2am each Friday and Saturday. The 100,000 sq ft space will play host to a variety of attractions across two floors of the building which had been home to one of Liverpool ONE’s flagship anchor stores since its opening in 2008.

A Liverpool Council planning committee hearing last year was told “extensive marketing” had been undertaken by Grosvenor, who had been unable to find a retailer willing to take the whole unit.