Arcade business to create new jobs with expansion plan

A company says it is investing thousands of pounds into creating a new entertainment centre in Lincoln in a move that will create 10 jobs.

Chartered surveyor Banks Long & Co has brokered a deal with the owners of The Arcade Warehouse, leasing its a former retail showroom in Dixon Street.

Encouraged by the early success of their Scunthorpe Warehouse launched earlier this year, managing director Caton Airey and fellow Director Dan Rees, said the 6,097 sq ft building, is ideal for the family fun venue.

The pair plan to install more than 100 machines, plus a café and bar, serving hot food and both alcoholic and non-alcohol beverages.

Airey and Rees, who also run an IT company and spend a lot of time in the Lincoln area, are hoping to launch the new gaming centre in February but, if further restrictions are imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic, that could be delayed until nearer April.

“We have watched how Lincoln has grown in popularity as a University city, serving more than 15,000 students, as well as a lively shopping and tourist destination. Lincoln also has a great catchment area and continues to attract major investors,” said Airey.

“We are thrilled with the Dixon Street premises, which we will be configuring to accommodate an amazing selection of Retro-gaming and Esports machines, including pool tables, driving and shooting challenges, touchscreen games and those using virtual reality technology.

“We aim to appeal to all ages, from young people right through to the over-Seventies and we will be open seven-days-a-week, although we still have to decide the exact opening hours,” he added.

The Arcade Warehouse will have the capacity to host parties and be available for private hire. People will pay an entrance fee, then be free to play on all the individual machines.

Rees said: “What we also want to do is to connect and work with other leisure providers in the city so that, together, we can offer a fantastic choice of fun activities for everyone and benefit from what each of us offer.”

Caton and Dan are also the brains behind the Scunthorpe-based IT support company PCSC UK and already employ eleven people across their two sites in that town.

Banks Long & Co Director James Butcher said: “As a busy, well-known commercial property agency, and a proud Team Lincolnshire Ambassador, we are passionate about encouraging new businesses to discover how much Lincoln has to offer both inward investors and expanding local firms.

“We are pleased to see that this is continuing despite the impact of the pandemic and bodes well for the City as we start to hopefully get back to something like normality early next year.

“We are delighted to have let the Dixon Street showroom to Caton and Dan and we wish them much success over the months and years ahead.”