£1m investment announced for Merry Hill

MUSEUM design and display business Paragon Entertainment is to invest £1m developing a new visitor attraction in Dudley.

York-based Paragon will create ‘Quest’ at the Merry Hill shopping centre, operated by Westfield.

It has agreed a series of leases covering 20,000 sq ft at the centre which will see up to five separate attractions opened, starting in November.

Paragon has previously been known for designing interiors and buidling displays for other operators but has ambitions to run its own attractions.

Chief executive Mark Pyrah said: “Since Paragon was admitted to AIM in December 2011, the design, build and operation of proprietary and licensed branded attractions has been one of our core strategic priorities. We are therefore delighted to have not only secured our first site but to have been able to agree a site large enough to support a number of unique attractions, creating a comprehensive leisure destination.

“We are also very excited to open our first proprietary attractions within a Westfield site and we look forward to developing this relationship over the coming years.”

The Merry Hill shopping centre attracts 23 million visits a year to its 250 stores.

Bill Giouroukos, director of operations for Westfield, said: “We are excited to welcome Paragon into our Merry Hill Shopping Centre and look forward to working closely together.

“Westfield is committed to providing activities that enhance the customer experience and make our centres real destinations. Paragon has outlined a unique and innovative offering to place within Merry Hill, which further establishes the centre as a family centric leisure destination.”