Entertainment venue launches in former House of Fraser store

Leisure and cinema operator The Light, which was backed by Luke Johnson of Risk Capital Partners in October 2024, has officially opened its latest venue in Huddersfield, creating another 90 jobs.

The Light, which has also received a large facility from Barclays, enabling the company to invest over £15m in the next couple of years, says it has ambitious plans for further expansion.

The Light Huddersfield, within the Kingsgate Shopping Centre, has turned an old House of Fraser into a cinema and entertainment destination, over three floors and 70,000 sq ft.

It includes an indoor high ropes challenge, Star Quest Laser, an interactive football experience, mini-golf course with an animatronic dinosaur and a bowling alley.

The Light says its Huddersfield launch is a milestone in the business’s transition from being a traditional cinema provider to a diversified entertainment operator.

This model is designed to help repurpose large under-used spaces as well as transforming under-performing cinemas.

James Morris, The Light CEO, said: “Huddersfield is the latest evolution of our entertainment model, which is continuing to deliver exciting results.

“With the backing of Risk Capital and Barclays, we now have the ability to accelerate our growth, which will help to re-purpose other spaces and cinemas across the UK, providing landlords and developers with a unique and commercially attractive solution, protecting cinema, re-imagining spaces and delighting customers.

“We are happy to have been able to transform the House of Fraser in partnership with Kirklees Council and the Kingsgate Shopping Centre to create one of the most exciting indoor entertainment venues in the UK, and are immensely proud to be part of the regeneration of such an amazing town.”

Duncan Irvine, relationship director, Barclays Corporate Banking, added: “We are pleased to have been able to support The Light with this new facility and are excited to be part of their ambitious plans for the years ahead.

“This lending further exemplifies Barclays’ ongoing commitment to help clients to invest for their future and support economic prosperity across the UK.”