City of Wolverhampton Council has granted planning approval for Catella APAM to deliver a new leisure hub at the Mander Centre that will be anchored by Superbowl UK’s new venue.

It will enable an estimated £500,000 of landlord works to be completed by Catella APAM’s sustainable retrofit and principal contracting business, Vantage, on the 17,000 sq. ft. space across multiple units.

Superbowl UK, renowned for its premier entertainment and leisure experiences, will establish a new mixed-use concept venue, featuring 12 bowling lanes, Crazy Club Soft Play area, interactive darts, a bar and diner, and SEGA Prize Zone Arcade, which will open in early 2025.

Superbowl UK’s new mixed-use concept creates a vibrant leisure hub on Victoria Arcade and Victoria Street, building on the council’s recent transformation works to pedestrianise Victoria Street.

Superbowl UK’s exciting plans to bring this empty retail space back to life align to the council’s vision for the city centre - based on better connectivity, more homes, jobs, skills and learning opportunities and investment in the visitor economy - and demonstrates how town and city centre retail can be adapted to create a more vibrant city centre.

The benefits of this approach are already showing with independent tourism STEAM data highlighting an increase of visitors to the city from 9.8 million to over 10 million last year.

Councillor Chris Burden, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills, said: “This is exactly the type of new development our extensive works on Victoria Street were designed to attract and it will be great to see works starting on site soon now that planning approval has been granted.

“The scheme provides a major boost to the city centre’s leisure offer for residents and visitors, creates jobs for local people, increases footfall and dwell time to support current and emerging businesses, and complements plans coming forward for major regeneration around the Market Square area in partnership with the ECF.

“The Superbowl UK investment, will ensure the currently vacant retail space will be occupied, boosting the local economy, and creating 30 new job opportunities for residents, including management positions and guest experience hosts.

“The development will also serve as a catalyst for further investment, and the council continues to work with Catella APAM on attracting other new leisure and food and beverage occupiers, to capitalise on their confidence in the city.”

Harry Wilce, Asset Manager at Catella APAM, said: “We are delighted to welcome Superbowl UK to the Mander Centre as the main anchor for our leisure offer to improve the customer offer at the centre and extend the operating hours, generating significant increase in footfall for the city centre.”