First look at huge new entertainment venue inside former Coventry Debenhams store

A first look inside the huge new entertainment’s venue inside the former Debenhams store in Coventry city centre. have been revealed. Plans for ‘The Smithford Social’ inside West Orchards were first revealed back in 2022.

Now a new application has been submitted to the city council in relation to the huge development, which was first mooted back in October 2021. Planning permission was officially granted in July last year and within the new proposal, it shows the lay-out of the new entertainment’s venue.

It is known that it will play home to a number of activities from tenpin bowling to adventure golf, augmented reality darts and shuffleboard. The application explains that it will be open from 9am until 1am, Monday to Sunday.

“The venue will also provide a bar and seating areas for customers to socialise before and after their scheduled activity,” the application explains. “The proposed unit (formally Debenhams) is located at second floor level in West Orchards Shopping Centre,Coventry and is situated above several retail premises and a Job Centre.

“The area where the bowling alleys are penned to be situated are situated directly above a Job Centre, theSeating Area will be located above Toy Town, the Darts and Shuttle Areas will be positioned above a Peacocks and the Mini Golf area is sited above Yours (clothes shop) and Footasylum.

“There are no sensitive premises adjacent to the unit in question and the site sits below the third-floor car park for West Orchards Shopping Centre.”

The layout of the new ‘The Smithford Social’ in part of the former Debenhams store in Coventry city centre

The latest application asks for the go-ahead for a non-material amendment in regards plans/noise/vibration. It follows a noise impact assessment taking place as well as acoustic advice in relation to the venue.

This includes the impact of the sound of bowling balls being dropped and thrown as well as the falling of pins in the proposed bowling alley. The details of the assessment are within the planning application.

This can be looked at on the council’s website, searching in the planning applications section, for reference PL/2024/0000237/NMA.

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