Roxy Leisure to reopen 'booze and ball games' venues from 1 August
Roxy Leisure delayed the reopening of Roxy Ball Room Boar Lane, Roxy Ball Room Merrion Street, Roxy Lanes Bond Street and Roxy Arcade Merrion Street beyond the possible 4 July restart date in a bid to ensure guests are provided with a Covid-secure environment that doesn't dilute its offer.
However, while the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) stated that pubs opening on 4 July should discourage customers from playing indoor sports, Roxy Leisure’s announcement means that its four venues in Leeds will reopen almost a month later on the same day as social darts concept Flight Club’s venues.
According to the operator, entrances to all four sites resuming trade on 1 August will feature sanitising stations, where visitors will be required to clean their hands before being seated at their pre-booked table and ordering via a QR code on their table.
What’s more, it states all tables and gaming areas, machines and alleys must be pre-booked in advance and will be thoroughly cleaned between bookings to ensure staff and customer safety.
Hand sanitiser stations will also be readily available in each venue with disposable gloves available on request.
“The generous size of each venue has meant little has changed as far as layout is concerned and all ball games, from bowling and crazy golf, to pool and table tennis, will return,” the operator said.
Curve ball
Founded in 2013 by Leeds-based Matt and Ben Jones, Roxy Leisure currently operates nine venues under its Roxy Ball Room and Roxy Lanes brands.
Since opening its first venue in Leeds, Roxy Leisure has unveiled further venues across Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and Leeds offering pool tables, table tennis, bowling, shuffleboard, mini-golf, arcade gaming and karaoke, however these won’t reopen on 1 August.
"To say 2020 threw us a curve ball would be an understatement, but in true Roxy style, we’ve accepted the challenge and are bouncing back to our best,” Roxy Leisure’s brand development manager, Joel Mitchell, said.
“We’re thrilled to be reopening on 1 August and have been working hard to ensure our venues are clean and safe, without taking away any of the fun.
"We could’ve come back on 4 July, but we wanted to get it right first time and have our venues and team prepped and ready to smash it.
“If your summer has felt a little washed out so far, I’m confident a trip to one of our Leeds venues will put a spring back in your step.
“We’re also excited to be offering booking slots for beer pong for the first time, which regulars have been requesting since we opened. We can’t wait to welcome the people of Yorkshire back”
