Chris Oldland has big plans for the old Hart’s Amusements on the Promenade at Bispham, near Blackpool, UK.
The popular arcade closed down at the beginning of the year and was subsequently bought by Bispham Kitchens.
However, Oldland, who has Treasure Island at Cleveleys and the well-known redemption and plush supplier ITM Leisure, based at nearby Kirkham, has leased the premises and reopened it only two weeks ago.
Now he has already started to work on the big arcade, reducing the size of the amusements area, but adding more redemption and separating part of the floor area for a new prize bar.
“Everyone has their own idea of what they should do with a business,” said Oldland. “It is like buying a house; you always have your own ideas on what you can do with it.”
First off, some alterations and to take on more machine technicians - "applications please! - he said - and then a new name.
Hart’s was well known and much-loved in the town, but Oldland wants to rebrand it. He has opened it up to suggestions from the local community and expects to have a new name in place as the holiday season begins.
Oldland is working with Lee Stefani at Bispham in the new venture; Lee is a member of the Stefani family that ran Harbour Lights at Fleetwood for many years.
“We’ve made quite a few changes to the floor plan,” said Oldland, “but we think that it will improve the footfall here substantially.”
Chris Oldland grew up in the amusement industry. His father, Dennis, worked at the Pleasure Beach in Blackpool for 30 years and Chris joined him for some time before a stint in the police force. Then it was back to his first love and the arcades business.
“We built up ITM Leisure as a supplier to the industry,” he said, “but we had our own arcades in Blackpool, at Southport Pleasureland and at Cleveleys - we still operate the latter.”
He will be joined in the new operation by his wife, Cheryl, who is also involved in ITM. The picture shows Lee Stefani (left) with Chris Oldland.
