Jade Wallis presides over one of the most unique FECs in the UK, effectively a seaside arcade but 60 miles from the nearest coast.
The intriguing location is at Littleborough, close to Rochdale, where the reservoir is overlooked by a string of hospitality outlets, pubs, restaurants and B&Bs - plus one arcade.
Thousands of people from around the area head for Hollingworth Lake to walk the 2.25 miles of footpath around its edges and stop at one of the businesses that gives the attraction such a unique setting.
Wallis’ Leisure, the latest version of what was once Wallis’ Amusements, is now in the hands of its fourth generation of family members.
Jade Wallis is carrying on the family tradition of catering for the locals and day-trippers and building on the business’ reputation for being very much a part of the local community.
“My great-grandparents, William Willis Wallis and his wife Sally, were travellers who recognised the potential of the location and bought the arcade.
"At that time it was a showroom for Whittaker Brothers, the manufacturers of penny pushers and kiddie rides. It was tiny, only 16ft by 30ft, but they extended it over the years.”
Subsequently, Jade’s grandparents, John and Marilyn, took it over and then their son, Matthew, in 1993. Jade is Matthew’s daughter and took control of the business three years ago with plans to expand it still more.
Now the arcade is twice the size, has an ice cream parlour attached and a cafeteria, all refurbised and remodelled by professional interial design specialists. It also has several flats above.
The arcade remains the foundation of the business and is constantly being kept right up to date.
“We just had delivery of two new games from UDC,” said Jade, who reported that the best game in the location currently was the UDC Tornado, the two-player pusher that Wallis’ customers "absolutely love."
Close by, however, there is the evergreen Big Bass Wheel, which Jade said had given ROI many times over.
The location remains committed to coins, but has contactless payment facilities. There are 55 games and change machines, nearly all ticket redemption, including some closed loop pushers.
“We have a very small, partitioned over-18s section, policed by the adjoining cash desk, with just five Category C machines,” said Jade.
The Littleborough Wallis’ are part of a much wider Showland family, with extended roots into the wider hospitality industry and arcades in Morecambe, Rhyl and Southport.
They also live locally and form very much an integral part of the local community which regards their enterprise an essential service to day-trippers, walkers and locals, 364 days a year. “We only close on Christmas day,” said Jade.
The picture shows Jade with father Matthew, who these days carries out some of the back office functions, but leaves the running of the business to his daughter.
