Man behind entertainment centre says 'nothing like it in Ireland'

The main man behind Athlone's new €2.5m entertainment centre says there is “nothing like it in Ireland” as he prepares to open its doors in early December.

In a post on Facebook on Monday evening, Elevate Entertainment Centre confirmed the launch will take place on Friday, December 3, and Colm Wright says he has a mixture of “excitement, nerves and pressure all coming at once” as the date nears.

Work on the re-development of the old Texas shopping centre site in Irishtown has been ongoing for more than a year now, and he says getting to this point has been a three-year process in total.

While the opening is later than he expected due to Covid-19, and the restrictions in sourcing products, Colm is excited to be the first in the UK and Ireland to offer electric go-karting, saying that people will not believe the “power and torque” they offer.

Also opening in the first phase is an Airsoft shooting range, axe throwing, something he describes “as like throwing darts with an axe”, virtual reality laser tag, a PlayStation 5 room, virtual reality gaming, party rooms and a conference room for corporate clients.

“It's exciting and I'm nervous at the same time. I'm just really looking forward to getting the doors open and I can't wait to see people's reaction,” Colm explains, adding that the level of detail in the former shopping centre building which has been shelled and reconfigured is second to none. In this regard, he is full of praise for two local firms Stephen Kearns from Volt Electrical Services and Spectrum Signs for their hard work and creativity.

Elevate Entertainment is promising there is much more to come in early 2022 as Colm explains that the offering will be “constantly changing and upgraded” as new products become available.

While he was hoping to open the roller disco in the first phase, there is a current supply issue in sourcing the roller skates, something he hopes will change very soon.

The Roscrea native, who has over 20 years in the industry having run karting facilities in Cork and Limerick, explains that he didn't intend to announce the opening so early but such was the level of interest and calls daily, he felt compelled to do so now.

“In all my years I've never had such a positive response. I'm so excited. The fact we're in Athlone in the centre of the country is such a boost,” he says, explaining that they will initially occupy around 60,000 square feet over two floors in the centre.

“There is nothing like it in Ireland as a whole,” he says, adding they will offer so many facilities under one roof. “It's (unique) because we have the variety of offering and the fact we are in the middle of the town. Go-karts are usually in an industrial estate or on the edge of a town, and there is nothing wrong with that, but to get this (building) on the town centre doorstep is brilliant,” he tells the Westmeath Independent.

Athlone was his first choice for a go-karting venue over 20 years ago, but he was unable to get a suitable premises in the town at that time.

The centre, which will be fully cashless, will bring people of all ages into the town,he predicts, with a huge amount of inquiries already from corporate clients, hen and stag parties, those associated withthe colleges and families.

Once fully operational, Colm expects the centre to employ up to 40 people, but for the opening it will be closer to 20.

There will be an age limit of over 12s for the go-karting and axe throwing.