Armidale is set to gain an expanded entertainment destination, with new attractions and local employment opportunities planned as The Alley Entertainment Centre prepares to take over the city’s bowling and family entertainment venue.
The change of ownership is expected at the end of September, ahead of the school holidays, with the existing venue to progressively transition to The Alley Entertainment Centre brand.
The company is planning a major refurbishment and expansion, potentially bringing an upgraded bowling offering, larger arcade, escape rooms, private karaoke, digital darts and a dedicated function and event space to Armidale.
The Alley is also preparing to recruit additional local junior staff ahead of the changeover, with further employment opportunities expected as the venue develops.
The existing Armidale team will remain an important part of the operation during the transition.
The Alley is owned by Mark Vernon and Kerryn Duncan, who operate an entertainment centre in Devonport, Tasmania, and are developing another venue in Port Pirie, South Australia.
Vernon said the Armidale site offered significant potential to create a broader entertainment destination for the city and New England region.
“Armidale already has an established venue, an existing team and a customer base that knows the business, so our first priority is making sure the transition is smooth and that people can continue enjoying the venue,” he said.
“But we also see enormous potential in the site. We intend to develop a major refurbishment plan that can transform the venue into a much broader entertainment destination for Armidale and the wider New England region.
“That could include upgrading and expanding the bowling offering, a much larger arcade, escape rooms, private karaoke, digital darts and potentially a dedicated function and event space, along with other new entertainment concepts as the plans develop.
“We’ve got a big building to work with and that gives us a lot of possibilities. We want to look at what has worked at our other venues, but also create something that makes sense specifically for Armidale. We’ll spend some time after takeover getting to know the venue, talking to the team and listening to the community, and that will help shape the refurbishment and what ultimately becomes part of it.”
The company’s expansion follows the redevelopment of its original Devonport venue, where Vernon and Duncan transformed a traditional bowling alley into a broader entertainment and community hub incorporating arcade entertainment, food and beverage, functions, events and live entertainment.
Vernon said the experience showed the potential for entertainment venues in regional communities.
“When we started in Devonport, we saw much more potential than just a traditional bowling alley,” Vernon said.
“We wanted to create somewhere that people had a reason to visit regularly — whether that was for bowling, a birthday, a meal, an event, live entertainment or simply somewhere to catch up with friends. What we learned is that regional communities absolutely support quality entertainment when you give them something that feels contemporary, local and genuinely part of their community.”
Duncan said the company wanted the Armidale venue to become a place used by people across the community.
“We really enjoy operating in regional communities because these venues can become much more than somewhere to go bowling,” Duncan said. “They’re places where kids have birthday parties, teenagers meet their friends, businesses bring their teams together and families make memories.
“Our experience in Devonport has shown us what can happen when you keep investing in a venue and listening to the community around it, and we’re excited about the opportunity to do that again in Armidale.”
The company plans to spend time after the takeover consulting with staff and listening to the Armidale community before finalising the refurbishment and determining which new attractions will be included.
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