Support voiced for entertainment venue plans above new Blind Tiger bar as council decision looms

A leisure activities business is planned for the first floor of the Blind Tiger Taproom and Kitchen which opened earlier this year on Ham Lane, near Ferry Meadows.

It would be run as a self-contained business by Tom Owen of No Work Club Peterborough Ltd if plans are approved by Peterborough City Council.

An initial planning application from Mr Owen — which offered activities such as axe throwing, escape rooms and crazy golf — was refused by the council in August because officers felt it would “introduce a main town centre use in an out of centre location without sufficient justification”.

Mr Owen resubmitted these plans on October 7 and included extensive sequential testing and a leisure impact assessment, which revealed that no other sites in the city would be suitable and there were already similar businesses operating in the city centre.

Ward councillor Kirsty Knight claimed a decision on the planning application would not be made until the new year and called on council planning officers to grant permission.

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “Residents across the Ortons are looking forward to finally having an indoor family leisure facility right on their doorstep.

“At the moment, the area has none, despite welcoming Caravan Club visitors 365 days a year who also need local activities.

“This project is a chance to bring something fresh, fun and long overdue to the Ortons. The community hopes planning officers listen to local voices and give this application the green light in the new year.”

A spokesperson for Peterborough City Council said: “The application is still under consideration and will be determined in due course.”

Mr Owen previously said that his business had already spent tens of thousands of pounds on props for the escape rooms, golf course and axe lanes — as well as paying hundreds of pounds a month to store them.

His latest planning application stated: “The proposed will contribute to the variety of facilities on offer in the Orton area and particularly for visitors to Ferry Meadows Country Park. The site is already a destination for recreation and leisure activities including golf, garden centre, pub and restaurant.

“The development will provide additional jobs and will therefore contribute to social and economic sustainability, especially the Ferry Meadows offer to its visitors. Additionally, the proposal will complement other leisure uses both in the local vicinity and in the city.”

Blind Tiger Taproom and Kitchen, owned by Neil Treliving, opened in Nene Park in the summer.

Last month, it was revealed that Mr Treliving’s city centre Blind Tiger bar would close down so he could focus on the new venue.

The new taproom, which has a growing following locally in Orton Waterville, in addition to serving golfers from the neighbouring course and visitors to Nene Park, occupies the ground floor of the former cycle shop building.