Mini Golf and Games Venue for Former Restaurant and Nightclub

Published on: 17 Sep, 2024
Updated on: 18 Sep, 2024

Former nightclub entrance (shown as Slice) left, and TGI Friday’s entrance on the right. Photo GBC/Adventure Leisure Limited

By Emily Dalton

local democracy reporter

A brand new entertainment venue is coming to Guildford. Plans for a Mr Mulligan’s adventure themed mini golf have been approved on North Street.

The new golfing spot will be in the former TGI Friday’s and former Slice nightclub unit in the heart of Guildford town centre. The venue will have two nine-hole courses with various props, putting greens and sand bunkers for themed adventures.

Guildford Borough Council (GBC) has approved Adventure Leisure Limited’s plans to join two empty units into a crazy golf-led leisure venue. The two units are part of Dolphin House in the town centre, neighbouring Turtle Bay, Dreams and a hair salon.

Mr Mulligan’s, the entertainment venue chain, operates 15 other themed crazy golf and other gaming arcades all over the country. Guildford will be the second Surrey site, joining the pirate-themed adventure golf course in Woking.

The crazy golf courses will be built around the proposed dining and drinking options across the basement and ground floor. Other games will also be available for customers to use before or after their golf rounds. Planning documents state the venue will be similar to the Mr Mulligan’s in Milton Keynes, which features crazy golf, electro-darts, pool and rebound shuffleboard.

Not only are customers invited to play games, they can watch sports as well. Between six and eight televisions screening sky sports and sporting events like golf championships will be available in the lounge area, according to planning documents.

Licensing documents indicate Mr Mulligan’s could be open as early as December 1 this year, just in time for Christmas. Although the theme for the mini golf course has not been announced, other adventure concepts include dinosaurs, fairground and space.

The self-described “family-friendly” venue will be open from 10am- midnight, with all ages welcome 10am-8pm every day. The venue will be over 18’s only between 8pm and midnight, to cater towards the late night entertainment industry in the town centre.

Although planning permission has been approved, the venue’s licensing application is still to be considered. Alcoholic drinks are proposed to be served until 11pm so the venue can close by midnight, according to planning documents. But Adventure Leisure Ltd has also applied to sell alcohol from 11pm-1.30am every day, and until 5am on New Year’s day.

Planning documents detail that the joint-venue has a capacity of 400 people. But around 60 per cent of customers book timed mini golf slots in advance. “Because of this staggered entry and exit times there is considerably less impact on the nearby residential uses,” the planning statement said.

No external alterations were proposed in the application but customers will enter through the former nightclub doors on the basement, with TGI Friday’s doors retained as a fire exit only. The two units will be connected by the internal staircase and lift.