Last month, the Wisbech Standard and Cambs Times reported on how Cambridgeshire County Council had applied for planning permission for a change of use for the former Frankie and Benny’s premises at Unit 3, located next to The Light Cinema in Wisbech.
The council owns the building and said it was in talks with a company to provide an indoor mini-golf facility. It looks like the authority is hoping the new facility will explode onto the leisure scene in Wisbech, with the suggestion it will be named Volcano Valley Crazy-golf and Darts Bar.
A planning statement submitted alongside the application drawn up by Carter Jonas explains that while it is envisaged the restaurant will be used for indoor golf, the county council is seeking a change of use to a category that will give it more flexibility “to optimise potential re-use of the unit in the future”.
A line drawing on the window of Unit 3 next door to The Light Cinema in Wisbech suggests the new mini-golf facility looking to occupy the premises will be called Volcano Valley. (Image: Newsquest staff)
Unit 3 has been vacant since the closure of Frankie and Benny’s in 2023 and has been marketed as a restaurant without success.
The statement said: “It has been actively marketed during this period, but there has been no committed interest to date.
“Commercial agents report that the low levels of demand are attributable to poor footfall and the lack of customer demand during lunch hours and weekdays.”
The statement adds that the type of change of use being sought will allow the premises to revert to an eatery should there be a demand in the future.
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A line drawing on the window of Unit 3 next door to The Light Cinema in Wisbech suggests the new mini-golf facility looking to occupy the premises will be called Volcano Valley. (Image: Newsquest staff)
The sign drawn on the window of Unit 3 also says the new mini-golf facility will be “opening soon in 2026”.
The county council’s statement said: “Re-use of a vacant unit would create social and economic benefits to residents (new jobs, new leisure experience) and the local authority (collection of business rates, improving business/investment confidence).
“It will assist in increasing footfall around the Cromwell Leisure Park, particularly for the evening and weekend economies.
“The proposal will ensure that a vacant commercial unit in a prominent location is restored to a viable use, helping to lower vacancy rates and visual decline/perception of failure.”
