A NEW venue offering horror-themed and escape room virtual reality experiences is set to open in Weymouth.
Player Ready is due to open in Jeffrey House, in Maiden Street, on April 10 for a soft launch, with plans to start taking bookings from April 17 (Easter Sunday).
The virtual reality gaming experience includes escape rooms, laser tag, sim-racing, a zombie mode, and acts as a party venue.
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It will be the fifth instalment of the Player Ready franchise, following launches in Cornwall, Plymouth, Portsmouth and Taunton - and is set to bring more jobs to the area.
Founder for Player Ready Weymouth, Stephen Parkinson said: "The headsets have dozens of games including escape rooms and zombie experiences.
"We're doing a soft launch on April 10 and taking bookings from April 17 officially.
"It will be a permanent fixture throughout the year in Weymouth town centre.
"We will have 16 virtual reality setups, which can be used for a range of content from family-friendly games and horror zombie experiences, laser tag, and educational content.
"The headsets allow up to six players to take part in immersive escape rooms such as Alice in Wonderland or horror-themed Escape Rooms like House of Fear."
The venue will be open during the afternoon and evenings from Monday to Friday for special events, school, and group visits, and will be open during the weekends and school holidays.
The first Player Ready was started by Mr Parkinson, originally mean just as a pop-up venue in Summer 2018 in Cornwall.
Mr Parkinson said: "Demand was huge, which led to Player Ready debuting at its first major event in Thorpe Park’s GameFX in 2019.
"The response on local Facebook groups confirmed Weymouth was a good choice and we worked quickly to open during the Easter holidays. The venue is a permanent one and will operate all year round, bringing with it six jobs.
"There will be one full-time manager's job all year round, then three part-time jobs during the weekends and holidays. During the summer we will add two more positions.
"We will be offering discounted plans for locals. Plus later in the year, we plan to launch ‘Ready Academies’ which will utilise our quieter times to offer kids clubs and educational training around coding and gaming such as a Minecraft Club."
Dorset Chamber chief executive, Ian Girling said: "It's very encouraging to see a new venture launch in Weymouth town centre.
"These types of experienced-based offerings bring something new to the high street and will play an important part in reinventing our town centres for the future.
"It's great to see a national chain choose to locate in Weymouth and I wish them the very best for their opening in April."
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