LATE night mini-golf and bowling could be on offer at a £50 million leisure complex in Colchester, if a licence application is approved.

The Original Bowling Company Limited has applied to Colchester Council for a premises licence for the Northern Gateway Leisure site in the town.

The firm is set to operate both a Hollywood Bowl bowling alley and a Puttstars mini-golf centre on the site once it is complete, in 2022 or 2023.

According to the licence application, the firm wants permission to play films, indoor sporting events, live and recorded music, and host performances of dance indoors between 9.30am and 1.30am Sunday to Thursday.

On Friday and Saturday hours would be extended to 9.30am and 3am. Alcohol would also be sold between these hours.

The licence application also wants permission to service late night refreshments between 11pm and 2am Sunday to Thursday and 11pm to 3am Friday and Saturday.

The Northern Gateway leisure complex features a 12-screen Cineworld cinema with Superscreen and 4DX capabilities, seven restaurants, three leisure units - mini-golf, bowling and a climbing centre - and two drive-thru eateries.

A 90-bed hotel, set to be run by Travelodge, is also set to be built as well as a 750-space car park.

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Ward councillor Gerard Oxford said he expected the complex to be a big hit with families.

He said: “It is a really different offering from what else is out there and we have had good feedback from residents, particularly about the climbing wall.

“Personally I see it being particularly popular with families. The offering appears to be very family orientated and I think that is where the developer is aiming.

“Bev and I will certainly be taking our grandchildren and great-grandchild there once it opens.

“A big plus is it will have its own multi-storey car park which is just off the A12, meaning it shouldn’t bring a lot more traffic in to Highwoods.”

He added: “There is nothing else at all like this in Colchester.”

Colchester Council’s firm Amphora is project managing the scheme.

A walkway will link the new homes with the site in a bid to encourage sustainable transport use.

The Gazette contacted The Original Bowling Company but did not receive a response by the time of going to press.