SNEAK PEAK: Excitement voiced over plans for new Inverness city centre games-themed bar venture – with spring opening date pencilled in

Innovative plans to open a four-storey games bar complex in Inverness city centre have received a hugely positive response on social media.

As we revealed on Wednesday, business partners Taran Campbell and David Montgomery want to redevelop 27-31 Academy Street and Queensgate’s former Highland Hospice shop.

Together, the pub and restaurant development – to be named Playback – would cover four floors, including two roof terraces and a basement, while creating up to 30 jobs.

If the planning application is approved, Mr Campbell is hopeful the ambitious venture could be up and running in late spring or early summer.

The entrepreneurs’ concept taps into the hot trend of “competitive socialising”, allowing revellers to enjoy an array of pursuits from axe-throwing in a special supervised safety cage, shuffleboard and beer pong to more traditional games like darts, pool and table-tennis.

RELATED: Four-storey bar bid is 'vote of confidence' in Inverness city centre

There would be three bars on different levels and self-service beer taps.

The venture, if approved by Highland planners, would represent a significant regenerative investment at a site left vacant after the closure of Ponden Home Interiors a couple of years ago.

Speaking exclusively to the Courier yesterday, Mr Campbell - who, with Mr Montgomery, launched and runs Infinity Trampoline Park outlets in Cardiff and Inverness - described the planned investment as a vote of confidence in his home city.

Reacting on Facebook, Janice Smith said: “This is such an exciting venture, not only for locals but tourism.

“The city needs to offer more diverse venues and encourage people of all ages to enjoy a day/night out that is fun and keep Inverness alive. Good luck with the venture.”

Kim Corbett said: “The city centre has been badly in need of something to offer people except food and drink. This is a great idea, I’m sure it will be popular.”

Barbara Gray and Fiona Christie had sampled similar concept bars in Krakow and Cambridge respectively and were thrilled at the prospect of something similar coming to Inverness.

The mention of axe-throwing in a licensed premises stoked initial surprise and scepticism with Matthew Wade among those asking: “What could possibly go wrong?”

Charles Bannerman said: “I would be intrigued to see the risk assessment for this given the amount of red tape involved simply for accessing basic sporting facilities.”

There were also light-hearted comments suggesting that axe-throwing was not unknown in some less-salubrious bars.

Mostly, with clarification of the strict safety measures to be in place, the proposal was greeted positively.

Mr Campbell has stressed that there would be stringent controls in place, as seen at similar venues elsewhere in the UK and abroad.

It would be a sober and heavily-supervised pursuit, with special safety cages installed, a one-person rule per cage and staff on hand at all times to direct participants

Steve Calvert said: “I’m looking forward to going to this'' and Alison Mann added: “This would be a great asset to the city. I hope they get the go ahead.”

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