£5m facelift set to create 250 jobs at Fountain Park

UP to 250 jobs are to be created at FountainPark as the leisure complex is earmarked for a £5 million revamp by spring 2017.

An artist's impression of the revamped Fountain Park. Picture: contributed

Improvements to the attraction, on Dundee Street, include the introduction of more restaurants, two mini-golf courses and a laser game.

The project will be the centre’s first major facelift since it opened 15 years ago.

Centre manager Mary Turner said: “The new FountainPark will be bigger, better and more dynamic to meet the entertainment, leisure and dining needs of Edinburgh and the surrounding area.”

A former onsite bingo hall and an empty unit are to be demolished to make way for some of the new attractions.

Among them will be a Mexican restaurant and an American-style burger joint plus two Italian restaurants, one of which has been confirmed as a Bella Italia.

New leisure facilities will include two 18-hole mini-golf courses and the Laser Station game in which players work together to beat their opponents and defend their “space base”.

The makeover comes in the midst of a huge revival of the Fountainbridge area including the £200m India Quay development at the former McEwan’s brewery site.

The development proposes flats, shops and business space close to Lochrin Basin.

This alone is expected to boost the local economy by more than £30 million over the next three years.

Fountainbridge will also become home to the £35 million replacement campus for Boroughmuir High School on the banks of the Union Canal.

Speaking about the leisure complex’s refurbishmnet, Ms Turner added: “These are exciting times here at FountainPark and this comes at a time when the entire area around us is undergoing a huge transformation.

“The area are has seen some huge changes in the last 15 years. When I came it was pretty derelict; there were all the old Scottish and Newcastle buildings.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity and we have a great footfall here, with two million visitors last year.”

Under the plans, FountainPark will boast a “dramatic new frontage” plus enhancements to the internal decor.

Management described the project as “one of the most exciting redevelopments in the Edinburgh entertainments scene”, while revealing 250 jobs will be created through the plans.

Customers will be able to visit FountainPark while refurbishment works is underway, with all the cinema, gaming, fitness centre, bars and restaurants fully open.

The work will be funded by site-owner Land Securities, which is now the largest commercial property company in the UK.

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