'We felt snookered': Halifax entertainment venue to reopen this weekend

Tony Aioannou, who runs several major entertainment enterprises, on Commercial Street, said it has been a 'frustrating' time for the businesses after being forced to shut in March amid the coronavirus pandemic.

However, it is all guns blazing as Mr Aioannou, along with his three brothers, prepare to reopen Halifax Snooker Club, Fast Eddie's Pool, and the venue's F1 simulator - Race Centre.

Mr Aioannou said: "We're reopening our snooker and pool clubs, and Race Centre on Saturday.

"These activities are classed as recreational, so we've been given the green light from the Government.

"We also run Electric Bowl within the venue, but because that's classed as an indoor sport we've had to keep that closed for the time being."

Mr Aioannou and his brothers also run Galactic Golf, on Horton Street, which will remain shut to the public due to the activity being classed as an indoor sport.

The Aioannou family also run the trampoline park, Airtime Halifax, on Club Lane, which will again stay shut until the Government eases social-distancing rules.

"It's been frustrating to close for so long because usually the only day of the year we're closed is Christmas Day," said Mr Aioannou.

"We felt snookered when we were forced to shut.

"We've over 30 staff overall, which we had to furlough.

"But we applied for financial help with the Bounce Back Loan, which will interrupt us but will take six years to repay.

"We were able to apply for the Government business grant for Galactic Golf, which helped us massively.

"A positive which we can take from Government lockdown during coronavirus is my brothers and I have been able to give our venues deep cleans and an upgrade of maintenance, which we normally find difficult to do.

"For now, we're preparing our rooms which we're opening to the public on Saturday and creating new staff rotas as we prepare to bring some workers back from furlough.

"It's exciting times but scary too because no one knows what the new normal will be."

Mr Ioannou confirmed the venue's bars will be open too, and there will be posters dotted around the snooker and pool areas for revellers to scan a QR code and order their food and drinks via a new app.

Going forward, the four brothers will be looking to introduce a new interactive gaming wall at the Galactic Golf venue.