I've been away for ages but I'm back with avengence!
I've been away for ages but I'm back with avengence!
Member since:30.11.2005
Reviews:220
Members who trust:49
*This is a long review because there is so much to cover!!!
My partner and I took my 10 year old stepson and a friend to Xscape on Sunday as part of his birthday present. I had visited their website (www.xscape.co.uk) and was impressed by the facilities, particularly the climbing wall which the boys were most eager to try.
Brief Background PY Gerbeau, the man who helped fix Euro Disney and made the Millenium Dome into a successful paying visitors attraction became Chief Executive of X-Leisure in 2001. With 20 years experience in the leisure/retail and attraction industry he was well placed to make the dream of Xscape a reality.
Xscape Braehead opened only a couple of months ago following the success of other facilities in Milton Keynes and Castleford, Leeds. (together the Leeds and Milton Keynes centres can boast over 30million visitors since they opened).
Xscape sells itself as "the ultimate family entertainment destination" and I can't disagree.
Facilities
Robocoaster Price £4.50 per person The worlds' first passenger carrying robot. This is effectively a giant robotic arm which holds two people at a time. There are five settings to choose from: from fun - a gentler ride to extreme - dumps you upside down and jerks you around at top speed. It is worth noting that there is an age restriction (8 years) and a height restriction which the boys, both 10 only just met. Also, for anyone under 12 years old you cannot go above the second level. At this, the boys still had a great time and wanted to go on it again!
Climbzone
Price £18 per person (for 1hr 45minutes) This price includes use of the rock climbing wall, Skypark and fan drop and professional instruction to those who need or want it.
Rock Climbing Wall Price: £10 per person (for 55minutes) This facility is one of the largest freestanding climbing walls in the UK with 24 auto belays and climbing routes of all levels and stands in the middle of the entrance above a Costa Coffee shop. For anyone visiting the Climbing wall for the first time there is mandatory professional instruction which was great for the boys. The instructors seemed to really care about climbing and those attempting it for the first time. My stepson was so encouraged that with a bit of perseverance he managed to make it up one of the hardest routes! Again there is an age restriction of 8 years old for using the wall. For those not experienced enough to have all the latest in rock climbing gear, you can rent it on site.
Sky Park A state of the art adventure course which looks terrifying from the ground alone! At 60 metres long and 15 metres above the ground, the Skypark is included in the Climbzone Package deal. It boasts a zip slide, traverse wall, hanging logs, jigsaw, swinging rungs, swinging platforms, cargo net, Burma bridge and rope ladders. Again, Each participant is of course strapped in to a harness which travels along a sort of train track around the course. What is great is that there is a second rail from which the instructors can travel alongside anyone who may be struggling or pass by users to get to someone in trouble. It was great to see the boys with absolutely no fear climbing along like a pair of monkeys! Once again the age restriction is 8
Fan Drop Again, this is part of the Package Climbzone deal and a perfect way to end your session! These twin fan decenders are the first of their kind anywhere. You are clipped in, grab a t-bar and freefall most of the 15 metres down to the ground until the fan slows you in time for a gentle landing. Age restriction - you guessed it - 8 years old!
Snowslope Skiing/Snowboarding (Group and special rates are available!!!) Price: Adult between £16 and £21 per hour Kids between £13 and £18 per hour Lessons: from £23 per hour to £150 for 8 hour session Tobogganing Price: Adult £10 per hour Kids £8 per hour Equipment is all included in the prices and you can even rent jackets and ski pants for £5 if necessary.
*There are loads of special events/ group activities/summer camps etc available so check out the website for news of upcoming events
The ski hills - The UK's longest real snow ski hill is made of 2700 tonnes of real snow. There are two hills to choose from - One at 200 metres long, for those more experience amongst you and a smaller one for beginners and tobogganing. Lessons are readily available either on a one to one basis or as a group.
If you prefer the Après Ski to the actual skiing, there is a Snobar overlooking the hills where you can relax with a coffee while watching the wee ones. There is a party room included which is often used for children's parties. At night, the Snobar transforms into a nightclub with regular events and live DJ's.
Cinema Price: Standard Odeon prices A 12 screenOdeon cinema is in place with 2500 seats and all the latest blockbuster films available.
Bowling Price: Adult between £3.45 and £4.75 per game Child: between £2.75 and £3.95 per game Package deals are available - enquire within
Bowlplex offers you not only the obvious but also an array of arcade amusements, A bar and Grill, American Pool Pit, late licence sports bar and resident DJ and dance floor.
Shopping If you are into your outdoor sports or even just in to the snowboard/skater style fashion, you will find something to suit you here. Stores include: Billabong, Quicksilver, Trespass, Blue Salamander. Ellis Brigham, Adrenaline Junkie and Evans Cycles.
Restaurants There is no end of restaurants on offer and unlike most of these places, they aren't fast food MacDonald's/KFC type places. We ate at Frankie and Bennies where 3 kids meals and 2 adults meals including drinks came to £30. The service was great the food was good and there was plenty of choice for the kids. Other restaurants include: TGI Fridays, Café Rouge, Nandos, Chiquito, Costa Coffee, Pizza Hut, Mr Potters and Pizza Express.
In addition to the multitude of facilities I have mentioned you will also find simulator cars, various amusement games, bungee trampolining, crazy golf and massage chairs strategically placed throughout the building to separate you from your money.
Overall Opinion If you have a bottomless wallet you can find no fault in this place. It is fantastically laid out with so much to do and you know that kids will go back to school talking about their day out to Xscape. Unfortunately, they will probably then badger you non stop about going back to it. The fact of the matter is this is not a cheap day out. We managed to sink about £120 and that was without the skiing and bowling! Having said that, seeing the boys smile and watching them fall asleep totally exhausted once we had climbed into the car made it worth every penny. (once in a while anyway) Although it was an expensive day, I can't really imagine how they could lower the prices. The quality of facilities and service were of a very high quality and with a £70million price tag on the place, they have to make their money back somewhere!
If I was to pick holes in the places I would mention that it could have more available for younger kids. This isn't the place to bring a toddler, although we did as there is little for them to do and too many places for them to get lost/injured or generally into trouble. I would also suggest more seating around the climbzone. There were a number of parents standing around and I am sure their necks were as sore as ours were from watching our kids hanging 15 feet above us.
All in all a brilliant day for everyone involved and recommended to anyone looking for something a little bit different.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Sounds like a really fun place, though it does sound like the sort of place where you could easily spend far more than you can afford to...
Kenny
missy0303 20.07.2006 14:16
All sounds rather expensive although I know my son would love it....problem is he is 8 years old but a very small 8! He would probably get here and be highly disappointed that he couldn't get on things.....and my daughter is only 5 so not sure it's the place to take them until they're both a bit older! x
flabbercabbage 18.07.2006 14:31
Alas my wallet is not bottomless. Can I borrow yours?
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