A new attraction promising a “very different kind of family experience” will open in Southport town centre on Wednesday, September 2. Digz’n Lidz, a remote-controlled experience cafe, will give customers the chance to operate their own miniature construction vehicles.
The independent business was created by long-term friends and dads-of-two Danny Melia and Mark Gaudie, who have spent the past few months transforming one of the front units of the former Debenhams building. Situated behind huge floor-to-ceiling windows on Lord Street, in the seaside town’s Northern Quarter, the venue is already attracting plenty of attention from passers-by.
Community buzz before opening
Danny and Mark said people have been stopping to peer through the windows, ask questions and find out what is taking shape inside. Danny, 33, from Fazakerley, told the ECHO: “We’ve honestly been overwhelmed by the buzz and support we’ve had from the local community already. The amount of people asking questions, messaging us and wanting to know exactly what Digz’n Lidz is going to be has been amazing.”
“We’ve been working really hard behind the scenes to create something that’s a little bit different - somewhere that both adults and children can come along, have a great time, enjoy some food and drinks, and experience the RC side of things,” he added. “It’s been brilliant seeing how much interest there has been before we’ve even opened our doors. We’re getting closer now and we genuinely can’t wait for people to finally see what we’ve been working on.”
What visitors can expect
The ‘RC’ in Digz’n Lidz stands for remote-controlled. Visitors can book a session and take a seat at one of 14 stools positioned around a specially constructed RC digger sandpit. From there, they can choose their vehicle and operate remote-controlled diggers, dump trucks, articulated trucks, wheel loaders and tower cranes.
The activity is not just for children. Danny and Mark said they have already seen strong enthusiasm among adults, including a group of three men in their 60s who recently called in to say they could not wait for the opening. Behind the main play area will be a cafe serving hot food and drinks, including toasted paninis and coffees, which customers can order while they play. Although RC sessions need to be booked, people can also simply walk in, grab a seat in one of the booths and enjoy something to eat or drink without taking part in the activity.
Accessibility and local touches
Accessibility has been a major consideration. There are no steps inside the venue, while an accessible toilet and baby-changing facilities are available. Wheelchair users can directly access the sandpit and take part in the experience. The walls feature a mural painted by local artist Keith Pollitt, adding another “distinctly Southport touch”.
For the two owners, opening Digz’n Lidz represents the culmination of months of work, much of it carried out themselves. The pair have put their own money and time into the project alongside a business loan, while continuing to work their HGV jobs. Danny left his HGV driving job on Friday, August 14, to concentrate on Digz’n Lidz full-time.
Mark, 45, who lives in Crosby, said: “We have completed 90% of all the work in here ourselves, with the exception of the electrics, the tiling and the mural. We can’t wait to welcome people in and see what they think. We’re just keen to get up and running now.”
“We love Southport. It’s somewhere we both have happy memories of coming to for days out with our families when we were children, and now we love bringing our families,” he added. “Lord Street is beautiful, with lots of excellent shops, restaurants, bars and cafes. We thought the street would really benefit from somewhere where people could come in and do something really fun.”
Digz’n Lidz will become the first tenant to open inside the former Debenhams building, a property which holds a special place in the memories of generations of Southport residents. The glass-fronted Lord Street section dates from between 1888 and 1900, while the part facing Stanley Street was constructed earlier in the Victorian period. Danny and Mark are keen to become part of its next chapter.
