The Case family has taken back operation of Sunspot Arcades after Merkur’s 15-year lease expired, with the Wilder Road venue officially reopening on 8 March, offering “fresh energy, brand-new equipment, and a fantastic experience.”

The Case family has officially reopened Sunspot Amusements in Ilfracombe, after equipping the seafront arcade with a new roof, interior decor, and machines, with plans still afoot to overhaul the Wilder Road venue’s exterior.

The arcade has been in the family since 1972 but was leased to Merkur Amusements in 2009, and closed last October when the company’s 15-year-contract came to an end, prompting Case Concepts Ltd to step back into the role of operator.

“We are excited about opening again,” MD Richard Case told Devon Live. “It will be great to get it finally up and running and see the machines working again. It will bring interest back to the town and also to the seafront which is almost closed during the day during the winter.”

“We have not got quite as far as we wanted to be, but we are ready to reopen. It won’t be recarpeted until the roof is watertight which is taking considerably longer than we had hoped. It looks completely different inside and the outside will be redecorated too in the future.” 

The Cases have made “a significant investment” in bringing the arcade up to date, promising “fresh energy, brand-new equipment, and a fantastic experience.”

The arcade will have  circa 130  pieces of equipment, split between the FEC and the separated AGC, which has all-new Category C and B3 machines.

“Amusement arcades epitomise traditional seaside holidays and I don’t think that will ever go away,” said Case. “It’s generational because young families remember going themselves and take their children and then it carries on.”

“In Ilfracombe, there were three amusement arcades..and now we just have one left.”