The family-run firm plans to roll out its leisure complexes across the North East as the popularity for trampolining soars
The North East operators of one of Europe's largest indoor playgrounds are ready to invest £3m in a second trampoline and children's play centre in Newcastle.
The Fun Shack Group was founded 4 years ago by brother Stuart and Craig Freeman with the help of their partners Georgette and Andrea, after being inspired to open a large-scale children's activity centre while on family holiday on America.
Since then, the firm has grown the group into operating three seperate family indoor leisure businesses including Fun Shack, based in Seaham and Stockton, Clip 'N climb based to Stockton and also Jump 360 which is currently situated in Stockton, Hartlepool and Benton from July.
Now that the firm has been granted the permission for a new 70,000sqft leisure complex in Benfield, paving the wy for the creation of 100 jobs.
The Seaham-headquartered firm will transform a huge empty warehouse into an indoor haven for families combining all three of their businesses, with a 150-bed Jump 360 trampoline park, a Clip N Climb climbing centre and a Fun Shack children's indoor playcentre.
A Jump 360 trampoline park make up one part of the giant family leisure facility. The site will also host a Fun Shack play centre, including one of the biggest play frames in Europe, a laser tag arena, go karts, canon arena, high ropes course and toddler village.
Jump 30 Benfield will be the biggest trampoline park in the North East and the second Newcastle-based site for the comapny, the first will open in Benton in July 2017. As well as over 150 trampolines, visitors can also enjoy a variety of activities including airbags, foam pits, ziplines, dodgeball courts and ninja assault courses.
The complex opening this winter, is based on Benfield Business Park which is next to the Walkergate Metro station.
The management team plans to create 100 jobs with recruitment opening soon for a rnage of roles including front of house, catering and management positions.
Stuart Freemen, director at Jump 360 said: "We are thrilled to have been given the go ahead by Newcastle City Council and want to thank them for their support of the project.
"We can't wait to welcome visitors along all our exciting experiences under one roof - Fun Shack and Jump 360 are already verry popular in the wider region and we know that families are going to be really excited about when they see what we have in store."
"The Benfield site is the fourth of seven new Jump 360 parks that we have planned for the North East over the next two years and I am proud to be able to continue to contribute to creating a vibrant and thriving region for people to live and work. We hope help the local community by providing free sessions for schools to help encourage children to get active and live a healthier lifestyle.
"The facility will help the local community on a broader, more active level in a similar manner to Fun Shack's existing facilities across the North East."
The group currently employs more than 140 people across the company, all based in the North east with the addition of the two new Newcastle parks bringing this total to almost 300.