Portsmouth will become the first location in the UK to host a new entertainment concept when the new ‘ApolloDomes’ launch at Gunwharf Quays next month – two domes will host Halloween and Christmas-themed guest experiences.
Gunwharf Quays’ parent company Landsec has struck a partnership with international company Holovis to develop a unique immersive entertainment proposition for the first time in the UK and Portsmouth will be the launch location.
ApolloDomes are experiential entertainment spaces, blending immersive theatre, striking visual projections and event-scale production.
Holovis has produced some of the largest themed entertainment projects in the world including SeaWorld Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, Squid Game: The Experience in New York, and the LEGO Factory Adventure Ride at LEGOLAND New York.
The new ApolloDomes attraction – which are over 1,300 sq m in size and include two 19-metre indoor entertainment domes, each with a 270-degree projection screen – will initially be used to bring an immersive Halloween guest experience to The Plaza at Gunwharf Quays. Later in the year it will be transformed into an exciting festive attraction for the Christmas period.
‘Pumpkinville’, https://gunwharf-quays.com/ApolloDomes, which goes on sale 17 September and will run from 24 October to 2 November, is an immersive Halloween-themed adventure combining theatrical experiences, film projections and ‘spooktacular’ effects.
With different experiences for younger and older children, the attraction promises a spellbinding world of magic, mischief and spine-tingling thrills. By day, families join ‘The SpookAdemy’, a playful Halloween school where guests learn the key skills to be scary. After the show, guests can relax in ‘The Lantern Lounge’ a Halloween-themed cafe and bar.
By night, the domes transform into glowing destinations with themed bars and exciting experiences for adults, while the ‘Pumpkin Picturehouse’ will screen vintage horror films.
For added fright, and for those without a nervous disposition, ‘The Summoning’ will offer an intimate séance horror experience for guests aged 18 and older.
The news follows a successful summer for Gunwharf Quays, marking the next stage of the premium waterfront outlet’s transformation – in June, work started on the redevelopment of Marlborough Square, while strong trading data was revealed in July, with sales up 8.6% year-on-year for the April-June period.
Yvonne Clay, Centre Director at Gunwharf Quays, commented: “This is a pivotal moment for us as we move into the next, exciting phase of our transformation and to be the UK launch location for ApolloDomes is a real coup, not just for Gunwharf Quays, but for Portsmouth and beyond.
“This will be the first time anyone has blended live, theatrical performances with large-scale, projected dome media in this manner and we can’t wait to unveil our first experience, Pumpkinville, to our guests next month.
“This investment will create a unique new attraction in the city and further cements our position as a leading retail and leisure destination.”
Stuart Hetherington, CEO of Holovis, added: “ApolloDomes represents a first of its kind experience, blending next-gen projection technologies and media with world-class immersive theatrical performances to transport guests to an exciting, seasonal destination.
“This is the perfect representation for Holovis’ capabilities, and represents the culmination of over 20 years’ experience in the theme park and entertainment industries.
“We’re extremely proud to be embarking on this journey with Landsec and are very excited to bring this level of immersive experience to guests in the UK.”
To sign up to be the first to know more about Pumpkinville, visit: https://gunwharf-quays.com/ApolloDomes