WORK to build a sports bar featuring an immersive entertainment system is well under away, with the owner saying he wants to "give people a reason to come out to town."
Wayne Lee-Buckland, 40, is "looking forward to" opening the doors of the Post Box Sports Bar in the old Post Office building at the Top of Town.
The former manager of the Academy Social and Sports Club, in Buckskin, Wayne told the Gazette how he is "Creating an experience, not just a place where people are going out to get drunk, in an environment they can feel safe."
He said: "It's all coming together now, we have been working over the last two weeks.
READ MORE: Independent sports bar could open in former Post Office in Basingstoke town centre
"The whole idea for this place is to entice people to come back out again and regenerate the Top of Town.
"When I was 18, you had Liquid, Chicagos and loads of places to go out at the weekend - Basingstoke's nightlife was phenomenal 20 years ago - but now it has sort of died off.
"I want to bring interactive sports to the town, the Pro Sports simulator is a great bit of kit, it's phenomenal, it's three-sided and you get completely submerged into it."
Wayne explained that the bar will offer a number of games and activities for people to enjoy, as well as a selection of food and drinks catering to everyone.
He said: "Obviously we'll be showing all the sports on Sky and TNT, there's also shuffleboard, pool and darts.
"There will be food as well. We're going to do 'Wing Wednesday' - a hottest wing challenge - and there will be a prize for the winner.
"We're creating an experience, you don't just have to come here and get drunk, you can come out, play pool, play shuffleboard and watch tv.
"You can come here first then the rest of town could benefit if you go on a night out."
The building itself holds much history, and Wayne wants to pay homage with the decor.
He said: "I wanted to keep the colours of the old Post Office, but it didn't really fit so we have gone a bit creative with it."
Wayne aims to open the Post Box Sports Bar on Friday, November 1, with opening hours of 12pm to 12am between Monday and Thursday.
He added: "I don't just want us to be busy, I want everywhere to be busy, I want to promote every bar in the town centre.
"It means everyone is having more fun and it will be better for the town. I'm hoping we can succeed in doing it."
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