PREPARATIONS are in place for work to begin on a new £1.5 million entertainment venue at Regent Circus.

A new branch of the Boom Battle Bar franchise will feature axe-throwing, crazier golf, table tennis, American pool, karaoke, virtual-reality booths, and augmented reality darts.

In-between games, visitors can relax and refuel by stocking up on street food, cocktails and craft beer.

Fencing and building notices have been put up outside the former home of Coal Kitchen and the vacant units next to it, opposite the Lebanese restaurant Lamaya and Cineworld cinema, ahead of work beginning on the new leisure complex.

A spokesman for the Battle Bar said the latest addition to Swindon's town centre represented a £1.5 million investment from the franchise owners.

The place will cover 15,000 square foot overall and bring a total of 50 new full-time and part-time jobs to the area.

News of the new venue being in the pipeline first broke in March when AGD Nine filed a licensing application.

It asked Swindon Borough Council for permission to serve alcohol, host sporting events and play music between 11am and midnight every day within four Regent Circus units.

Cabinet member for the town centre Coun Dale Heenan said at the time: "Regent Circus has been knocked hard by the difficulties that national brand name restaurant chains have experienced over the last couple of years.

"The site has been crying out for the owners to allow someone to come forward with a new leisure idea to bring some life and some more customers to the area.

A Battle Bar spokesman said: “We can’t wait to bring Boom: Battle Bar to Swindon. The response to the venues that we’ve opened so far has been class and we’re looking forward to continuing that trend at Regent Circus.

“Socialising is evolving and we want to play our part in that by bringing a competitive edge to nights out with your mates, dates, and anyone else that fancies having a go.

“We pride ourselves on the ‘Boom experience’ from in-store to our social pages - we’re not just a place that you come to as a one off. Swindon, here comes the Boom.”

The adventure bar has existing branches in Cardiff and Norwich with plans to open in Oxford, Liverpool, Eastbourne, Leeds and Manchester.