The Barcode

The Barcode
The Barcode logo
Map
Coordinates50°22′15″N 4°08′11″W / 50.3708°N 4.1365°W / 50.3708; -4.1365
AddressThe Barcode, Drake Circus, Plymouth
Opening dateOctober 2019
OwnerBritish Land
ArchitectCorstorphine & Wright
No. of stores and services12
Total retail floor area106,000 feet (32,000 m)
Parking420[1]
Websitedrakecircus.com/barcode
Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Barcode.

The Barcode is a 106,000-square-foot entertainment complex in the centre of Plymouth, England, and opened on 21 October 2019.[2][3] It is Plymouth's biggest entertainment complex.[4]

The building was designed by Warwick-based architects Corstorphine & Wright[5] and built by McLaren Construction Group.[6] It is situated adjacent to Drake Circus Shopping Centre[7][8] on the site of the Bretonside bus station.[9] The complex cost £53 million to build and was originally called Drake Circus Leisure.[10]

The Barcode contains a 12-screen cinema including the UK's third largest IMAX screen,[11] restaurants, and an indoor adventure golf venue.[12] The IMAX screen was the first in Plymouth.[13]

History

[edit]

In 2014, British Land put plans forward to Plymouth City Council regarding a redevelopment at the site of the 1950s Bretonside bus station, which would be demolished.[14][15] Planning permission was approved by the council in 2015[16] and works began in 2017.[17] The scheme was originally planned to cost £40 million.[18]

The building officially opened on 21 October 2019 with a selection of outlets opening on the day, the rest of the stores opened the following days.[19] The businesses in the complex created 350 jobs.[20]

Hours after the complex opened someone changed its name on Google to "Drake McCircus: The McBarcode"[21]

In 2022, the street above The Barcode's underground parking began leaking water into the car park due to heavy rainfall.[22]

Reception

[edit]

Locals in Plymouth gave the building the nickname "The Barcode" during construction due to the building's appearance, that led to owner British Land to rename the site to match the name.[23] The Barcode was a finalist in the Structural Steel Design Awards in 2020.[24][25]

The Barcode was initially controversial, with some local residents disliking the new building saying that the complex was unnecessary.[26][27]

[edit]
  • The old bus station was demolished in 2017
    The old bus station was demolished in 2017
  • The rear of the complex in 2023
    The rear of the complex in 2023

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Drake Circus Shopping Centre | McLaren Construction Group". mclarengroup.com. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  2. ^ "Drake Circus The Barcode – Openings – School Holiday, Plymouth". Visit Plymouth. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  3. ^ "The Barcode, Drake Circus, Plymouth". Smith Young. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  4. ^ "New Plymouth city centre premium digital screen". Invest Plymouth. 2019-10-31. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  5. ^ "The Barcode". Corstorphine & Wright. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  6. ^ NSC (2020-10-07). "SSDA National Finalists". newsteelconstruction.com. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  7. ^ Telford, William (2019-06-10). "Cosy Club set to move into Drake Circus multiplex". Plymouth Live. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  8. ^ Nicola (2020-01-16). "Throwback Thursday: Drake Circus". BHC Structural Steelwork Contractor. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  9. ^ "Barcode development shows Plymouth is 'alive and kicking' says council boss". ITV News. 2019-10-28. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  10. ^ "Plymouth's £53m "Barcode" attraction to have cinema and golf". InterGame: iGaming, Casino & Coin-Op News. 2019-08-14. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  11. ^ "Issue – items at meetings – Announcements". democracy.plymouth.gov.uk. 2019-11-21. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  12. ^ Telford, William (2019-10-24). "Huge £53m cinema and leisure complex opens in heart of Plymouth". Business Live. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  13. ^ Morcom, Jess (2019-10-04). "Plymouth's first ever IMAX screen is ready at The Barcode". Plymouth Live. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  14. ^ "Goodbye Bretonside Bus Station... | The Devon Daily". www.thedevondaily.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  15. ^ "British Land unveils Plymouth plans (videos)". www.theconstructionindex.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  16. ^ "Plymouth Bretonside coach station to be demolished". BBC News. 2015-03-13. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  17. ^ Elmes, Sarah (2017-10-31). "End of an era as work starts to bulldoze Bretonside bus station". Plymouth Live. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  18. ^ "British Land plans £40m Plymouth Cineworld". Construction Enquirer. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  19. ^ House, Strathmore (2019-10-09). "The Barcode Is Coming ..." Strathmore House Apartments. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  20. ^ Telford, William (2019-08-06). "£53m cinema development brings jobs boom for Plymouth". Business Live. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  21. ^ McDonald, Gayle (2019-10-21). "The Barcode has just been given a new name on Google". Plymouth Live. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  22. ^ Edwards, Amber (2022-12-21). "Barcode car park hit by flooding". Plymouth Live. Retrieved 2024-04-01.
  23. ^ Telford, William (2019-08-13). "Plymouth's new £53m cinema really will be called The Barcode". Plymouth Live. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  24. ^ "Structural Steel Design Awards 2020" (PDF). Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  25. ^ Management, Construction (2020-11-04). "Structural Steel Design Awards 2020". Construction Management. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  26. ^ Dowrick, Molly (2019-09-16). "In defence of The Barcode, Plymouth's new marmite landmark". Plymouth Live. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  27. ^ Cross, Penny; Dowrick, Molly (2019-09-10). "What people REALLY think of The Barcode". Plymouth Live. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
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