THE new year will bring more new businesses to Colchester's multimillion pound leisure park. 

Businesses are slowly opening at the new Northern Gateway Leisure Complex at junction 28 of the A12.

Gregg’s bakery chain was the latest to open its much-anticipated drive-thru next to Wendy’s, which opened in July.

Gazette: Opening: outside new Greggs drive thru in ColchesterOpening: outside new Greggs drive thru in Colchester (Image: NQ)

Other businesses set to open on the site include Travelodge, Cineworld with a Starbucks concession, Hollywood Bowl, Puttstars, El Guaca, Kaspa’s, Slim Chickens, Taste of Italy, Nines, Kervan Kitchen and Jump Street.

Puttstars, which is part of the Hollywood Bowl group will have two nine-hole mini golf courses split across two floors next to the Hollywood Bowl centre with 27 bowling lanes.

There will also be a range of amusement arcades as well as food and drink available.

Gazette: Plans: an existing Puttstars sight which Colchester is set to resemblePlans: an existing Puttstars sight which Colchester is set to resemble (Image: Hollywood Bowl)

The business hopes to be in the position to open its doors by the end of June 2024.

A Hollywood Bowl Group spokesman said: “We are excited to bring the unique family entertainment and competitive socialising experience of Hollywood Bowl to Colchester.

“Construction to transform the site at the Northern Gateway leisure park is due to start in January with the aspiration to open to guests late spring 2024.

Gazette: Bowling: existing Hollywood Bowl siteBowling: existing Hollywood Bowl site (Image: Hollywood Bowl)

“Once complete Hollywood Bowl Colchester will offer affordable family ten-pin bowling and mini golf entertainment under one roof.”

Cineworld is also making progress towards the opening of its 12-screen cinema but said it is unable to comment with details on this until nearer the opening.

Gazette: Arcade: existing Hollywood Bowl arcade with amusements set for ColchesterArcade: existing Hollywood Bowl arcade with amusements set for Colchester (Image: Hollywood Bowl)

The 90-room Travelodge will be the business's 15th hotel in Essex and is also set to open in early 2024.

The carpets of the hotel have been made using recycled fishing nets and old plastic bottles. The site also has low-energy lighting, motion-sensing controls and aerated showers and taps.

The Gazette had an exclusive look inside the new site in November to see the progress.

Gazette: Building: outside the Travelodge site on the Northern Gateway Leisure developmentBuilding: outside the Travelodge site on the Northern Gateway Leisure development (Image: NQ)Works on the A12 are also set to be carried out as part of the conditions for the approved plans for the leisure complex.

Colchester Councillor for Mile End ward, Martin Goss, said: “There’s still a major piece of infrastructure to be done there which is the £5m works on the A12 which needs to be done as a condition of the plans.

“As far as I’m aware, the Travelodge is moving forward and Greggs is now open, so it's starting to come together.

Gazette: Outside: photo of the site developingOutside: photo of the site developing (Image: NQ)

“There’s still the 750-space car park going forward as well as Cineworld.

“We are looking at by the end of 2024 as when the majority of it will be finished.

“I think people are looking forward to it, the Colchester Sports Park has good feedback, Wendy’s has good turnover and is employing more than 40 people in the area.

“These businesses are offering lots of jobs to people in Colchester which is really positive.

“All the housing in the area also means the development is within walking distance for a lot of people.”