January 17, 2011 11.12 am This story is over 157 months old

Car showroom to reopen as youth centre

Converted: The former Dixon Motors showroom on Tritton Road will reopen as a youth centre after a £5 million revamp.

A £5 million transformation of a former car showroom on Tritton Road will culminate in the opening of The Showroom in March.

The project is part of a County and City Council collaboration with Lincoln College, with funding from the £31 million MyPlace programme of the Big Lottery Fund.

Three years in the making, The Showroom staff have now started moving into the former Dixon Motors showroom, to reopen as a youth centre on March 1.

The Showroom, meant to open originally in autumn 2010, will open seven days a week for 14 hours, and will cater primarily for 11 to 25 year-olds.

The 35,000 sqft complex will host the county’s largest climbing centre, with 40 climbing lines and an equipment store on the premises.

Lincoln College will operate at The Showroom a hair and beauty salon, with training and work experience taking place there for its students.

Also, a restaurant will be open on the premises.

Visitors of The Showroom will have available an indoor cage for urban football and an arcade zone with video games and bowling.

The venue plans to be self-sustainable by operating a conference and events centre for up to 400 seats across two suites.

Around 100 free parking spaces will be available for visitors.

[See more photos of The Showroom in the making on the venue’s Facebook page]