Opening date for new Digz'n Lidz cafe as it brings unique RC experience to Southport

THE opening date for the brand new Digz'n Lidz RC experience cafe in Southport's Town Centre has been revealed.

Owners Danny Melia and Mark Gaudie are excited to be opening somewhere new and exciting for families with experiences suitable for all ages.

The new attraction is situated in 1 of the front units behind huge floor to ceiling windows in the former Debenhams building, within the flourishing Northern Quarter.

Digz'n Lidz is due to open on:- Wednesday, 2 September 2026.

Excitement has been growing among the steady stream of people who have been walking past the site as work has been developing.

The RC stands for:- "remote controlled" users book sessions to sit on:- 1 of 14 stools around a specially constructed RC digger sandpit.

There they control a choice of:- diggers, dump trucks, articulated trucks, wheel loaders, or tower cranes.

There is a cafe area to the rear of the building with hot food and drink such as toasted paninis and coffees available, which can be ordered and brought to people as they play.

While sessions must be booked, Digz'n Lidz is also open to people wanting to walk in and sit enjoying something to eat or drink in 1 of the booths.

The venue is suitable for:- birthday parties, family days out, work gatherings, corporate days and more, for a fun activity that will be a real talking point.

Digz'n Lidz is fully accessible, with no steps inside, an accessible toilet and baby change area, and with people in wheelchairs able to pull up to the sandpit and play.

There is an impressive mural alongside the wall which has been painted by local artist Keith Pollitt.

The new independent business is being created by 2 long term friends and dads of 2, both HGV lorry drivers.

Mark Gaudie, 45, has a:- 10 year old daughter and a 6 year old son, while Danny Melia, 33, has a:- 12 year old daughter and a:- 6 year old son. Danny left his HGV driving job this August to concentrate full time on the new venture.

They said:- "Digz'n Lidz is going to be a family friendly, RC (remote controlled) experience cafe. It's something completely new for this Region. There's nowhere else like this nearby. Our 1st day fully open will be on:- Wednesday, 2 September 2026. We can't wait to welcome people in and see what they think."

They continued:- "We have been working hard over the past few months to get everything ready at Digz'n Lidz and now we're really excited to be opening soon! We have completed:- 90% of all the work in here ourselves, with the exception of the electrics, the tiling and the mural. Our website is available and people can book sessions here. We also have leaflets on the table outside and a QR code on the poster in the window where people can book and find out more information too."

The response to Digz'n Lidz has already been extremely positive, with people regularly looking through the windows while work is taking place and some popping in to say hello.

The new venue is being designed to appeal to both children and adults. Mark and Danny said the interest has extended across generations, with 3 men in their 60s recently visiting and saying they could not wait for the business to open.

Digz'n Lidz will stay open until:- 8 pm on:- Fridays and Saturdays, offering people the opportunity to enjoy the experience and something to eat before heading out for the evening.

Plans are also being considered for quiet or SEN sessions, as:- Mark and Danny are keen to create an inclusive venue that caters for everyone.

Both have a long-standing affection for Southport, having happy memories of visiting the town with their families as children. They now enjoy bringing their own families to the resort.

They believe Lord Street, with its range of:- shops, restaurants, bars and cafés, would benefit from somewhere offering visitors something fun and different to do.

As both Mark and Danny have 2 children, they also understand the challenge of keeping youngsters of different ages entertained. Digz'n Lidz will therefore include a book library with a selection of children's books, as well as colouring books.

Accessibility and inclusivity have also been important considerations. The venue will have accessible toilets, baby-changing facilities and free sanitary products, which the owners believe people should not have to pay for.

Interest in the new business is already growing, with enquiries received about birthday parties and corporate events. Mark and Danny see the venue as somewhere that could be used for team-building activities as well as offering groups the chance to enjoy something a little different.

Mark lives in Crosby, while Danny lives in Fazakerley, and both are thrilled to be opening their 1st business in Southport Town Centre.

The venture has been funded through their own investment and a business loan, without financial support or grants. They have also invested considerable amounts of their own time into creating the venue.

Both have continued working full time as HGV drivers while spending additional time building the new business, with their families supporting them throughout the process.

They have also been encouraged by the response from businesses along Lord Street and across Southport. Local businesses and residents have been calling in to wish them well and offer their support, giving Mark and Danny a strong sense of community within this historic Victorian seaside Town Centre and greater confidence in their new venture.

They are optimistic about Southport's future and believe the town is on the up.

The historic former Debenhams department store is particularly significant to them, and they recognise the many memories the building holds for local people. They would love to hear people's stories and see old photographs connected with the building.

Digz'n Lidz will be the 1st tenant to open within the former department store, with plans for further new businesses to follow.

Mark and Danny are also encouraged by other investment taking place in and around Lord Street. This includes work on the new Lord Street Bakery, a new JD Wetherspoon Hotel, a new climbing centre and a new restaurant in the former Bistrot Pierre unit.

Other businesses to have recently opened on Lord Street include:- Coffee King, The Bugle Tap, VS Jewels & Workshop, Drishti Point Yoga and Papa's fish and chips restaurant.

With so much investment taking place, Mark and Danny are excited for Digz'n Lidz to become part of the changes happening on Lord Street.

The Lord Street frontage of the impressive glass-fronted former Debenhams building was constructed between 1888 and 1900, while the section facing Stanley Street was built earlier, but still during the Victorian period.

The building has significant historical value as a commercial property and holds symbolic importance in the development of Southport.

Mark and Danny believe Lord Street has always been a place that brings people together and are proud that their new business will play a small part in the street's next chapter.

Their hope is that, years from now, children who visit Digz'n Lidz will look back on their experiences with the same fondness that their parents and grandparents have for the historic building.

For the pair, the venture is about preserving the past while embracing the future and helping to keep Lord Street full of life for generations to come.

Digz'n Lidz is located on:- Lord Street, in Southport's Town Centre, inside the historic former Debenhams building.

Opening hours will be:- 11 am to 6 pm on:- Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and:- 11am to 8pm on:- Friday and Saturday.

For more information, visit the Digz'n Lidz website.