FACTOR

chief executive Tim Wilks said the idea behind Level X was to put the customer in control of their experience.

He said: “Level X is all about merging the games you loved as a kid with cool tech elements to elevate the experience.

“The venues themselves are bigger than we’ve ever launched before and the fitouts will be fantastic – with loads of colour, different zones and huge attention to the detail.”

While Level X is the first to open and will be the biggest venue at Captain Cook Square, the coming months will see the area transformed from a shopping centre into a major regional leisure hub.

The Wired Lobby, which will become the North-east’s biggest e-sports arena, will soon welcome spectators to watch top gamers – and give customers a chance to try their hand behind the wheel of a fullsize racing car simulator.

A cocktail bar and restaurant will open over two floors and feature Middlesbrough’s first rooftop terrace. The venue will also offer a high-tech golf simulator which allows players to try their hand at professional courses like St Andrew’s or Pebble Beach.

Two more food and drink venues will also be brought into the square, alongside a boutique cinema, to encourage people of all ages to try something new in Middlesbrough.

It’s part of Middlesbrough Council’s vision to transform the town centre into a place to live, work, play and learn.

More than 800,000 people live within a 30-minute drive of Middlesbrough town centre, while we’re home to more than 20,000 students at Teesside University, Middlesbrough College and the new Northern School of Art.

Due to a national decline in high street retail, Middlesbrough Council has aimed to rebalance the town centre economy to attract more people to live, work, learn and spend their leisure time here. And with extra visitors comes new jobs. More than 200 new roles were advertised in the hospitality sector at a recent jobs fair, with more to come over the next year. The town centre is already home to thriving bars and restaurants in our independent quarter around Baker and Bedford Street, and on Linthorpe Road.

And a new leisure hub is already springing up in our historic quarter around Exchange Square.

Late in 2022, cabaret cocktail bar and restaurant Bloom opened at Exchange Square close to Middlesbrough Railway Station, which itself is set to be completely revamped in a £34m project to add a new platform and secure more services.

Subject to planning permission, renowned restaurant The Muddler will move into another historic Middlesbrough building opposite the railway station while national food and drink operator STACK wants to open its trendy shipping container development nearby.

Future High Streets Fund

Middlesbrough Council bought Captain Cook Square in 2020 as part of its efforts to transform the town centre, as retail continued to decline nationally.

Separately, the council was successful in bidding for £14.1m from the Government’s Future High Streets Fund.

Around £9.1m of that funding is being used to transform Captain Cook Square with a host of leisure developments.

The rest of the funding has been allocated to town centre housing, improvements to pavements and cycleways and town centre events.

Thank you to all our foster carers for everything you do. Middlesbrough foster carers make children’s lives better every day.

If you have thought about fostering, now is the time to join our team of amazing foster carers and make a difference to children in your council’s care.

At Fostering for Middlesbrough, we value our carers. We know that it can be challenging but also one of the most rewarding roles you will ever do. When you join us, you will receive:

Support

Dedicated, bespoke support, including ‘out of hours’ support. Potential opportunity to join Mockingbird – a new project joining foster carers together in a ‘hub’ giving carers additional practical and pastoral support. A fostering ‘buddy’ scheme to support you when you start your fostering journey.

Specialist therapeutic care for you and the children you look after.

Regular support groups with other carers and staff.

Financial support

A highly competitive financial allowance for you and the children in your care which recognises your commitment to providing the best care for our children.

Training

A bespoke training programme tailored to your needs, increasing your skills, knowledge and confidence.

New friendships

Form new friendships with other foster carers through a range of activities and events.

Leisure benefits

Giving you and the children in your care savings on attractions and events.

Middlesbrough Council is a Fostering Friendly employer and supports other employers to be Fostering Friendly – offering a range of benefits including flexible working and additional leave to carers.

We urgently need experienced foster carers and new carers who are just starting out on their fostering journey to contact us.

Talk to us today on 01642 201962 or find out more at fosteringformiddlesbrough.org.uk