Red Dragon Centre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red Dragon Centre |
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Entrance to the Red Dragon Centre (2007)
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| Alternative names | Atlantic Wharf Leisure Village |
| General information | |
| Type | Entertainment, leisure complex |
| Location | Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff Bay |
| Coordinates | 51°28′00″N 3°09′51″W / 51.4667°N 3.1641°W |
| Opening | August 1997 |
| Owner | Cardiff Council (2020) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Holder Mathias |
The Red Dragon Centre is a super fun indoor place in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. It's packed with things to do! When it first opened in August 1997, it was called the Atlantic Wharf Leisure Village.
Inside, you'll find lots of restaurants and cafés where you can grab a bite to eat. There's also a Hollywood Bowl bowling alley with cool arcade games. If you love movies, there's an Odeon cinema where you can catch the latest films. Plus, there's a casino and a car park right there.
The centre is located in the exciting Cardiff Bay area, right across from the famous Wales Millennium Centre. It's easy to get to, close to a main road and near Cardiff Bay railway station. You can also get there easily by bus using Cardiff Bus routes 6 (the Baycar) and 8.
History of the Red Dragon Centre
The Red Dragon Centre first opened its doors in 1997. Back then, it was known as the Atlantic Wharf Leisure Village. In 2000, it got its new name, the Red Dragon Centre. This name came from a local radio station called Red Dragon Fm. That radio station is now known as Capital FM South Wales, and it's still based inside the centre, along with Heart South Wales.
The big cinema inside was first run by a company called United Cinemas International (UCI). But in 2004, another company, Odeon, bought UCI. So, the cinema became an Odeon cinema, which it still is today.
In 2020, Cardiff Council bought the Red Dragon Centre. This means the local council now owns this popular entertainment spot.
Future Plans for the Centre
There are exciting plans for the future of the Red Dragon Centre area! In 2018, people started talking about building a huge indoor arena nearby. This arena would be able to hold about 15,000 people for concerts and events.
The idea is that the current Red Dragon Centre might be changed or even replaced by a brand new entertainment area. If it's replaced, all the shops and fun places would move into the new buildings. This big project could also include new apartments, more restaurants, and even a hotel.
The council is working with companies like Live Nation UK to make these plans happen. They hope to start building the new arena around 2021, and it could be open by 2023. The new arena is planned to be similar to the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, which is a very modern concert venue.
What's Inside: Centre Tenants
The Red Dragon Centre is home to many popular businesses where you can have a great time. Here are some of the places you can find there:
- Grosvenor Casinos
- Bella Italia (an Italian restaurant)
- Cadwaladers Coffee House (for delicious ice cream and coffee)
- Hollywood Bowl (for bowling and arcade games)
- Five Guys (a popular burger restaurant)
- Odeon (for watching movies)
- Capital FM South Wales (a radio station)
- Heart South Wales (another radio station)
- Travelodge (a hotel)
