BOOKINGS for a new wizard-inspired mini-golf attraction in York have been flooding in ahead of its launch.
The Hole in Wand which was dreamt up last April opens on Monday following months of delays due to the pandemic.
The nine-hole course in the Coppergate Centre will appeal to both fans of the activity and Harry Potter, bringing back the magic for families and helping to boost York's recovery.
Advance timed-entry tickets went on sale in March, and only a handful of slots are available over forthcoming weekends.
The enterprise in the former Patisserie Valerie is the creation of Ben Fry and Phil Pinder, as an expansion of their Potions Cauldron business in Shambles.
Phil said the venture was the result of a six-figure investment and is creating new jobs as well as four placements for young people on the Government's Kickstart scheme, including Eleanor Needham, a film graduate-turned front-of-house 'sorceress'.
"We have gone from having three employees for the whole business to 15, including Kickstarters," said Phil, adding that every staff member would receive a pay bonus linked to the company's performance.
"I am excited about opening but there's a bit of trepidation; I keep checking the jobs list of things to consider. The reaction has been amazing.
"People have been really supportive. I have had random strangers stop me in the street saying 'it's great that you are investing in the city'."
An old copy of The Evening Press, found during renovation work at the Hole in Wand Picture: Nadia Jefferson-Brown
He added: "The plan was to open in February half term but, obviously, with lockdown, we reviewed the time scale."
Phil said they annually committed in advance to the production of 100,000 bottles of their Potion drinks, and had had to take on another warehouse in lockdown to store stock. As a result, every Hole in Wand customer will receive a Potion as a prize.
The Hole in Wand cafe offers delights such as Wand Dog (a German-style sausage), Uni-pop-corn and GrobbleNachos. Phil said that side of the business had been slow so far with just outdoor trade and York being 'deathly quiet' on week days.
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