Dad builds his £1.5m leisure complex to keep daughters entertained

Darren Peckitt and his wife Andrea were frustrated by the lack of leisure facilities for children in Darlington, County Durham.

So, inspired by his twin daughters Niamh and Annabel, he created Planet Leisure – a £1.5million complex.

The huge centre features a synthetic ice rink, 12-lane bowling alley, obstacle course, laser arena and licensed restaurants.

The 41-year-old superdad held down his full-time job as an engineer during the 20-month project.

‘It’s been a struggle, but it has been worth it,’ he said.

‘I haven’t had a day off for about four months and I’m having to do 18-hour days. ‘But we’re almost there and ready to hand over to the management team and start taking things a little easier.’

The project is a commercial venture backed by a bank loan and organised through a government scheme.

This is the second time the Peckitt family has taken matters into their own hands, having already set up a soft-play centre for their daughters.

Despite being the envy of their school friends, his ten-year-old daughters are far from spoilt. ‘I’m very grounded, so they have to be and they have been helping out where they can, and will probably help out even more in years to come,’ he added.

‘There have been a lot of times when I have been away from the family and there have been a lot of sacrifices.’


/Metro/