Launceston Entertainment Complex: Door of Hope move unveiled

After shutting up shop at its old digs, one of Tasmania’s most beloved businesses, featuring laser tag and trampolines, has given a sneak peak of its new home and set a date for reopening.

Launceston Entertainment Complex, to be rebranded LEX Fun, is relocating from Kings Meadows to Glen Dhu's Door of Hope. Picture: Supplied

A beloved Tasmanian adventure hub, featuring laser tag, trampolines, obstacles and sprawling playgrounds, has revealed it will reopen to the public on Easter Monday at a new home.

Launceston Entertainment Complex (LEX), formerly located at Racecourse Cres, Launceston, has spent the last three months, since vacating its premises, planning its new home at Glen Dhu’s Door of Hope, the heritage-listed former Coats Patons textile factory.

Owner Susan McGee, who took over LEX in 2018 alongside Scott Doughty, revealed she had been in contact for several years with Door of Hope about the possibility of a relocation, feeling that her capacity to grow LEX at Racecourse Cres was constrained.

LEX owner Susan McGee with builder Liam McCarroll at Door of Hope, LEX's new home. Picture: Alex Treacy

The new LEX will be located in a cavernous warehouse space formerly used for car storage.

“I’ve had 172 emails and 592 calls (since closing at Launceston),” Ms McGee said.

“We’ve had the best rest but I’m missing the whole thing.”

Ms McGee revealed that, all going to plan, LEX would host its annual CREATE Foundation charity day, where 300 children living in out-of-home arrangements have rule of the roost, on April 6, before a soft opening for long-time LEX fans later that afternoon.

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LEX, which will rebrand to LEX Fun, will open for business on April 10, Easter Monday.

Ms McGee, a long-term educator with the Department of Education, Children and Young People, was coy when asked what additional attractions would be brought to the upgraded space.

“We want to keep it as a surprise,” she said.

Launceston Entertainment Complex, to be rebranded LEX Fun, is relocating from Kings Meadows to Glen Dhu's Door of Hope. Picture: Supplied

“We’ll be opening in stages, we want to see the space with some things in it.

“We look forward to getting to know the space ourselves, as well as the community getting to know the space.”

For Door of Hope, locking in LEX continues its 20-year journey towards reimagining the historic factory.

“What we believe we’ve created here is a significant family-based community centre with a number of services to support families,” chief operations officer Troy Roberts said.

In addition to hosting the Launceston Conference Centre, Door of Hope also houses a gym, an outside school hours care program, a cafe (LEX will also build its own), Windsor Allied Health and the South Launceston Early Learning Centre.

“Having the entertainment centre come in, it’s almost becoming a one-stop centre for a range of activities,” he said.

Launceston Entertainment Complex, to be rebranded LEX Fun, is relocating from Kings Meadows to Glen Dhu's Door of Hope. Picture: Supplied

LEX’s relocation is not the only major works happening with Door of Hope.

They are currently in the process of constructing a new 115-space carpark and have also secured Gourlay’s Famous Sweets as a new tenant. Gourlay’s will relocate its factory from Penny Royal World after receiving council approval.

Originally published as Launceston Entertainment Complex: Door of Hope move unveiled