Another empty city centre unit is getting a new lease of life with the support of Derby City Council’s Vacant to Vibrant scheme. 

The ground floor of the Grade II listed building at 2-4 The Strand, on the corner of St James’s Street, will be transformed into Take Aim – a new indoor activity venue offering country house-themed pursuits including clay shooting simulation, social darts, virtual putting and pétanque.

Aimed at families during the day, and groups of friends or work colleagues in the evening, the fun activities are designed for groups of two to 10 people of all ages and abilities. There will also be a bar offering a wide range of food and drinks.

Before work gets under way to convert the site, the building’s doors were opened to the public at the weekend (Friday 4 – Sunday 6 September) for an exhibition showcasing work by four professional artists from Derby and the Midlands. There was also the opportunity for visitors to find out more about Take Aim’s plans for the unit, which has stood empty for several years. 

The business is the latest to benefit from the Vacant to Vibrant initiative, which focuses on bringing empty shop units in the Cathedral Quarter back into use. This project has been funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and will contribute towards the costs of converting this long-standing empty unit into a new commercial venture, helping to bring footfall to the city centre. 

So far, Vacant to Vibrant has helped several new businesses to open this year, including The Tannery, Craftcore and Flo Skatepark. 

Councillor Gurkiran Kaur, Cabinet Member for City Centre, Culture and Tourism, said: 

It’s fantastic to see an empty city centre unit being brought back to life with an art exhibition before Take Aim officially opens its doors.

The exhibition has given local people the opportunity to step inside a Grade II listed building to get a glimpse of what’s to come and to meet the team behind Take Aim.

Vacant to Vibrant is about investing in our city centre and bringing empty units back into use. The opening of Flo Skatepark, Craftcore and The Tannery have been met with enthusiasm and success, and I’m thrilled to see another exciting addition to the Cathedral Quarter. 

This is all part of our ambition to create a city centre where people can come together to shop, socialise and enjoy our spaces.

Take Aim has been supported with grant funding to help revive the empty unit, and expects to open for business later this autumn. The owners also run The Escape Room Guys on Iron Gate.

Terence Smith, who owns the business with his wife Nicola, said:

Nicola and I are incredibly excited to open Take Aim in the Cathedral Quarter this Autumn. Derby has real momentum right now, and to bring a landmark building back to life as a family activity venue feels like the perfect way to be part of the city’s reinvigorated future. 

We can’t wait to welcome our first guests. We’ll be trying to engage with as many local suppliers as possible, and support events for local businesses - so please do approach us with any ideas!

More businesses are set to be announced as part of the scheme in the coming months. Further information about Vacant to Vibrant and Derby City Council’s support for local businesses can be found on the Council’s website.