A new remote-controlled experience cafe is set to open in Southport town centre next month, offering children and adults the chance to operate miniature diggers, trucks and cranes.
Digz’n Lidz will officially open on Wednesday 2 September 2026 in part of the former Debenhams building at 535–563 Lord Street.
The new independent attraction has been created by long-term friends Danny Melia and Mark Gaudie, who are both dads-of-two and have spent recent months transforming the unit.
At the heart of Digz’n Lidz is a specially constructed sandpit surrounded by 14 stools, where visitors can take control of a range of remote-controlled vehicles.
The selection includes diggers, dump trucks, articulated trucks, wheel loaders and tower cranes.
A cafe area at the rear of the venue will serve hot food and drinks including toasted paninis and coffees, with customers able to order refreshments while they play.
RC experience sessions will need to be booked, although people will also be able to walk in and use the cafe without taking part in an RC session.
The owners hope the venue will appeal to a wide range of visitors, from families looking for a day out to birthday parties, work gatherings and corporate events.
Digz’n Lidz has also been designed to be fully accessible. There are no steps inside, while facilities include an accessible toilet and baby changing area. Wheelchair users will also be able to pull up alongside the sandpit to operate the vehicles.
A large mural inside the new venue has been created by local artist Keith Pollitt.
Danny, 33, and Mark, 45, have both worked as HGV drivers while developing their first business together. Danny left his driving job on Friday 14 August to concentrate full-time on getting Digz’n Lidz ready to open.
The new attraction will be among the first businesses to open within the former Debenhams building, which occupies a prominent position on Lord Street in Southport town centre.
They said:
“We have been working hard over the past few months to get everything ready at Digz’n Lidz and now we’re really excited to be opening soon!
“We have completed 90% of all the work in here ourselves, with the exception of the electrics, the tiling and the mural.
“Our first day fully open will be on Wednesday 2nd September 2026. We can’t wait to welcome people in and see what they think. We’re just keen to get up and running now.
“Our website is available and people can book sessions there.
“We also have leaflets on the table outside and a QR code on the poster in the window where people can book and find out more information too.
“Digz’n Lidz is going to be a family-friendly, RC (remote controlled) experience cafe. It’s something completely new for this region. There’s nowhere else like this nearby.
“Most of the feedback we have had has been superb, although one or two people have been sceptical initially – that’s until they’ve been in and we’ve explained more about what we’re about and what we offer. Then they soon change their minds!
“The reaction from people as we’ve been working here has been brilliant. Lots of people have been looking in through the window, or popping their heads in to say hello.
“Digz’n Lidz is perfect for children, and also for grown-ups. We had three blokes in their 60s who came in last week who said they can’t wait for us to open.
“We’ll be open until 8pm on Friday and Saturday, so this would be a great place for people to come in and have some fun along with something to eat before heading off on a night out.
“We’re looking to host some quiet or SEN sessions. We want this to be somewhere which caters for everyone.
“We love Southport. It’s somewhere we both have happy memories of coming to for days out with our families when we were children, and now we love bringing our families.
“Lord Street is beautiful, with lots of excellent shops, restaurants, bars and cafes.
“We thought the street would really benefit from somewhere where people could come in and do something really fun.
“We both have two children, so we know how important it is to try and keep youngsters entertained when they;re different ages!
“We have a book library in here with lots of children’s books, we have colouring books too.
“It’s important to us that this place is inclusive. The toilets are accessible with baby change facilities and free sanitary products. We don’t believe they’re something people should be paying for.
“We’re already getting enquiries about birthday parties, and about corporate events. It’s a perfect place for team building and coming out to enjoy something a little different.”
Mark lives in Crosby while Danny lives in Fazakerley, with both thrilled to be opening their first business in Southport town centre.
They said:
“We’ve had no financial support, no grants. This is our own investment, plus a business loan, and our own time invested.
“We have real belief in what we’re creating here as somewhere that’s going to be very special.
“We’ve both been carrying on with our full-time jobs driving HGV wagons and then coming in here to work on building this place. Our families have been really supportive.
“Local businesses along Lord Street and in Southport have been really kind. Lots of people have been calling in to wish us well and to offer us support.
“There’s a real sense of community in Southport town centre which gives us real confidence.
“We’re very excited about the future for Southport. It’s a town which really is on the up.
“The former Debenhams department store is such a beautiful, historic building, which holds so many memories for people – we’d love to hear your stories and see your old pictures of this place!
“We’ll be the first tenants to open in here, but there are plans for more new businesses to follow soon.
“It’s exciting to see work happening to open the new Lord Street Bakery, the new JD Wetherspoon Hotel, the new climbing centre and the new restaurant in the former Bistrot Pierre unit, while new businesses on Lord Street which have opened recently include Coffee King, The Bugle Tap, VS Jewels & Workshop, Drishti Point Yoga and Papa’s fish and chips restaurant.
“There is so much investment happening on Lord Street and we’re excited to be coming in and being part of everything that’s happening.”
The Lord Street frontage of the impressive glass-fronted former Debenhams building was constructed in 1888 – 1900 whilst the part of the site facing Stanley Street was built earlier but within the Victorian period.
The building has high historical value as a commercial building and symbolic significance with regards to the development of the town.
Danny and Mark said:
“Lord Street has always been about bringing people together.
“We’re proud to play a small part in its next chapter and hope that, years from now, today’s children will look back on Digz’n Lidz with the same fondness their parents and grandparents remember this building.
“Here’s to preserving the past, embracing the future, and keeping Lord Street full of life for generations to come.”
Digz’n Lidz is at 535–563 Lord Street, Southport town centre, PR9 0BB, inside the historic former Debenhams building. For more details, visit the website.
Opening hours will be 11am-6pm Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and 11am-8pm Friday and Saturday.
Digz’n Lidz opens at 535–563 Lord Street, Southport, on Wednesday 2 September 2026.
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