14 | Aycliffe Today Business
Bringing Aycliffe Business Park Together | 15
Former
Presswork
Metals tool room
transformed into
modern events
venue
An old industrial tool room which was
once part of a World War II munitions factory
has been transformed into a modern events
venue.
ROF 59 activity centre has spent more
than £20,000 creating a new party room at
its premises on Aycliffe Business Park.
In recent years the building was home to
Presswork Metals which manufactured parts
for the automotive industry until it closed in
2004.
But in the 1940s it was part of the huge
Royal Ordnance Factory site in Newton
Aycliffe which produced bombs and bullets
for the war effort.
Now bosses at the new ROF 59 complex
– which opened last summer and includes
a trampoline park, climbing walls and
restaurant – have completed the conversion
of an old tool room into a multi-functional
ROF 59 business
development manager Kim
Fryer outside the venue’s
new party room.
venue for parties and events.
And pensioner Vera Stobbs, an original
‘Aycliffe Angel’ who worked at the munitions
factory during the war, was one of the first
to sample the new party room when she
celebrated her granddaughter’s 40th birthday
there.
“I think it’s just wonderful!” said the
91-year-old.
“It’s amazing to see what was part of
the old munitions factory now being used
as a place to celebrate happy times – it’s
unrecognisable compared to the place I used
to call work more than 70 years ago.”
Business development manager Kim
Fryer, who has previously held similar roles
at Auckland Castle in Bishop Auckland and
the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery,
now has ambitious plans to host a range of
functions at the new site including weddings,
Former Aycliffe Angel Vera Stobbs celebrates her
granddaughter Emma Fielding’s 40th birthday at
ROF 59.
birthday parties and charity nights.
“The possibilities are literally endless,”
says Kim, who’s originally from Birmingham
and has more than 20 years’ experience in
the hospitality industry.
For all ROF 59 enquiries call 01325
728222 or email [email protected]
ROF 59 is a new, multi-purpose activity centre – built on one of the
former Royal Ordnance Factory sites on Aycliffe Business Park, Newton Aycliffe.
Custom-built for the war effort in the early 1940s, ROF 59 was used by the Aycliffe Angels,
who built bombs and bullets for the boys in the battlefield.
After an extensive redevelopment, which has preserved much of the original brickwork
and history, ROF 59 is now a 21st Century entertainment venue for all the family.
Bounce at ROF59 is home to more than 75
trampolines, including a dodgeball court and
three slam dunk basketball hoops, plus jumps
bags!
Bounce costs just £10.50, which includes
socks – check out www.rof59.co.uk for times.
PA RT Y
BOO KIN GS
FI ND US
Climb at ROF59 can be enjoyed by most. If
you fit a harness you can enjoy the challenges
of the 14 Adventure Walls – no experience is
needed
Adventure Climb at ROF 59 costs £7.50.
See www.rof59.co.uk for more details.
And, relax...After you’ve tried climbing or
bouncing at ROF 59, visitors can relax in
The Blitz restaurant or The Bunker bar/lounge
– with great food and a variety of drinks
to choose from!
We accommodate school groups, private parties, corporate events and team-building days.
Get in touch with us today to find out more.
ROF 59 Durham Way South Aycliffe Business Park Newton Aycliffe Co. Durham DL5 6XN
t. 01325 728222 e. [email protected]
www.rof59.co.uk
The ROF 59 team (left to right): Valerie, Gary,
Julie and Gary Finley with their Newcomer of
the Year award.
Award-winning family venue
ROF 59 wants to bring 180-metre
zip line to Newton Aycliffe
An award-winning family
entertainment venue is set
to bring a range of exciting
new outdoor activities to its
Newton Aycliffe site including a
180-metre zip line and 38-metre
high bungee tower.
ROF 59 activity centre has applied to
Durham County Council for permission
to install the new facility at the rear of its
existing building on Aycliffe Business Park.
The proposed new development will
include a 38-metre tall bungee tower, which
will be connected to another tower by two
zip lines which will enable thrill-seekers to
glide 180 metres across a stretch of land
between Cumbie Way and Beaumont Way on
to landing zones.
The venture, yet to be discussed by
Durham County councillors, could create
up to 12 new jobs and would open in the
summer if approved.
As well as the zip lines and bungee tower,
ROF 59 also hopes to include an outdoor
army-style assault course and “tough
mudder” type exercise area as part of the
new development.
ROF 59, which was named Newcomer of
the Year at Aycliffe Business Park’s Make Your
Mark awards in February, has already seen
footfall double in recent months.
And local businessman John Finley says
the latest addition to ROF 59 will be another
first for Newton Aycliffe.
He said: “We’ve always wanted to bring
unique attractions to Aycliffe, so we’ve been
mindful and respectful to other venues in the
area, to not just copy what other people do.
“When we first had the idea of a
trampoline park, the nearest type of thing
to us that I knew of were in Castleford and
Edinburgh. I knew they were going to be
a big thing and, sure enough, we’re now
seeing them crop up in various areas of the
region.
“It was a first for Newton Aycliffe and
we’ve seen footfall at ROF 59 gradually
increase over the last few months, and it has
now doubled.
“We want to bring a truly unique, all-round
family experience to the people of Aycliffe
and surrounding areas. The bounce, climb
and relax elements of ROF 59 already do
that, but these new attractions will bring
something completely different.
“ROF 59 winning Newcomer of the Year
at the Make Your Mark business awards was
testament to a lot of hard work by our great
team, and shows that the venture has really
captured the imagination of local people.”
ROF 59 underwent a £1.1m
redevelopment in 2015, rejuvenating the old
Presswork Metals building and former World
War II munitions factory into a 21st Century
entertainment and leisure venue.
The 70,000 sq ft centre, which created
30 new jobs when it opened last August,
now includes the Blitz restaurant as well
as the Bunker bar/lounge, a huge park of