A multi level entertainment, dining and recreation complex has been proposed for Saanich’s Uptown Shopping Centre by a Fort McMurray firm.

 

Known as The Banquet at Uptown, the 636-seat two-storey venue has been pitched for 207-3500 Uptown Boulevard along the shopping centre’s Douglas Street frontage.

 

The Banquet will include an 11-lane bowling alley on its main floor plus restaurant and bar seating, while the second floor will feature patio seating and a turf area for various recreational activities.

 

 

Vancouver-based Rising Tide Consultants – on behalf of an ownership group that currently operates a dining and entertainment venue known as The Banquet in Fort McMurray, Alberta – are seeking approvals from the municipality to permit operations between the hours of 9AM and 2AM. Saanich Police and Saanich Fire have already indicated support for the nature of the operation and its requested operating hours, according to documents filed with the district.

 

Uptown Shopping Centre had originally envisioned a multi-level food and entertainment operator in the space now eyed for The Banquet. A proposal by the operators of the Cactus Club chain of restaurants had failed to materialize for that space, although Browns Social House eventually opened a restaurant and bar along the northern end of Uptown Boulevard in a single level space.

 

Victoria’s urban core has been bereft of a bowling alley since the late 2000’s closure of Mayfair Lanes, which included 40 bowling lanes and casual dining on Tolmie Avenue between Oak and Douglas streets. Mayfair’s closure stemmed from the purchase of the facility by Ontario-based Loblaw Inc. which unveiled plans to build a SuperStore on the land. That vision, however, has been put on-hold. C

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