Summer means Nottingham Beach in the city centre, with sand, paddling, rides and food stalls, but this year an alternative seaside has opened. This one is indoors and it doesn't have to cost you a penny.
There's sand, deckchairs, a lifeguard and arcade games at Victoria Centre for young and not-so-young to enjoy. A mini beach has been created in the former Disney shop on the upper floor.
Ten tonnes of sand have been deposited where youngers can play with buckets and spades. Parents, meanwhile, can have a rest in one of the stripy deckchairs laid out on the artificial grass. And if they really want to get in the spirit they can don a straw sunhat.
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There are plenty of opportunities for fun family photos at an ice cream stand, a camper van and a giant deckchair. Visitors can play retro arcade games including Pac Man, Space Invaders, Sega Rally and Dancing Stage Euromix for free.
Mum Michaela Spencer, of Bilborough, who was with her three-year-old son Dylan Forshaw, said: "I think it's fantastic. There's certainly nothing like this in Nottingham that's free. It's great for families with children of all ages. It's really nice. Dylan loves the sandpit and likes playing on the arcade games and you can have a really nice family photo here."
The beach is the latest attraction at the shopping centre to set up in an empty shop during the holidays. Previously there has been a sticker room, ball pit, Roller Room and at Christmas, the Glow Room.
Victoria Centre manager Nigel Wheatley said: "It's a bit of fun, not quite what we do in the Market Square which is brilliant, but you can come in and do a bit of shopping, go for something to eat, Kids don't want to walk around a shopping centre in the city all day, they want to be able to play.
"The weather doesn't matter. We like the idea of doing things where people can just stop and enjoy, have a bit of surprise and delight. Our younger visitors can take their shoes and socks off and play in the sand and have a bit of fun and older visitors like me can play on Pac Man and Sega Rally.
"We have great photo moments and everyone looks an Insta or TikTok moment. There are even static seagulls that won't do any harm to you... they won't nick your chips! Ours are tame.
"It's a good use of space. One of the things about Victoria Centre we don't have an abundance of areas so when an opportunity comes along while we're looking for someone else to come in here we might as well use it so we try and find creative ways to have an event."
Other activities include giant Jenga and a bean bag game. So the attraction doesn't get over-crowded, visitors are encouraged to book a 45-minute time slot online. The attraction, which opened on Friday, August 5, has already had more than 2,500 bookings.
The beach will be open every day from 11am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday, and 11am to 5pm on Sundays until Bank Holiday Monday, August 29. Although free, donations are being accepted in aid of Hope Nottingham, a charity that operates 14 food banks across the city.
Mr Wheatley added: "Ideally the best way is to book your time but if there is capacity we will let people come in. What we don't want to do is overfill it. It's completely free but if people can give a donation we'd like them to. This year, for all the right reasons, we want to work with Hope Nottingham as a charity. It's an important thing and we recognise that. But if people can't afford that, it's not a problem."
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