Opening date revealed for new Digz’n Lidz cafe

The opening date for the brand new Digz’n Lidz RC experience cafe in Southport town centre has been revealed.

Owners Danny Melia and Mark Gaudie are excited to be opening somewhere new and exciting for families with experiences suitable for all ages.

The new attraction is situated in one of the front units behind huge floor-to-ceiling windows in the former Debenhams building at 535–563 Lord Street in Southport town centre, in the flourishing Northern Quarter.

Digz’n Lidz is due to open on Wednesday 2nd September 2026.

Excitement has been growing among the steady stream of people who have been walking past the site as work has been developing.

The RC stands for ‘remote controlled’ - users book sessions to sit on one of 14 stools around a specially constructed RC digger sandpit.

There they control a choice of diggers, dump trucks, articulated trucks, wheel loaders, or tower cranes.

There is a cafe area to the rear of the building with hot food and drink such as toasted paninis and coffees available, which can be ordered and brought to people as they play.

While sessions must be booked, Digz’n Lidz is also open to people wanting to walk in and sit enjoying something to eat or drink in one of the booths.

The venue is suitable for birthday parties, family days out, work gatherings, corporate days and more, for a fun activity that will be a real talking point.

Digz’n Lidz is fully accessible, with no steps inside, an accessible toilet and baby change area, and with people in wheelchairs able to pull up to the sandpit and play.

There is an impressive mural alongside the wall which has been painted by local artist Keith Pollitt.

The new independent business is being created by two long-term friends and dads-of-two, both HGV lorry drivers.

Mark Gaudie, 45, has a 10-year-old daughter and a six-year-old son while Danny Melia, 33, has a 12-year-old daughter and a six-year-old son. Danny left his HGV driving job on Friday (14th August) to concentrate full-time on the new venture.

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: Digz N' Lidz | RC Experience Cafe

“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: Digz N' Lidz | RC Experience Cafe 

Opening hours will be 11am-6pm Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and 11am-8pm Friday and Saturday.