Orchard Square: Video games centre closes with swipe at 'anti-business' Sheffield City Council

The boss of a Sheffield video games centre has closed the business with a swipe at the council for ‘doing everything they can to try and stop people driving vehicles into the centre’.

Daniel Eshelby said it had been his lifelong dream to open Simulation Station car racing venue. It launched in Orchard Square in the city centre last year, creating four jobs.

But he called time on the business in July. In an emotional message he said it had been “really tough” working in a city run by a “hostile anti-business council” and criticised restrictions on traffic.

He also claimed he ended up paying more service charge than was stated and in June said a water leak had damaged a simulator. The business was also hit with a £10,000 bill from a break-in just before it opened.

He added: “I don’t want to point any fingers, this is entirely my fault for choosing this place. It’s been a huge mistake of mine to have faith in the centre and to sign a lease for this place. I’m so disappointed but I can only blame myself. I did not see the level of sales anywhere near I’d hoped for, making it increasingly difficult to cover the operating costs.”

He signed off: “I’m grateful for the opportunity to have lived my dream, even if it was for a limited time.”

Sheffield City Council did not comment.

An Orchard Square spokesperson said: “As a landlord we work to support our tenants to harness their growth and potential, giving our customers reasons to visit and return to Orchard Square.

“We are disappointed for Simulation Station that they were not able to generate sufficient business to remain viable despite our support and wish them well going forward.”