Our Story

Wallis’ Amusements has been a firm favourite by Hollingworth Lake since 1969. The arcade and café is now managed by Jade Wallis; the fourth generation to continue the family business. Here’s our story from the very beginning…

Before the Wallis fairground family purchased the site, it was originally a showroom for Whittakers, Oldham, who manufactured 2p machines, children’s ride and dodgems.

In 1969, William Willis Wallis (aka. Willy) and Sally Wallis (Jade’s great grandad and grandma) purchased the 16 by 30 foot building and began trading as Wallis’s Amusements.

In the late 80s, the business was inherited by Willy and Sally’s sons, John and David. However, as John and David had their own businesses in the seaside town of Scarborough, two of Willy and Sally’s grandsons, John and Matthew stepped up to run the business.

In the early 90s, Matthew moved to the area and took over the running of the business.

During the 90s, Wallis’ Amusements had ice-cream vans, bouncy castles and big wheels; all on the land next to the original small arcade. There was even a fairground that visited at Easter!

In 1998, he purchased the arcade and began to expand and build the business.

In the start of the new millennium, planning permission was acquired to build a cafe and with new flats above. A sandwich shop was trialled with a small ice-cream hatch for tourists and passer-bys.

2006 saw the purchase of the little white cottage next to the arcade, which was later demolished to extend the amusement arcade.

That year, ‘HOT STOP’ was created in the hatch on the front which served hot food, and ‘KNICKERBOCKERS’; ice-cream parlour and dessert spot, with lots of fairground style sweets, moved into the end of the building.

In 2021, we switched things up!

In 2021, Matthew’s daughter Jade joined the business, took over and became manager of Wallis’ Amusements.

Jade breathed new life to the business; giving the interior of the café a facelift and designing a whole new updated menu.

The Wallis’ team worked with M2 Hospitality Solutions and EPH creative amongst other companies, to bring the fantastic, exciting and colourful shop you see today to life!

Over the more recent years, Jade and her team have upgraded the menu; adding irresistible seasonal specials and new vegan and gluten-free options.

The arcade has also seen the addition of new upgraded machines, a customer toilet and contactless change machines.

Here’s to many more years of Wallis’!