Annual pass holders at a science discovery centre are being given the chance to get a first look at its relaunch next month.
Wrexham-based Xplore! is offering its VIP members an exclusive 24-hour window ahead of the general public to book a slot for its reopening weekend on Saturday 3 October. It will run all-day Wednesday.
Formerly Techniquest Glyndŵr, the facility specialises in science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (STEAM) activities. The organisation is moving from its previous base at Wrexham Glyndŵr University to Henblas Street in the town centre, with the new site boasting more than 100 new exhibits.
Xplore!’s annual pass costs £27.50 for a 12-month membership and offers unlimited entry and a 10 per cent discount at the gift shop. In addition, members also benefit from access to exclusive events, which in the past has included sell-out topics such as slime and dinosaurs.
Katie Williams, business development & stakeholder engagement officer at Xplore!, said: “I’d firstly like to take this opportunity to thank our valued customers for their continued support.
“This is an exciting opportunity for our pass holders to get priority booking to come and see our new facility which is even bigger and better than before. For those who don’t possess an annual membership but would like to, you can purchase one over the phone.
“Current members can also be assured that they have not missed out on any months they could not visit during lockdown as their renewal date will be extended.
“We have some incredible new exhibits including a light-operated harp with no strings which visitors can play a tune on and a game to test the speed of your reactions. There really is something to interest all the family.”
Xplore! was originally due to move to Wrexham town centre in the spring but COVID-19 forced the organisation to delay its relocation. The team has worked hard to bring in COVID-friendly measures to help make the venue safe.
Katie added: “We will be carrying out a deep clean after each session and hand sanitising stations are widely available to use before and after trying each interactive display.
“A booking system is also being implemented to easily manage numbers and help avoid queues.
“We look forward to welcoming everyone to our new centre. Those who visited us at Techniquest Glyndŵr can expect to see familiar popular exhibits as well as more than 100 new ones.”
Xplore! achieved 202,896 hours of science, technology, engineering, art and maths (STEAM) learning in 2019 from more than 18,000 visitors.
The 37,410 sq ft centre is broken up into four zones: construction, reflection, action and the dark. The new larger venue on the high street also features a bigger gift shop as well as a 45-seater café, which will sell local Welsh produce, and a picnic area for families to bring their own food.
