Benny’s Hangar entertainment centre crashes into liquidation

An ambitious $1 million-plus plan to turn an unused old Christchurch air force hangar into a large indoor entertainment venue has crashed to the ground.

Local barber Ben Scott planned to convert the 1800m² hangar and mezzanine floor in Wigram into an all-ages entertainment centre, featuring a large indoor skate park and a host of other activities including archery, axe throwing and mini golf.

But over the weekend Scott announced his two limited liability companies - Benny’s Hangar and Benny’s Barber Shop - have been forced into liquidation.

Contractors and suppliers are now owed more than $400,000 and will have to wait for the liquidator's report to see how much they get back from the failed project.

Scott's former barber shop in Sydenham will continue to operate under new ownership.

Local barber Ben Scott's planned indoor entertainment venue inside a disused former Wigram air...
Local barber Ben Scott's planned indoor entertainment venue inside a disused former Wigram air force hangar has crashed to the ground. Photo: Geoff Sloan
He initially described the entertainment venue as "essentially an adult's Chipmunks" with "affordable entertainment" for all ages.

Scott reached out to the public for help in May through an ambitious $750,000 crowdfunding campaign.

But it failed to reach its goal, bringing a halt to construction which was around 80 per cent completed at the time.

Scott said it has been "one hell of a 10-year journey". He said he had given the project his best shot, but admitted he came up short.

"(There's) a lot of learning to come from this," he said.

- By Geoff Sloan, made with the support of NZ On Air