Wildwalk site to become aquarium

The former Wildwalk complex at Bristol harbourside is to become an aquarium.

The attraction closed last year, together with the Imax cinema, after the owners said they could no longer afford to keep them open.

Explore-At-Bristol has announced that Blue Reef Leisure is to create a marine display with "a broad educational and conservation programme".

More than £4m is to invested in the aquarium, which will be nearly 6,000 sq metres in size. The Imax will reopen.

Ian Cunningham, from Blue Reef Leisure, said: "We're bringing you the Caribbean.

"We're going to have tropical displays, jellyfish, a coral reef and native things from the Severn as well."

Ian Knight, area director of the South West Regional Development Agency, said: "As one of the original funders of At-Bristol, we have been working very closely with the Explore team to find a suitable new use for the Wildwalk building, in order to unlock the area's business potential.

"It was very important to find an occupier that would add to the creative and cultural offer at Harbourside at the same time as complementing Explore-at-Bristol, and Blue Reef certainly fits the bill."