Shock as whole of Quest play zone now shuts down at Merry Hill centre

It was used by hundreds of families every week but has now shut.

A statement on the firm's website confirmed the 'incredibly difficult decision' to close, which comes after a turbulent few weeks.

Quest revealed last month that it was closing its outdoor play area as Merry Hill owner Intu wanted to use the area to create more parking spaces.

Bosses said at the time that the blow of losing the outdoor play area would mean having to make changes in order to survive. But just six weeks later, the whole centre has now closed.

The shutters were down yesterday following the shock decision to shut.

The company has previously faced difficulties during its time at Merry Hill and was saved from closure last year in a last-minute buyout.

An official reason for the closure has not been given but Quest owner Mark Knox promised to released more details 'in the coming days'. The indoor part of the centre provided a soft play area for youngsters while the centre was also home to Europe's highest indoor ropes course and mini golf.

The outdoor area had featured the Nerf combat arena. Merry Hill said it was 'disappointed' to lose Quest. The statement from Mr Knox said: "We took the incredibly difficult decision to close Quest. After taking advice from our legal team we have ceased trading at Merry Hill.

"I will follow up with further news and give you all some facts that will hopefully quell the rumours. My sincere apologies for the decision but in the coming days it will become clear why we've had to take the course of action."

Merry Hill spokesman Rob Pickersgill said: "We're disappointed to hear that Quest is closing down. This is a commercial decision taken by Quest and we wish their staff well."

Quest has proved popular with families across the West Midlands and the huge branding which is splashed across the centre will be recognisable to the thousands of shoppers who use Merry Hill.

Bosses at Quest had suggested they were unhappy at being asked to hand back the area occupied by its outdoor play area, saying they had 'tried to battle and fight to retain our space but with no success'.

The closure of Quest comes at what would normally have been one of its busiest times of the year. Families had flocked to the centre during school holidays.

Merry Hill general manager Dan Murphy admitted in October that the centre was reviewing how the space occupied by the outdoor centre would be used. Bosses are looking to create more parking spaces as part of a multi-million revamp of the centre, work on which is due to start in the new year.