If you thought Whitehaven was all about quiet harbours and historic brickwork, think again. The town has just dropped 4.6 million pounds to turn a dusty old Grade II listed building into a futuristic playground called Levels. They took the old Whittles building on Duke Street, which had been rotting away for about twenty years, and stuffed it full of high end tech. It is a bold move to put e-sports rigs and flight simulators inside a building that probably remembers the invention of the telegram.
The management team is very keen to point out that this isn’t just a place for teenagers to scream at their headsets while playing Fortnite. Managing director Ian Irving says the goal is to sneak some digital skills into the local youth while they think they are just having a laugh. It is the classic “broccoli in the brownies” approach to education. They want to show kids that there are real career paths in tech right here in Cumbria, rather than watching all the talent flee to London the second they finish their GCSEs.
What is Inside the Hub?
Levels is basically a digital Swiss Army knife for the town. They have professional e-sports stations, a studio for content creation, and even a flight simulator for anyone who fancies themselves as the next Top Gun.
| Feature | The Purpose |
| E-sports Set-ups | Competitive gaming and team building. |
| Flight Simulator | Engineering interest and pilot basics. |
| Studio Space | Podcasting, video editing, and creative arts. |
| National Curriculum | School trips for hands-on tech learning. |
Transformational Facelifts
Director Gemma Leadbetter admits that fixing up the building was a bit of a nightmare. Dealing with a heritage site that has been in decline for two decades is usually a recipe for grey hair and empty wallets. However, the result is a massive facelift for Duke Street. Since every car driving through Whitehaven has to pass this spot, it is certainly a better look for the town than a boarded up eyesore.
British Energy Coast helped develop the project, and they insist the place is for everyone. While the kids are busy levelling up, the facility aims to bridge the literacy gap in digital skills. It turns out that gaming is actually a serious business now, and Whitehaven is betting 4.6 million pounds that the future of the local economy lies in a keyboard and mouse.
Leveling Up the Local Scene
Whether this hub actually stops young people from leaving or just makes them better at virtual dogfights remains to be seen. But hey, at least the town has a shiny new landmark that doesn’t smell like damp wallpaper. If you find yourself in Whitehaven with a spare hour and a desire to crash a digital plane, you know where to go.
Just don’t expect to win against the locals, they have likely been practicing since the doors opened.
Related topics: Tech
