The developer working on the new bowling alley on Exmouth seafront has been given two months to either complete the project or hand the building back to the local authority.
East Devon District Council has issued legal notice to Harlequin Leisure in an attempt to speed up the development, which has so far taken five years.
The company says that "everything is fine", and a large team are on site working hard to get the bowling alley ready to open in the new year.