Base Arcade Belfast
BEST FOR
Ages 0-15
ENTRY
from £12
WHERE
Belfast
What it’s like
Free-play retro arcade with pinball and classic consoles, but only the 11am to 3pm Saturday session is family friendly.
Once you're in, every machine is free to play. No coins, no tokens, just a wristband and the run of a room full of 70s, 80s and 90s arcade games, pinball tables and a retro console area. It's a pop-up rather than a permanent venue, turning up roughly once a month on a full weekend, so you can't just decide on a whim to go on a Tuesday.
The family friendly window is the first session, 11am to 3pm on the Saturday. After that it switches to adult-only sessions running into the evening, bar open throughout including during the family slot. £12 for a child aged 15 and under, £20 for an adult, and that gets you four hours with a wristband system that lets you come and go rather than being locked to one seat.
Worth knowing before you book: all ticket sales are final, no cancelling or transferring to a future date if your plans change. Given it's only on once a month, that's a bit of a gamble if you're booking weeks ahead. There's free parking nearby, and if you're coming from the city centre the Glider G1 gets you close, a short walk from the Connswater stop round to Banana Block.
For a nine or ten-year-old who fancies proper pinball rather than a screen, this is the sort of afternoon that sticks with them. Younger kids will get a kick out of the retro consoles too, though four hours is a decent stretch for a small one so pace it with a break at the café.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 5 to 15, pinball and retro consoles suit the older end
- Booking
- Pop-up events running roughly once a month on full weekends
- Parking
- Free parking nearby
- Getting there by bus or train
- Glider (G1) bus route from city centre, get off at Connswater and walk about 90 seconds
- Tickets are final sale, so only book if you're sure of the date
- It's a pop-up, not a fixed venue, appearing roughly once a month
- Free play means no coins or tokens, everything's included once you're inside
- The bar is open even during the family friendly morning session
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£12 for a child aged 15 and under, £20 for an adult. That covers the full four-hour session.
Do we need to book ahead?
Booking is required, and it's a pop-up running roughly once a month on full weekends rather than a permanent spot. Sales are final too, no cancelling or moving your ticket if you can't make it.
Which session is suitable for kids?
The early Saturday session, usually 11am to 3pm, is the family friendly one. Later sessions on the same day switch to adults only.
Is the bar open when kids are there?
Yes, the bar runs through the family session as well, with last orders at 11pm on the later adult sessions.
How long do people stay?
Sessions run four hours, and a wristband system means you can leave and come back within that window rather than being stuck there the whole time.
How do we get there without a car?
The Glider G1 route from Belfast city centre drops you at Connswater, about 90 seconds walk round the corner to the venue. There's also free parking nearby if you're driving.
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