Playback Arcade
BEST FOR
Ages 7+
ENTRY
from £12
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Bristol
What it’s like
Freeplay arcade with over 35 machines, pay-to-play pinball and 100-plus board games, best for kids seven and up.
This one's for the kid who's bored of soft play and wants proper old-school arcade cabinets. You pay on the door and then everything's freeplay, over 35 arcade machines plus a stack of board games if that's more your speed. The pinball tables are pay-to-play on top, and the site is upfront that they're the machines most likely to be on the blink, so if your seven-year-old has their heart set on one particular pinball table it might be worth checking it's actually working before you promise anything.
It's pitched at seven and up, though they say younger kids who are already handy with a controller can be an exception. Anyone under 12 needs an adult with them, and it's one adult per four children, so if you're bringing a small gang of school friends you'll need enough grown-ups to go round. There's a £2 ticket if all you want is the board games, which is a decent shout for a mixed-age group or a kid who'd rather sit and play something slower.
At £12 a child and £15 for an adult, this isn't pocket-money stuff for a quick half hour, it's an admission model rather than pay-per-play, so you're paying to get in and then playing as much as you like. Non-playing carers get a cheaper £4 ticket, but only if you buy it in person. There's a monthly pass too if you know you'll be back, £37.50 if you ask at the counter.
It's on the ground floor of The Galleries, so no stairs to wrestle a buggy up. Opening hours are afternoons through the week and a bit earlier at weekends, and they'll turn people away if it gets too busy, which is worth bearing in mind if you're planning a spontaneous visit on a Saturday.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 7 and up; younger confident gamers can be let in too
- Board games only? There's a separate £2 ticket, no need to pay full admission.
- Under-12s need an adult with them, one adult per four kids.
- Carer tickets are £4 but only if bought in person on the day.
- Tuesdays and Wednesdays only open during school holidays.
- It's on the ground floor of The Galleries, opposite Boswells Cafe.
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£12 for a child ticket, £15 for an adult. There's a £2 board-games-only ticket if you don't want the arcade machines, and non-playing carers get £4 tickets bought in person.
Do we need to book ahead?
You can just turn up and buy tickets at the counter. They do warn they might refuse entry if it's too busy, so booking online is the safer bet if you can.
What age is it suitable for?
They suggest seven and up for the arcade games, though capable younger kids can be an exception. Under-12s need an adult with them, at a rate of one adult per four children.
Is there anything for younger children who don't want the arcade machines?
Yes, over 100 board games are included, or you can buy the £2 board-games-only ticket and skip the arcade entirely.
What if a machine is broken when we visit?
They keep at least 40 games running, usually 50 to 60, but pinball machines are the ones most likely to be out of action. No refunds are given for broken machines, so if you're set on one specific game it's a gamble.
How long can we stay?
It's freeplay once you're in, so you can play as much as you like during opening hours rather than paying per game.
Can you book it for a birthday party?
They do private hire, priced on an ad-hoc basis depending on when you want it and how busy they'd otherwise be.
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