Retro Bay Cafe
BEST FOR
Ages 0+
ENTRY
from £6.50
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Whitley Bay
What it’s like
Retro consoles and arcade classics by the hour, from Sega Saturn to Super Nintendo, with a café table for whoever isn't playing.
You book a slot, sit down at a screen, and take your pick from more than 30 retro consoles: Mega Drive, N64, Gamecube, Wii U, PlayStation through to PS3, plus the arcade cabinets doing Pac-Man, Defender and Street Fighter 2. It's a straight nostalgia trip for the grown-ups and a proper novelty for kids who've never held a chunky NES pad, and Sonic or Mario Kart tends to be the thing that gets fought over.
Sessions run an hour for £6.50 or two hours for £12, and only the people actually playing pay, which is fair enough. The catch is that only those playing sit at a console, and the site is upfront that café seating for non-players is limited, so a big group with several spectators is going to feel the squeeze in what's a small space.
It opens Wednesday to Friday afternoons and Saturday and Sunday from 10, with last entry at 5. You don't have to book, but they say plainly that walk-ins aren't guaranteed a full session and weekends get busy, so if you want the whole two hours, book ahead. Worth knowing it's a nut free venue if you're bringing your own snacks, and there's food and drink available along with consoles and games for sale if you fancy taking a bit of the retro home with you.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Around 5 upwards, once they can handle a game pad
- Last entry
- 5pm
- Booking
- Preferred to ensure full session time
- Parties
- Kids and adult parties available
- It's a nut free venue, so factor that in if you're packing snacks.
- Café seating for non-players is limited, so leave the big entourage at home.
- Booking isn't compulsory but it's the only way to lock in your full session time.
- There are consoles and games for sale on site if you want to relive it at home.
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£6.50 for an hour, £12 for two hours. Only the people playing need to pay.
Do we need to book?
You can walk in, but they're clear that booking is the only way to guarantee your full session, especially at weekends.
What are the opening hours?
Wednesday to Friday, 12 to 6pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10 to 6pm. It's closed Monday and Tuesday, with last entry at 5.
Is it suitable for a toddler?
There's no minimum age listed, so younger children can join in, though the consoles and games skew towards ones a bit older will get more out of.
What if some of us don't want to play?
Non-players don't pay, but café seating is limited, so they recommend no more than two spectators per group of players.
Can we do birthday parties there?
Yes, both kids and adult parties are available, with details on the party section of the website.
Is there food and drink?
There's a café, and it's a nut free venue throughout.
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