The Retro Room - Vintage 80s Arcade

What it’s like

Unlimited freeplay on genuine 80s and 90s arcade cabinets, from Pac-Man to Tekken, for £7 an hour or £25 for the whole day.

This is a room full of the machines you remember from arcades that don't exist any more: Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Sega Rally, Time Crisis 3, Street Fighter II, Tekken, Guitar Hero and more, all set to freeplay so nobody's hunting for coins. You pay on the way in and everything's included after that, which is the right way round for a place like this. £7 buys an hour, £25 buys the whole day on Friday or Saturday (12 hours if you're determined) or the full 8 hours on a Sunday, and you can come and go as you like on that ticket.

It's pitched at 8 and up, and anyone under 16 needs an adult with them, so this isn't a drop-and-run kind of venue. That suits it well enough, since a lot of the appeal here is nostalgia as much as gameplay, and having a parent who remembers Donkey Kong first time round adds something. Younger arcade fans who are quick on a joystick will get stuck into Mortal Kombat or the Simpsons cabinet for a genuinely long stretch, and an hour goes fast once someone's chasing a high score.

Card only at the desk, and free parking at Cityside covers you for up to 5 hours on weekdays or all day at weekends, which takes the sting out of the hourly rate a bit. It's a two minute walk from York Street train station if you're coming in without a car. Turn up on a normal Friday, Saturday or Sunday and there's no need to book anything, though the monthly special events and the first-Thursday member's nights (strictly 18+) do work differently and can need tickets in advance.

Facilities

Need to know

Best for

Ages 8 and up, especially kids who love a high score chase

Parking

Free on site, up to 5 hours Mon-Fri when shopping, all day Sat-Sun

Getting there by bus or train

York Street train station 1 minute walk

Parties

Private hire available Mon-Thurs from £10 per person per hour for birthdays, stags, hens, corporate events

• It's card only at the door, no cash.
• The all-day ticket lets you come and go, so you can pop out for food and head back in.
• Member's nights are the first Thursday of the month, 6-10pm, strictly 18+ and BYO allowed.
• Special events happen roughly once a month and sometimes need a ticket booked ahead.

Plan your visit

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