Up A Level York
BEST FOR
Ages 8+
ENTRY
from £2
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
York
What it’s like
A gaming lounge for over-8s with PS5, Switch and retro booths, plus board games and D&D tables you book by the hour.
Console gaming's the main event here: PS5, Xbox Series S, Switch, and a run of retro booths that go back to the original PlayStation. There's a multi-retro joystick setup too if you want to show a ten-year-old what arcade games looked like before graphics got fancy. Board games, tabletop RPGs and Dungeons & Dragons sessions sit alongside the screens, so it suits a kid who wants a controller in their hand just as much as one who'd rather roll dice for three hours.
It's not a toddler venue and doesn't pretend to be. The minimum age is 8, and anyone under 12 needs an adult with them the whole time, which is worth knowing before you book if you were planning to drop off a group of ten-year-olds and nip to the shops. Pricing runs from £8 a head for unlimited board games and arcades up to £12 for the full console and retro package, or £5 if you bring your own game. Bookings are needed and you do it online rather than turning up on spec.
Food's sorted on site with a proper menu rather than just crisps: pizza, burgers, chicken strips, nachos, with vegan and gluten-free options listed too. It's a nut-free zone, so leave the satay snacks at home. Opening hours are a bit particular, closed Monday and Friday, evenings only Tuesday to Thursday, and only open from 10am at weekends, so a spontaneous Friday treat won't work here.
Birthday parties get their own package: three hours of gaming lounge access at £12 a head, or £18 with food included. There's a membership option too if this becomes a regular haunt, £30 a month for board games, tabletops, workshops and darts, or £50 for the premium tier.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Ages 8 and up, especially kids keen on consoles or D&D
- Food
- On-site café and snack bar: pizza, burgers, chicken strips, nuggets, nachos, chips, sausage sandwiches, soft drinks, milkshakes
- Parties
- Gaming parties for ages 8+ with 3 hours gaming lounge access (£12pp) or premium package with food (£18pp)
- Under-12s must have an adult with them throughout, not just at drop-off
- It's a nut-free venue, so pack accordingly
- Closed Monday and Friday, and weekday sessions don't start until 6pm
- Bring Your Own Game sessions at £5 are the cheap way in if you've already got a favourite title
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
From £8 a person for unlimited board games and arcades, £12 for the console and retro package too. Bring Your Own Game sessions are £5, and quiz nights are £2 a head.
Do we need to book?
Yes, sessions are booked online rather than walk-in.
What age is it for?
Eight and up. Anyone under 12 needs an adult with them the whole visit.
What are the opening hours?
Tuesday to Thursday it's 6pm to 11pm, weekends 10am to 11pm. Closed Monday and Friday.
Is there food?
A café on site does pizza, burgers, chicken strips and nachos, with vegan and gluten-free options. It's a nut-free zone, so no nut products allowed in.
Do you do birthday parties?
There's a Gaming Lounge Party at £12 a head with three hours of access, or a premium package at £18 with food included.
What can kids actually play?
PS5, Xbox Series S and Switch, retro booths going back to the original PlayStation, board games, tabletop RPGs like D&D, and arcade and puzzle games.
Is there a membership option?
£30 a month covers board games, tabletops, workshops and darts, and there's a £50 premium tier.
Do they run tournaments or workshops?
They hold game workshops and tournaments, with dates listed through their booking system.
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