Planning a Retro Arcade Visit: Video Games, Pinball and Fruit Machines

“Retro arcade” can mean several different things. You might be looking for original video cabinets, a room of pinball tables or the fruit machines you remember from seaside holidays. A venue can be excellent at one without offering the others.

Arcade Club operates in Bury, Leeds and Blackpool. Its model is an admission charge with the games inside set to free play, and its collection includes video games, pinball and consoles. Check the individual venue’s game list and admission details when planning a visit.

Classic arcade machine ready for play

Retro arcade room buzzing with classic game machines

The Heart of Gaming is in Croydon. Its official site describes an arcade and gaming lounge with games such as The Simpsons and Daytona USA alongside Japanese rhythm games and consoles. It also uses an entry wristband rather than charging a coin for every game.

A specialist fruit-machine visit calls for a different check. Ask about the actual cabinets currently on the floor, including the version if that matters to you. A machine title can appear on more than one cabinet or jackpot setup.

Retropolis in the Spin Raiders archive refers to the Southend amusement venue covered in our visits. The earlier version of this article confused that venue with an unrelated game; those claims have been removed.

Once you know what you want to play, the rest of the plan is easier. Check the right branch, opening session, age rules and payment model, and leave time to try something unfamiliar rather than turning the visit into a race around a list.

Arcade Club: venues and games

The Heart of Gaming: Croydon venue information