Going out to a bar or pub with friends has been a favourite pastime of most Brits for as long as pubs have existed. The old fashioned real ale pub is a classic standby in towns and villages across the country. Over the years, more types of pubs and bars have been introduced and have become a part of the nation’s drinking culture.
Gastropubs and cocktail bars are now commonplace across the country. More niche bars are springing up too, with axe-throwing bars being one of the weirder trends in recent years. Gaming bars are another rising trend in the entertainment scene.
Are gaming bars just a short-lived trend that will soon be on their way out or are they here to stay? In this article, we’ll break down just what gaming bars are and whether or not they have a future. Then we’ll give some suggestions for where to go in Birmingham if you’re curious about giving a gaming bar a try.
What are gaming bars?
A gaming bar is a bar where patrons can play games while they drink, eat and hang out. They are also referred to more generally as activity bars. The games that they offer range from the traditional — pétanque and shuffleboard — to high-tech VR simulators and everything in between. The emphasis at gaming bars is placed on the fun and the community.
Playing competitive games while drinking is nothing new. The casino is the classic example, with most traditional land-based casinos offering to comp customers’ drinks while they play. Online casinos bridge the gap between the casino and the gaming bar. Players can enjoy all of the excitement and fun of the poker tables or the slot machines through their mobile device or computer, either at home or on the go. The gaming bar simply gives players a place to play games in public instead of at home.
Types of gaming bars
Gaming bars cover a bunch of types of activities. Classic pub games that have been made the focus or given a digital upgrade are those that most people are familiar with. These include pool and billiards, darts and bowling. Some classic pub gaming bars lean into the pub aesthetic while others embrace the minimalism of video gaming tech.
Other sports-oriented gaming bars include options like crazy golf, shuffleboard, table tennis and batting cages for cricket and baseball. Beer pong is an American pop culture import that has also become a gaming bar theme.
Video gaming bars include VR experience bars as well as pinball, classic arcade games and console games. There are also gaming bars for board games, though board game cafes are more common (possibly because you need a lot of caffeine to get through some of those games!).
Do they have a future?
Gaming bars that focus on games like shuffleboard and lawn bowling are cashing in on a certain escapist nostalgia and the Millennial generation’s love of the ironic. These bars seem the least likely to last long-term without adapting by either adding more games or reaching out to a wider demographic.
Similarly, gaming bars that put a high-tech spin on a classic game are likely to struggle once the shine has worn off. Darts has been played in pubs and bars around the world for more than a century, and adding a digital element doesn’t really improve the experience in any way. The same is true for pool, snooker and table football.
More generally, gaming bars are most likely going to thrive in the coming years for one simple reason — they’re fun! Going to a gaming bar might not be something you want to do every night but they’re a great way to mix things up a bit and avoid falling into a boring routine. They’re also a cool alternative for a date night, especially for a first date where conversation might be a little easier if you’re also doing something.
Gaming bars in Birmingham
The Floodgate
Instead of offering just one game, The Floodgate gives its patrons three to enjoy. Their batting cages let you have a swing at baseballs fired at up to 55 mph — a real all-American experience! The curling arena brings the hit Canadian sport to the Midlands but with a neon twist. Lastly, they offer table golf, described as the child of billiards and mini golf. The Floodgate is the first venue in the UK to offer table golf, so get in at the start of what’s obviously going to be a hot new game.
A lot of gaming bars try to capitalise on the urban aesthetics trend and end up looking like exactly what they are — how a corporate marketer imagines a hip urban spot should look. The Floodgate doesn’t fall into that trap. Local graffiti artists, including Gent 48, have painted the walls, so you get an authentic feel.
Tilt
Tilt is Birmingham’s independent pinball gaming bar. They have three core tenets to their philosophy — craft beer, coffee and pinball. Those three things might not sound like they naturally go together but at Tilt, the combination works. They aren’t limited, though, as patrons also have their choice of teas, soft drinks, wines and cocktails.
Tilt has 20 pinball games. These include modern games and remakes of classics. For the casual player, you can pay by the game and for the more serious pinball fans, they have a league that anyone can join.
MeetspaceVR Gaming Arena
The name says it all — MeetspaceVR Gaming Arena is a VR gamer’s dream location. With two arena spaces and a smaller area for small-scale VR gameplay, a library of games to choose from, and all the equipment you need to get fully immersed, MeetspaceVR is the gaming bar for a VR experience. While the emphasis is on gaming, they do have a restaurant and bar for players who need to recharge.