Game-Themed Bars In London I Have To Visit!
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I would actually class myself as a pro gamer, however, my son would STRONGLY disagree with that statement!
But what I also love, yet haven’t had a chance to do in a while, is go OUT!!
I need a bit of amusement and recreation, as I’m sure you do too. And I was surprised and excited to learn that there are a small number of game-themed bars in my home city of London.
So what is a game-themed bar you might ask? Well, it’s not a bar that will reward you with gold coins for stepping through their doors, but, you can enjoy some tasty comfort food, snacks and cocktails while you enjoy epic ‘gameathons’ with your friends.
Check them all out below…
1. PLATFORM
Overview | Platform London offers a unique hangout spot where you can enter multiplayer zones for groups of 2-6 people and play each other in games like Super Smash Bros, FIFA, Mario Kart and Just Dance.
There is also an esports area for PC gamers where “game-changing” cocktails are served to you as you play.
And, if you get hungry, there are many “unexpected food flavour combos” from their bottom brunch menu that you can indulge in all week long between 11-4pm.
Location | 2b Worship St, Shoreditch, London EC2A 2AH
2. MELTDOWN
Overview | The Meltdown Bar has much to offer game-lovers!
There is an esports area where you can watch a game or meet your favourite streamer, as well as join a tournament game playing classics like League of Legends and Street Fighter.
Pints and original cocktails are at the ready, and if you’re feeling confident (or tipsy enough), get up, and sing your heart out on their karaoke stage.
Location | 342 Caledonian Rd, London N1 1BB
3. THE FOUR QUARTERS
Overview | For those of you born in the 70s or 80s, The Four Quarters has many retro arcade games, yet still manages to fit in a console booth with most of the "obvious" games.
They also have a large selection of craft ale and serve a US-style grill menu.
They have three locations in London - Peckham, Hackney Wick and Elephant & Castle.
Location | Various
4. OTHERWORLD
Overview | OTHERWORLD brands itself as “London’s Most Immersive VR Experience”. They might be correct judging by the fact that they were a VR Award Finalist, Frame Award Winner in 2020 and won the Traveler’s Choice Award in 2021.
OTHERWORLD is a virtual island paradise with portals to sixteen unique VR experiences. To explore them, you’ll need to enter your “sense-hacking immersion pod” that combines sensory effects such as heat wind and rumble effects, that you and your friends’ avatars can get lost in.
Location | 336 Acton Mews, London E8 4EA
5. LOADING BAR
Overview | Inspired by the gaming cafes of Tokyo, Loading Bar has hundreds of arcade and retro board games that are free to play as long as you keep drinking.
That won’t take much convincing when you see their clever game-themed cocktail menu offerings like “Donkey Konga!”, Resident Evil “G&T Virus”, “Sonic 3” and “Mario shots”.
They also offer big-screen entertainment and events that include triple-A game launches.
They have two locations in London, one in Stoke Newington and the other in Peckham.
Location | Various
6. ELECTRIC SHUFFLE
Overview | An electric shuffleboard, prosecco and bottomless pizza? I’m in!
If you have no idea what shuffleboard is (you wasn’t the only one). Shuffleboard involves players competing against each other to outscore their opponents by sliding weighted pucks down a wooden block table into a scoring area at the opposite end.
Why Electric Shuffleboard is so unique, is that it uses technology to identify the exact location of the pucks on the table, plus it has an interactive game screen.
Location | Various
