The 13 best arcades in Leeds will give you your retro fix!
Let’s be real, PC and console gaming rules the scene now. However, there’s still something magical about spending an entire afternoon or evening in arcades—especially the ones here in Leeds.
It could be sweet nostalgia, which spots like NQ64 Arcade Bar and Carousel evoke effortlessly. Or maybe it’s the social element, as battling mates in Street Fighter just never goes old.
Whatever the reason, arcade gaming is still going strong, and it doesn’t get better than at the spots below.
NQ64 Arcade Bar – Leeds
Address: Grand Arcade, 11 Merrion St
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 4 pm to 2 am
- Fri – 4 pm to 3 am
- Sat – 12 pm to 3 am
- Sun – 12 pm to 2 am
We can’t help but be obsessed with NQ64 Arcade Bar. With 30+ retro games and a sea of neon lights, it’s an electric space where we always forget life’s chaos by mashing buttons and controllers.
Our go-to games are NBA Hoops Basketball and Mortal Kombat 4—because we’ll admit, the team is quite competitive. We can be chill too, and that’s when the bar’s gaming-inspired cocktails like the gin-y and fruity Kirby, take centre stage.
Tip: Level up the experience by booking a private party.
Roxy Arcade Leeds Merrion Street
– From em_louise_
Address: Grand Arcade, 9 Merrion St
Contact Details: 0113 467 2230
Operating Hours:
- Tue to Wed – 4 pm to 12 am
- Thu – 4 pm to 1 am
- Fri – 3 pm to 3 am
- Sat – 12 pm to 3 am
- Sun – 4 pm to 12 am
As we said, 90s gaming is alive and kicking in Leeds, and Roxy Arcade is a big reason why. The entire spot is splattered in neon lights and crawling with classics like 1942 and Space Invaders, alongside staples like shuffleboard and lane basketball.
The pros don’t stop there. You can settle into a booth, fire up some Nintendo 64 or GameCube favourites, and tuck into some American pizza or wings—pure bliss.
Tip: Give them a call for the updated dress code. There are certain clothing and footwear they don’t allow.
Carousel Leeds
– From carouselleeds
Address: 117 Albion St
Contact Details: 0113 831 2122
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Tue – 12 pm to 1 am
- Wed – 12 pm to 3 am
- Thu to Fri – 12 pm to 1 am
- Sat – 11 am to 1 am
- Sun – 12 pm to 1 am
Our last stop at Carousel Leeds was a right laugh; we spent hours giving the arcade machines a proper ear-bashing while knocking back pornstar martinis. And we can’t forget the signature cheeseburger. Those 3 oz patties fuelled us up until the late hours!
Still, it was classics like Daytona and DanceDance Revolution that made us go, and they’re the reasons we’ll return for more rounds. Shuffleboard and interactive darts are close runners-up!
Tip: Weekend gaming is where it’s at; Sundays to Saturdays offer lower prices.
Tenpin Leeds
– From tenpinleeds
Address: 13 Merrion Way
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 10 am to 12 am
- Fri to Sat – 10 am to 1 am
- Sun – 10 am to 11 pm
Sure, Tenpin’s lanes are the main event, but skipping the arcade would be daft. Good thing we didn’t. Those mint-condition basketball and racing games had us feeling like 80s kids playing DnD!
What’s more, they know how to spoil guests, with daily promos, like kids-eat-free and cheaper pizza offers. In our case, we sipped on drinks that were 50% off just for popping by on a Tuesday.
Tip: Download and use the rewards app to score more discounts!
Pixel Bar
– From pixelbarleeds
Address: 25 Great George St
Contact Details: 07832 609853
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 4 pm to 1 am
- Fri – 4 pm to 3 am
- Sat – 12 pm to 3 am
- Sun – 12 pm to 1 am
Pixel Bar might not scream retro, but it’s still a gaming mecca that carries the arcade spirit. Console games dominate here, letting you battle your pals in titles like Tekken, Mortal Kombat, and Mario Kart, the next best friendship-wrecker after Uno.
Any visit also levels up with their gaming-inspired tipples. Pokémon cocktails are the biggest sellers—vodka-laced bevs in fruity versions like green apple and strawberry. Gotta sip ‘em all!
Tip: Walk-ins are welcome, but call before you commit to confirm booth availability.
The Park VR Leeds
– From theparkvr_uk
Address: Falcon House, Walter St, Burley
Contact Details: 07762 878542
Operating Hours: Daily – 10 am to 10 pm
When VR arcades took over the scene, The Park quickly made a name for itself. It has all the flashy tech, but that old-school feel remains—you, your mates, a few zombie hordes, and the forever-fun feeling of beating each other’s high scores.
The selections are also a mixed bag; there are virtual escape rooms and trips to ancient Egypt. But the flashy NanoClash Focus gets the most players, thanks to its non-gamer-friendly design and frantic shooting mechanics.
Tip: Tired of bumping into strangers? Hire the venue for a private sesh.
Hollywood Bowl Leeds
– From davetheraver14
Address: Cardigan Fields, Kirkstall Rd
Contact Details: 0844 826 1462
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Sat – 10 am to 12 am
- Sun – 10 am to 11 pm
Bringing the littlies to Hollywood Bowl Leeds was a pro-gamer move. This arcade-slash-bowling-lane joint was lit, figuratively and literally, with arcade machines standing across every nook and cranny.
We spent hours smashing Pac-Man, tearing it up on the racing games, and showing off our air hockey skills. And once the munchies struck, we headed to the vintage Hollywood diner, where the thick burgers and milkshakes easily sorted the team out.
Tip: Don’t forget your student ID if you want to enjoy heaps of discounts.
Boom Battle Bar Leeds
– From bex_hockey_mum
Address: S43 Ground Floor Level and First Floor Level Victoria Gate
Contact Details: 0113 245 8000
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Wed – 12 pm to 12 am
- Thu – 12 pm to 1 am
- Fri to Sat – 12 pm to 12 am
- Sun – 12 pm to 11 pm
While Boom Battle Bar doesn’t have machines with Pac-Man or Galaga, it has physical games in spades. Take shuffleboard, for example; it’s a steal at £25 for an hour and can handle group games.
Crazy golf is also available here, so you can tee off with catapults and conveyors blocking the luminous ‘fairway.’ And, although not an arcade staple, there’s axe throwing, which can be more cathartic than beating Donkey Kong.
Tip: You can indulge in happy hour deals by visiting from Mondays to Thursdays, between 4 pm to 7 pm.
Arcade Club Leeds
– From edcrowther83
Address: Abbey Retail Park, Savins Mill Way, Kirkstall
Contact Details: 0161 464 9796
Operating Hours:
- Thu – 4 pm to 11 pm
- Fri – 6 pm to 12 am
- Sat – 11 am to 11 pm
- Sun – 11 am to 8 pm
Entering Arcade Club Leeds felt like passing through a time warp that leads to the 80s. The place has wall-to-wall arcade and pinball machines, the former flexing over 1,000 titles, alongside flashy posters and 8-bit tunes.
We spent the whole night living our best retro lives here, smashing through classics like Final Fight, Sega Rally, and Street Fighter II. Mouthwatering pizza then sealed the deal, particularly the spicy and creamy El Diablo Cheese!
Tip: Consider getting a monthly pass. It’ll get you massive perks like playing free for up to 3 months!
LaserZone
– From laserzoneuk
Address: Cardigan Fields Road
Contact Details: 0113 279 0000
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Fri – 12 pm to 9:30 pm
- Sat to Sun – 10 am to 9:30 pm
LaserZone isn’t your typical arcade filled with video screens and whirring machines, but it still earns a spot on this list. Why? Its group-centric, action-packed experiences are in the arcade spirit—just with more trigger-happy laser action and less button-mashing.
We’re talking about £7 to £16 missions set on multi-level arenas where you’ll shoot it out Star Wars-style. The objective is also not complicated: just destroy the enemy base and get your bragging rights.
Tip: Check the website for discount codes.
Electric Shuffle Leeds
– From elizabethpaulawalker
Address: 123 The Headrow
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Wed – 11:30 am to 12 am
- Thu – 11:30 am to 1 am
- Fri – 11:30 am to 2 am
- Sat – 11 am to 2 am
- Sun – 11:30 am to 2 am
Shuffleboard gets more arcade-y at Electric Shuffle Leeds. Gone are the days of point-guessing, all thanks to their camera vision tech, which accurately tracks everything in real time!
The décor, though, leans more towards pub-ish, which can be a deal-breaker for folks more into dark rooms with zapping neon lights. However, the fun and social atmosphere is always there, especially during the happy hours when prosecco is dirt cheap.
Tip: Catch their bottomless brunch deals by visiting on the weekend.
The Great Escape Game Leeds
– From escapegameleeds
Address: Atlas House, 31 King S
Contact Details: 0330 088 3032
Operating Hours: Daily – 9 am to 10 pm
If you’re after an escape room with a retro gaming flavour, The Great Escape Game has exactly that. Yes, there’s just one classic arcade machine, but it’s a freebie with all the old-school bangers like the iconic Street Fighter 2.
Nostalgic consoles are part of the deal too, so you can fire up some Mario Kart while waiting for your escape room turn. As a bonus, there are regular promotions, such as students getting free pizza every Wednesday.
Tip: Free parking is available on Roscoe Street, just right on the building’s side.
Gravity Active Leeds
– From gravityactiveuk
Address: Cardigan Fields Leisure Park, Kirkstall Rd
Contact Details: 0330 159 5815
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Fri – 10 am to 9 pm
- Sat to Sun – 9 am to 9 pm
Most people go to Gravity Active for their extreme trampolines, but you shouldn’t sleep on their arcade machines. The bad boys are perfect for little ones (and big kids) to burn off that extra energy with a game or two between jumps.
You can either join in or sit back while they have a go at Angry Birds whack-a-mole or race through the Super Bikes game. Oh, and there are classic crane machines that might just cough up a prize…with the right amount of skill and luck, of course!
Tip: If you’re rolling with the fam, get the family pass. It’ll save you a few bucks!