Would a classic video game arcade be viable in Sheffield?

[Happ Hazzard 10]

Might be better off making it a coffee shop rather than alcohol venue then, because pubs struggle to make money off alcohol sales. Selling meals kind of defeats the purpose. I don't think £1 a game for the machines would be unreasonable if they are well-maintained and in a nice environment, some of the sit-down driving games cost that 20 years ago (Ridge Racer, Daytona etc).

 

Can you legally have an adults only 18+ venue when not selling alcohol?

 

---------- Post added 27-10-2015 at 17:57 ----------

 

You could rent the whole thing out to companies/private individuals with everything on free play. Make your money on the hire charge and the bar.

Yeah that would work for the odd occasion. I'd need to come up with a viable business plan for the rest of the time though. TBH I can see it being very hard to get people in the doors in the daytime on weekdays.

[Mr Bloke 1,445]

Might be better off making it a coffee shop rather than alcohol venue then, because pubs struggle to make money off alcohol sales. Selling meals kind of defeats the purpose. I don't think £1 a game for the machines would be unreasonable if they are well-maintained and in a nice environment, some of the sit-down driving games cost that 20 years ago (Ridge Racer, Daytona etc).

 

Can you legally have an adults only 18+ venue when not selling alcohol?

 

---------- Post added 27-10-2015 at 17:57 ----------

 

Yeah that would work for the odd occasion. I'd need to come up with a viable business plan for the rest of the time though. TBH I can see it being very hard to get people in the doors in the daytime on weekdays.

Why not have it as a private club, where people pay a weekly/monthly membership fee and all the machines are free to play?

 

Or a 'casino' style place where you pay for games but get 'free' snacks?

[S8BLADES 10]

Would sink without a trace. Cost of machines 1k + each at a low estimate, the electricity bill would be seriously horrendous. Business rates, possible service charges and sky high rents in your potential locations. Aswell as staff costs, insurance and other bills.

[melthebell 863]

I kind of like the idea of a retro common room type venue aimed at 30-40 year olds.

 

Somewhere a bit like Picture House Social - decent bar with real ales, craft beer and other nice booze, simple but decent quality food/snacks and a games room full of classic arcade games from the 80s, possibly also air hockey, table football and a tupenny cascade machine.

yeah someat like that, maybe a bar/cafe in one of a large room, maybe nice furnishings, comfy settees etc, and in the other arcade machines, bar football etc

 

Retro game shows are pretty popular these days (arcade, zx spectrum, c64 etc)

[Mr Bloke 1,445]

yeah someat like that, maybe a bar/cafe in one of a large room, maybe nice furnishings, comfy settees etc, and in the other arcade machines, bar football etc

 

Retro game shows are pretty popular these days (arcade, zx spectrum, c64 etc)

Who are these retro game shows popular with though?

 

Is it the young 'uns with plenty of money to spend?

 

Or is it the oldies who are longing for a return to the 80's?

 

Any potential business first has to identify it's customers to determine if there's enough demand to succeed...

[melthebell 863]

Who are these retro game shows popular with though?

 

Is it the young 'uns with plenty of money to spend?

 

Or is it the oldies who are longing for a return to the 80's?

 

Any potential business first has to identify it's customers to determine if there's enough demand to succeed...

obviously those who remember the machines when they came out, but plenty of young uns come with their dads etc

 

i went to one in sheffield a few years ago and it was packed, also retro game sales are up on the net, and retro gamer magazines still going very strong after 11? ish years

[spooferman 10]

I love classic gaming, 8bit n 16bit

 

ebay prices are scary . and the arcade caps need to be Minted to afford them

[chipspice 10]

Just been watching "King of Kong" and came up with this idea. A classy venue selling selected alcoholic drinks/coffee filled with about 20-30 classic video game cabinets, Space Invaders, Pacman, Centipede, Galaxians, Donkey Kong, Super Mario Bros, maybe up to and including games from the early 90s like Street Fighter II. Would it be viable? Adults only, no kids allowed in, not that kids would be interested in playing classic arcade games in 2015.

 

I never thought I would be agreeing with you on something... but yes I think it would be a good idea. London has one.

[Hal9001 11]

I go here every few weeks, it is amazing.

[Happ Hazzard 10]

I go here every few weeks, it is amazing.

 

Ooh that looks just what I had in mind. If it's viable in Bury, that's got to mean it's viable in Sheffield, surely?

[Mr Bloke 1,445]

Ooh that looks just what I had in mind. If it's viable in Bury, that's got to mean it's viable in Sheffield, surely?

Is it really what you had in mind though?

 

As a bit of a reality check...

 

Over 200 machines at £1,000 cost per machine (from an earlier post) is an outlay of £200,000 just for machines!

 

And they're charging £10 for adults, so you need 20,000 customers before you've paid for the machines (assuming they're not leased).

 

And then there's site rent, electricity bills, business rates, machine maintenance, employees wages etc...

 

The one in Bury is probably run by some large gaming organisation who have pots of money to invest, and not by a one man band.

[Mummytwo 10]

Just been watching "King of Kong" and came up with this idea. A classy venue selling selected alcoholic drinks/coffee filled with about 20-30 classic video game cabinets, Space Invaders, Pacman, Centipede, Galaxians, Donkey Kong, Super Mario Bros, maybe up to and including games from the early 90s like Street Fighter II. Would it be viable? Adults only, no kids allowed in, not that kids would be interested in playing classic arcade games in 2015.

 

 

I like the idea apart from no kids, my kids would love this!