FAQs
Who's behind the Retro Room?
We're Marty and Cathy, two 70s and 80s kids with a passion for retro gaming. We've been thinking about opening a retro arcade in Belfast since we met in the early 2000s and now, we are!
Where will the new place be?
The Retro Room will be opening at Cityside Retail and Leisure Complex in Belfast City Centre on September 12th. Some of you might still call it Yorkgate. Here's how to find us
What types of games can I expect?
We have more than 50 vintage arcade games currently in as original as possible cabinets. We're 80s kids so we love the 80s games we remember from the arcades we hung out in but we're partial to a 90s machine or two as well. Expect big shooters a la Point Blank, drivers like Enduro Racer and Sega Rally, stone cold classics like WWF Superstars, Wonderboy, R-Type and others as well as a few curve balls.
We've a range of consoles too from weird and wacky very early Pong-a-likes to Master Systems, Megadrives, SNES, Dreamcasts, Xboxes and others and we'll always try to do something you can't do at home like our GIGANTIC Guitar Hero and others.
We'll also have a gaming area for tabletop games at the front of the arcade. We'll have tabletop classics from days gone past like Rock Em Sock Em Robots, Battleships, Operation as well as some more modern classics like Carooka and Binho as well as many more.
There'll no doubt be a tabletop football game or ten kicking around and a Subbuteo table too if Marty has his way! (hint there will be. Marty)
Are they really vintage arcade games?
They are, scout's honour. We don't buy Arcade 1Ups from Argos and call them retro machines. We're recreating the arcades of our youth from 1986 not a hipster's garage from 2021!
When will it be open?
The arcade will be open to the public every weekend and bank holidays and the week coming up to Christmas. Our opening hours will be from 11am -11pm Friday and Saturday and 1-9pm on a Sunday.
Can I hire the arcade for a private party?
Yep, private hire of the arcade for birthdays, stags and hens, corporate entertainment and more will be available Monday - Thursday each week. This will be booked in three hour sessions. Our private hires will start from the end of September. If you know your date already drop us an email to hello@retroroombelfast.com and we'll be happy to help.
How can I stay updated?
Join our mailing list or follow us on social media for timely updates on our events, new games as they arrive, 80s metal, the wonders of kale, football board games (what else) and so much more.