A healthy bit of competition never hurt anyone, did it? Whether looking to rekindle a fierce rivalry or you’re after an alternative to visiting the same old bars every week, Birmingham has so many options for your friendship group that the competition can continue for months. It’s time to ask: Who can hit a triple-20, who can land the most blows on Street Fighter II, and who can bowl a strike and then hit all the high notes at karaoke? Answer all these questions and more at the very best activity and games bars in Birmingham.
1. NQ64
Stepping inside NQ64 is like taking a nostalgic trip to your childhood thanks to its neon walls and throwback arcade machines. The unique gaming arcade bar is tucked away in The Custard Factory and has all the retro favourites you can think of, including Mortal Kombat, Pac Man, and Tekken, as well as owning a Sega Mega Drive, N64 and PlayStation.
If that wasn’t enough, an adults-only laser tag experience takes big kids’ birthday party vibes to new heights. Described as ‘an intense boozy battle to save planet earth, where nostalgia meets the future’, NQ64 Laser Quest can be enjoyed by groups of up to 16 players per game. There’s also a range of gaming-themed cocktails on offer!
NQ64, The Custard Factory, Gibb Street, B9 4BG
2. Clays
The indoor interactive clay shooting bar, Clays opens in Birmingham this November. You won’t be shooting any real guns, but Clays’ technology ensures maximum precision down to the sub-millimetre – replicating the real-life sport in this immersive experience. Choose from a collection of six fully digitalised games – in a semi-private booth or private room – that transport you to quintessential British shooting grounds.
Clays, 105 New St, Piccadilly Arcade, Birmingham B2 4EU
3. Sandbox VR
The “world’s most advanced virtual reality experience”, Sandbox VR allows groups of up to six to physically interact with their teammates inside nine unique 360° virtual reality experiences. Using Hollywood-approved motion capture cameras, 3D precision full-body trackers, custom hardware and haptic feedback suits – to enhance touch, vibration, and motion senses – you’ll forget you’re in Birmingham. Try to survive Netflix’s official Squid Game Virtuals and fight off hordes of zombies in Deadwood.
Sandbox VR, Unit 25A, Grand Central Shopping Centre, Birmingham B2 4BF
4. Sixes
Birmingham has always been a cricketing city. So why not test your hand-eye skill and upper-body reflexes, as you bat against some of the world’s finest (virtual) bowlers? You won’t need any cricket experience at the immersive, re-interpretation of the age-old game, however. Sixes is first and foremost designed for socialising – with these cutting-edge cricket simulators designed for all skill levels. You can even unwind with a bottomless brunch on the canalside terrace!
Sixes, The Mailbox, 174-176 Wharfside St, Birmingham B1 1RN
5. TOCA Social
Described as the ‘world’s first interactive football and dining experience’, TOCA Social combines immersive football-based games with food and drink. The interactive football bar boasts 23 private booths for up to 12 of you. Using innovative ball-tracking technology, pick from five select games – from beginner, through intermediate and onto advanced soccer skills – and enjoy a 360-degree bar, karaoke, and ‘next level fried chicken’.
TOCA Social Birmingham, Bullring & Grand Central, Smallbrook Queensway, Birmingham B5 4BU
6. Escape Live
You’ll find a bar like no other in Birmingham at Escape Live, because it’s actually home to an escape room. The Official Peaky Blinders Escape Experience, to be precise. Step into the gritty underworld of Birmingham with not one, but two escape rooms centred around the notorious gang—either inside Tommy Shelby’s bookies or at the Camden Docks. And enjoy a 1920s-themed speakeasy while you’re there!
Escape Live Birmingham, 18 – 24 Constitution Hill, Birmingham B19 3LY
7. F1 Arcade
The world’s first official Formula 1 simulator has opened its second UK racing experience in Birmingham. F1 Arcade offers 53 bespoke full-motion racing simulators that feature motion and audio-visual effects to fully immerse racers. It’s all the thrills and spills of Grand Prix racing without leaving the Second City.
There are two race formats to choose from. Team Racing, for groups of six guests or more, and Head To Head, for smaller groups. Plus, create your own personal driver profiles at the ‘Arcade Hub’, join a Watch Party on Grand Prix race days, and party to DJs on weekends. And remember, these are the best Birmingham activity and games bars – order from the ultra-modern ‘Octane Bar’ with a jaw-dropping full-size Formula 1 car suspended from the ceiling!
F1 Arcade, Paradise Birmingham, 2 Chamberlain Sq, Birmingham B3 3AX
8. Golf Fang
Golf Fang in Digbeth emphasises the crazy in crazy golf. From a sex shop to The Jezza Kyle Show set, an arcade to a men’s toilet, this twisted carnival-style take on the 18-hole course in The Custard Factory, offers some truly bonkers settings for golf.
The Birmingham activity bar also doubles as a ‘Sprayground’ for the city’s best graffiti writers to express themselves without damaging property or facing retribution. On top of this, Golf Fang also serves cocktails and street food to enjoy. You and your mates will sooner forget who won than the inventive environments you battled each other in.
Golf Fang, The Custard Factory, Gibb St, Deritend, Birmingham B9 4AA
9. Roxy Ball Room
Does Digbeth have all the best activity and games bars in Birmingham? Well, not anymore. As Roxy Ball Room has upgraded with a bigger and better second site on Victoria Square. Expect all the excitement of the Digbeth site to continue, however, as this new activity bar maintains its mantra of “booze and ball games”.
Expect plenty of competitive games such as pool, ping-pong, basketball, shuffleboard, ten-pin bowling and beer-pong. While Roxy’s signature food and drink offerings also return. The Digbeth site meanwhile is still knocking about. It just had a re-brand as Roxy Lanes – marking a shift away from ball games to mostly bowling.
Roxy Ball Room, 1 Victoria Square, Birmingham B1 1BD
Roxy Lanes, 58 – 60 Heath Mill Ln, Deritend, Birmingham B9 4AR
10. Chance & Counters
If your dream activity involves games paced a little slower, but no less blood-boilingly exciting, then maybe this board game café is up your ladder. Whether you’re after a quick game or something that takes days to complete, this is the place to be… until you’re to flip the board over and end all friendships. Don’t think about playing boring old Scrabble or Monopoly, with half the pieces missing, there are over 500 different games to choose from at Chance & Counters. It’s only £2 per person, per hour too.
Chance & Counters, Courtyard Studio 8 Scott House Custard Factory, B9 4AA
11. Boom Battle Bar
Leave your friendships at the door. This isn’t a friendly activity bar, it’s a battle bar that literally comes with axes! Test out a mix of strength and aim with axe throwing, or maybe try some safer options, like beer bong, shuffleboard, darts and American pool. There’s an array of competitive games to play at Boom Battle Bar. If you’re looking to make more memories than enemies on the night, then learn to harmonise with a round of karaoke.
Boom Battle Bar, Unit 7, Five Ways, Broad St, Birmingham B15 1DA
12. Mulligans
Mulligans may be best known for its three space-themed crazy golf courses, it’s also home to “the most affordable VR experience available in the city.” From epic space travel to cooking up a feast in the kitchen, fighting zombies, and bringing peace to the fairy realm, battle it out head-to-head against friends or work together as a team. You’ll also find other activities like electro-darts and pool, as well as a full bar and bespoke cocktail stations throughout.
Mulligans Birmingham, Broadway Plaza, 220 Ladywood Middleway, Birmingham B16 8LP
13. Lane7
Lane7 is so much more than a bowling complex – and with two activity games bars in Birmingham, we’re spoilt for choice. Enjoy late-night bowling, karaoke, shuffleboard, beer pong, darts and retro arcades at The Cube, while the Bullring additionally offers a very special Playground. Inspired by classic video games, Playground’s immersive gaming experience invites players to become the controller with six innovative games. Dodge obstacles, solve puzzles, and go head-to-head with your friends and family in this first-of-its-kind activity in the UK.
Lane 7, The Cube, Lane7 Level 6, Wharfside St, Birmingham B1 1RN
L6-L7, The Bullring, 1 Queens Drive, Birmingham B5 4PJ
14. Flight Club
The first rule of Flight Club is to ‘tell everyone you can about Flight Club’. Gone are the days of playing darts in old, smoky pubs and trying to keep score with a board and the small nub of chalk. Flight Club has modernised the sport with one of the best activity games bars in Birmingham. There’s a focus on socialising rather than winning. And a computer keeps track of everyone’s scores, so you don’t have to. There are also different variations on the sport, like Demolition or Snakes & Ladders, if you want to spice things up. This place hits the bullseye!
Flight Club, 13 Temple Street, B2 5BN