
No matter what game you, there’s always that one mate who can always best you. Darts? They’re hitting triple-20s while you can’t hit the board. Bowling? They’ve got another strike while your ball is stuck in the gutter. How about a friendly game of Street Fighter II? You’ve been KO’d in seconds before you can even land a hit. Luckily alcohol can be a great equaliser in these scenarios. And these activity bars in Birmingham are great at combining booze and games. So you can get ahead!
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 and bar are 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 you’re like us, and can’t find the right cables or a TV that fits your old consoles, this place is a must for those looking to scratch that retro gaming itch. There are also gaming-themed cocktails, such as Princess Peach, the Mad Max and the Root Beer Tapper, to sip on as you complete a flawless victory!
NQ64, The Custard Factory, Gibb Street, B9 4BG
2. 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
3. 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, smokey pubs and trying to keep score with a board and the small nub of chalk. Flight Club has modernised the sport in ways few could imagine. 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
4. Tilt

Fancy yourself a pinball wizard? Look no further than Tilt. This independent bar keeps things simple with an eclectic collection of craft beer, speciality coffee and smooth-functioning pinball machines. There’s nothing too flashy compared to other activity bars in Birmingham. But what it does, it does well and that’s the way we like it when we’re between the flippers. Pinball socials on the last Monday of the month are worth checking out, where £5 will let you play all night long.
Tilt, City Arcade, 2 Union St, B2 4TX
5. Chance & Counters

If your type of fun involves games paced a little slower, but no less blood-boilingly exciting, then maybe this board game café is up your ladder. Don’t worry about playing some old Scrabble or Monopoly, with half the pieces missing, there are over 500 different games to choose from at Chance & Counters.
It is £3 for a two-hour session or £6 for a four-hour session, but a £25 membership will give you half-price gaming charges if you’re an avid board gamer. So whether you’re after a quick game or you want to play something that takes days to complete, this is the place to be… until you’re to flip the board over and end all friendships.
Chance & Counters, Courtyard Studio 8 Scott House Custard Factory, B9 4AA
6. 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
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 Birmingham activity 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. Roxy Ball Room

Does Digbeth have all the best activity 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. NQ64 Laser Quest

We’ve already explained how NQ64 has perfected the art of adding alcohol to our childhood favourites. But the recently launched, 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. While a range of alien invasion-themed cocktails are also on offer.
NQ64 Laser Quest, The Custard Factory, Gibb St, Deritend, Birmingham B9 4BG