The UK arcade scene has seen closures in recent years as rising costs and falling footfall hit operators, but new openings continue to appear.
One of the latest is Arcade Time Machine, a family-focused leisure gaming arcade founded by Jonathan Gouder that is scheduled to open next month on Stockton High Street, according to local reporting.
Stockton Council recently granted approval for the project, which will occupy the site of a former solicitor's office and operate across two floors.
Planning documents and local coverage indicate the venue will offer a mix of retro and modern experiences, including traditional arcade machines, gaming consoles and PC gaming stations.
The operator markets the venue as family-friendly and aimed at diversifying the town centre's leisure offering.
Gouder has framed the project as the culmination of a long-standing personal ambition.
He says his passion for gaming began in the arcades of Redcar and continued through his teenage years, where he and friends chased high scores and new machines.
He has described Arcade Time Machine as the realisation of a dream he has held since childhood, intending to recreate the excitement and social atmosphere of classic arcades for modern audiences.
On the Arcade Time Machine website, Gouder explains that modern technology has renewed interest in arcade-style play, and that the venue will mix retro classics with contemporary arcade formats such as racing simulators and light-gun experiences.
He also states that the project will combine physical arcade hardware with console and PC setups to deliver a broad range of multiplayer and solo experiences.
Notably, Gouder has publicly acknowledged that generative artificial intelligence contributed to the arcade's development.
He credits AI support across several business areas, including arcade and server setup, marketing and promotional artwork, technical troubleshooting and automation, and business operations and workflow planning.
Generative AI has been a contentious topic in the games industry, with critics raising concerns about environmental impact, potential effects on employment and questions around training data and copyrighted material.
Arcade Time Machine will be one to watch when it opens its doors, offering Stockton residents access to both vintage cabinet gameplay and modern console sessions — platforms that commonly include systems such as the Nintendo Switch alongside PC setups.
With council approval secured and an explicit focus on combining nostalgia with contemporary play, the venue aims to provide a new leisure option for families and gamers in the town centre.
One of the latest is Arcade Time Machine, a family-focused leisure gaming arcade founded by Jonathan Gouder that is scheduled to open next month on Stockton High Street, according to local reporting.
Stockton Council recently granted approval for the project, which will occupy the site of a former solicitor's office and operate across two floors.
Planning documents and local coverage indicate the venue will offer a mix of retro and modern experiences, including traditional arcade machines, gaming consoles and PC gaming stations.
The operator markets the venue as family-friendly and aimed at diversifying the town centre's leisure offering.
Gouder has framed the project as the culmination of a long-standing personal ambition.
He says his passion for gaming began in the arcades of Redcar and continued through his teenage years, where he and friends chased high scores and new machines.
He has described Arcade Time Machine as the realisation of a dream he has held since childhood, intending to recreate the excitement and social atmosphere of classic arcades for modern audiences.
On the Arcade Time Machine website, Gouder explains that modern technology has renewed interest in arcade-style play, and that the venue will mix retro classics with contemporary arcade formats such as racing simulators and light-gun experiences.
He also states that the project will combine physical arcade hardware with console and PC setups to deliver a broad range of multiplayer and solo experiences.
Notably, Gouder has publicly acknowledged that generative artificial intelligence contributed to the arcade's development.
He credits AI support across several business areas, including arcade and server setup, marketing and promotional artwork, technical troubleshooting and automation, and business operations and workflow planning.
Generative AI has been a contentious topic in the games industry, with critics raising concerns about environmental impact, potential effects on employment and questions around training data and copyrighted material.
Arcade Time Machine will be one to watch when it opens its doors, offering Stockton residents access to both vintage cabinet gameplay and modern console sessions — platforms that commonly include systems such as the Nintendo Switch alongside PC setups.
With council approval secured and an explicit focus on combining nostalgia with contemporary play, the venue aims to provide a new leisure option for families and gamers in the town centre.