Retro Room Arcade Launches in Belfast: Four Years of Planning Culminate in Nostalgic Gaming Haven

Retro Room Arcade Launches in Belfast: Four Years of Planning Culminate in Nostalgic Gaming Haven Belfast has become a must-visit destination for classic gaming enthusiasts with the grand opening of Retro Room, the city’s first dedicated retro arcade.

Developed over a four-year period by founder Marty Neill, Retro Room brings iconic arcade machines and beloved consoles under one roof, striving to revive the golden age of arcade gaming in Northern Ireland. Located within the Cityside shopping complex, Retro Room officially opened its doors recently and has already experienced tremendous success.

According to Marty Neill, the initial weekend surpassed all expectations.

"The response has been beyond what we hoped for, making the last four years of hard work entirely worthwhile," Neill commented following the debut weekend.

The overwhelmingly positive reaction from both local gamers and visitors alike cements Retro Room’s reputation as a new cultural hotspot in Belfast. Retro Room’s vibrant interior features a carefully curated selection of classic arcade titles, including favorites such as Street Fighter 2 Turbo, Wonder Boy, Time Crisis, Pac-Man, Double Dragon, SEGA Rally, and Enduro Racer—offering a true flashback to the era of coin-operated cabinets.

The venue also houses historic home consoles like the Sega Mega Drive and the Nintendo 64 (N64), making it an ideal spot for fans of retro Nintendo titles or Sega classics. To enrich the gaming community, Retro Room is introducing a range of regular events.

Notably, the arcade will host its inaugural Hyper Sports and Track and Field Olympic Games this Friday, September 19th, inviting participants to compete for high scores and relive the competitive spirit of vintage gaming’s heyday. Unlike traditional coin-op arcades, Retro Room operates an hourly freeplay pricing model—a trend popularized in modern arcade venues.

Admission is set at £7 per hour, or guests can opt for an all-day pass at £25, enabling up to twelve hours of uninterrupted gaming.

All arcade cabinets and consoles are included in these packages, with every machine set to freeplay for a seamless, worry-free experience. Additionally, Retro Room offers private venue hire for parties and special occasions, requiring a minimum group size of ten participants to book. The launch of Retro Room comes at a time when interest in retro gaming continues to surge across the UK and globally, spurred by nostalgia for formative titles and the allure of group play.

With a repertoire spanning legendary franchises and classic multiplayer hits, Belfast’s newest arcade is poised to become a mainstay for Nintendo, Sega, and arcade gaming enthusiasts alike. For gamers and families seeking to recapture the thrilling social atmosphere that defined arcade culture, Retro Room stands as an exciting new hub—celebrating the enduring legacy of video game history, one button press at a time.

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