Competitive Socialising

Big Fang tees up first London site

11-Apr-2024 By James McAllister

Competitive socialising group Big Fang Collective has confirmed it will open its first London outpost later this year, having secured a site in Waterloo.

Competitive socialising group Red Engine secures £60m facility

09-Apr-2024 By Joe Lutrario

Flight Club Darts and Electric Shuffle operator Red Engine has secured a new £60m facility from Santander, HSBC and Barclays to support its global expansion plans.

Toca Social expands to Birmingham

01-Mar-2024 By James McAllister

Immersive football and dining concept Toca Social is heading to Birmingham for its second UK site.

Red Engine sees sales top £100m

26-Feb-2024 By Restaurant

Flight Club and Electric Shuffle owner Red Engine saw its sales rise by over a quarter compared to 2022.

El Gato Negro team to launch Black Cat Club in Manchester

20-Feb-2024 By Restaurant

The team behind northern restaurants El Gato Negro and Canto is entering into the competitive socialising space with a new concept.

Big Fang Collective secures £5.5m for further UK expansion

07-Feb-2024 By James McAllister

Competitive socialising group Big Fang Collective has secured £5.5m in growth capital from alternative lender ThinCats to support its expansion plans.

Flight Club and Electric Shuffle owner to open three more UK sites this year

02-Feb-2024 By Restaurant

The group behind competitive socialising brands Flight Club and Electric Shuffle will open three new sites in the UK as part of its international push.

Competitive socialising venues growing at ‘unparalleled levels’

23-Nov-2023 By Hannah Currie

The competitive socialising sector has grown extensively in recent years, with a 38% uptick in venues since 2018.

Edition Capital: 'cocktail bars and immersive experiences ripe for investment'

16-Oct-2023 By Restaurant

Cocktail bars and food operators in the burgeoning immersive experiences space are the big growth areas for investment in hospitality, according to one investor.

Competitive socialising group Big Fang Collective unveils ambitious expansion plans

18-Sep-2023 By Restaurant

Big Fang Collective has appointed a new CEO and revealed plans to develop new competitive socialising concepts and open six new sites over the next two years, including a Nottingham opening targeted for early next year.

Wendy's, Coco di Mama and 800 Degrees Pizza in food line up at new Gravity Max Liverpool

10-Aug-2023 By Restaurant

Gravity Active Entertainment has opened its flagship Gravity MAX at Liverpool ONE.

Lane7 to bowl into London

28-Jul-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Bowling concept Lane7 will make its London debut later this year with a large site in Victoria.

‘Next-level gaming bar’ Platform heads to Canary Wharf

07-Mar-2023 By Joe Lutrario

Gaming bar concept Platform will launch a site in London’s Canary Wharf later this month bringing its total number of venues in the capital up to two.

How I Got Here: Ross Clarke

22-Feb-2023 By James McAllister

The global food and drink director at interactive football and dining experience TOCA Social on his fascination with coffee, his time at The Fat Duck Experimental Kitchen, and being a very good sleeper.

Junkyard Golf Club to launch 'biggest site to date' in Camden

23-Jan-2023 By James McAllister

Crazy golf brand Junkyard Golf Club is to open its biggest site to date this year in London's Camden, as the group also prepares to push ahead with international expansion.

Roxy Leisure to double up in Birmingham

03-Jan-2023 By Restaurant

Roxy Leisure will open its second site in Birmingham in February with its Digbeth venue to be re-branded as a Roxy Lanes.

DJ Khaled's Another Wing among new brands coming to Gravity Wandsworth

14-Dec-2022 By Restaurant

Brands including DJ Khaled’s chicken concept Another Wing, Coco di Mama, and Dirty Bones are opening this month at Gravity Wandsworth.

Clays secures investment from Imbiba

12-Dec-2022 By James McAllister

Virtual shooting competitive socialising concept Clays has secured investment from Imbiba to help support its growth plans, which includes the launch of three new sites next year.

Clays lines up Canary Wharf site

06-Oct-2022 By Joe Lutrario

Virtual shooting competitive socialising concept Clays will open a site in Canary Wharf in December bringing its total number of locations up to two.

Immersive adult-only fairground to launch at London's Canary Wharf

02-Sep-2022 By James McAllister

An immersive, adult-only competitive socialising concept inspired by classic fairground games and featuring street food kiosks and three bar areas is to launch in London's Canary Wharf next month.

Do competitive socialising operators have the upper hand in premises licence applications?

01-Jul-2022 By David Inzani

David Inzani of solicitor Poppleton Allen examines the rise of the UK's competitive socialising space.

Competitive socialising sector to get three more UK venues this summer

17-Jun-2022 By Restaurant

The market for competitive socialising venues is showing no signs of slowing down with three venues opening in quick succession in the sector.

Gravity to launch £10m leisure experience at Liverpool ONE

25-Apr-2022 By James McAllister

Leisure operator Gravity Active Entertainment is to launch a new flagship location that includes a 'modern F&B offering' at Liverpool ONE later this year.

Swingers expands West End site and announces a further push stateside

12-Apr-2022 By Restaurant

Crazy golf competitive socialising brand Swingers is expanding its West End venue with the creation of a 2,500sq ft all-weather roof terrace and new bar as well as an expanded food offer.

Competitive socialising pioneer to launch new Formula One concept

15-Feb-2022 By James McAllister

Competitive socialising pioneer Adam Breeden, who co-founded brands including Puttshack, Flight Club and Hijingo, is to launch an immersive, Formula One racing simulation experience.

Birdies expands to Islington

01-Feb-2022 By James McAllister

Crazy golf and cocktail bar experience Birdies is to launch its second London site in Islington this summer.

Boutique bowling company Lane7 to launch Level X concept

27-Jan-2022 By Restaurant

Boutique bowling company Lane7 is moving into the family entertainment centre market with a new entertainment and hospitality brand.

Boom: Battle Bar set to triple estate with nationwide expansion planned

14-Dec-2021 By James McAllister

Competitive socialising operator Boom: Battle Bar is planning for major expansion around the UK that will see it triple the size of its estate.

The Lowdown: The Top Hat

22-Jul-2021 By Joe Lutrario

A Monopoly-inspired restaurant and cocktail bar is set to launch in London next month.

Social Entertainment Ventures announces rebrand

24-Mar-2021 By James McAllister

Competitive socialising group Social Entertainment Ventures (SEV) has undergone a rebrand with its name changed to State of Play.

Leisure operator Gravity set for London debut

11-Jan-2021 By James McAllister

Leisure and entertainment operator Gravity is to make its London debut this summer in Wandsworth’s Southside Shopping Centre.

UK's first pop-themed crazy golf concept to open in Boxpark Wembley

12-Nov-2020 By Restaurant

The UK's first pop-themed crazy golf concept is opening in Boxpark London early next year.

Football-focussed competitive socialising concept TOCA secures massive debut site

04-Aug-2020 By James McAllister

The O2 in London's Greenwich Peninsula is to become home to a massive 30,000sq ft 'interactive football and entertainment venue' featuring a 'chef-driven' F&B offering.

Roxy Leisure appoints new chairman as it prepares to push forward with expansion

22-Jun-2020 By James McAllister

Former JD Wetherspoon MD Mark McQuater has been named as the chairman of competitive socialising group Roxy Leisure.

The Lowdown: Hijingo

30-Jan-2020 By James McAllister

A new competitive socialising concept is set to launch in the capital in March, offering a multi-sensory take on the age-old game of bingo.

Competitive socialising group Roxy Leisure receives £7.5m to grow

07-Jan-2020 By Stefan Chomka

Social entertainment bar group Roxy Leisure has received a £7.5m investment from Foresight Group LLP to help it expand within the fast-growing competitive socialising sector.