Playbars in Sydney put a new spin on the city’s nightlife
The licensed venue is owned by Funlab, which also operates Holey Moley Minigolf, Strike Bowling, La Di Darts and Archie Brothers arcade bars across Sydney.
Funlab CEO Michael Schreiber said the venues are primarily aimed at millennials and Gen Z, who “love experiences that they can share with their friends on social media.”
Guests at the Hijinx Hotel, a 1920s New York performance venue in Alexandria, compete for points in impressive game rooms.Credit:fun lab
“Our quaint, colorful venues, quirky cocktails and fun activities really give people the power to capture great content,” he said.
Schreiber said there has been a shift towards “competitive socialising” over the past five years. “We definitely see a growing market for experience-based hospitality offerings to emerge as legitimate alternatives for a great night out in Sydney.”
Campbell said 1989 attracted adults who grew up playing arcade games as well as customers with a taste for retro games.
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“This love of retro games extends not only to those who remember the games from yesteryear, but also to younger gamers who appreciate the challenge that a 40-year-old game offers them,” he said. “We also have parents who bring their kids to show them the games they fell in love with as kids.”
Campbell’s Bar also hosts events such as quiz nights, retro video game competitions, and comedy shows.
Competition is just as fierce at the Double Kill Games in Sydney’s Chinatown, where guests play games such as Cluedo, Monopoly, Pictionary and English and Korean language versions of Scrabble.
The Board Games Club is open until 2am seven days a week – a rare oasis of sobriety amidst Sydney’s alcohol-soaked nightlife.
The NSW Government’s 24-hour business commissioner, Michael Rodrigues, said Sydney’s nightlife was changing as consumers looked for diverse experiences at night.
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“That includes expanding the type of opportunities offered at venues, whether it’s sports, arcade games or traditional favorites like trivia,” he said.
Rodrigues said the venues are also offering a wider range of food and drink, including non-alcoholic beers, wines and spirits, or vegan options.
“The traditional pub, bar or club still plays a big part in nightlife, but it’s a positive development that there’s a wider range of products and activities on offer at night,” he said.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/nights-of-nostalgia-going-out-in-sydney-turns-playful-with-retro-gaming-20230119-p5cdxz.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_national_nsw Playbars in Sydney put a new spin on the city’s nightlife
