don`t look for anything around stratford upon avon district, I`m being fleeced for £7.5 k per year on rates on a 2400 sq ft unit
Pinball info
Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
What do you want from a pinball club?
- Thread starter Matt Vince
- Start date
Hi Matt,
I think it is a great idea and I would gladly pay a monthly fee to help with costs and help in any way I can.
Location as mentioned would need to be carefully thought out with easy accessability for both cars and commuters in mind.
When you mentioned win the lottery it got me thinking that instead of winning it, you could possibly apply for a grant here http://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/funding-finder
You would need to be creative and clever of how you present your case for the money, such as say it is for non-profit helping the community and fill a void on the high street (if in an area with a lot of closed down retailers).
Of course another idea is to open a pub or coffee shop that would help supplement your income in the running costs.
This route wouldn't be beneficial to someone who already has their own business and family to attend to already.
Hopefully you can find a reasonably priced site in an OK location, maybe the local council maybe able to offer support in the form of reduced council rates or similar.
I think it is a great idea and I would gladly pay a monthly fee to help with costs and help in any way I can.
Location as mentioned would need to be carefully thought out with easy accessability for both cars and commuters in mind.
When you mentioned win the lottery it got me thinking that instead of winning it, you could possibly apply for a grant here http://www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/funding-finder
You would need to be creative and clever of how you present your case for the money, such as say it is for non-profit helping the community and fill a void on the high street (if in an area with a lot of closed down retailers).
Of course another idea is to open a pub or coffee shop that would help supplement your income in the running costs.
This route wouldn't be beneficial to someone who already has their own business and family to attend to already.
Hopefully you can find a reasonably priced site in an OK location, maybe the local council maybe able to offer support in the form of reduced council rates or similar.
I can lend some games for a club but unless it's incredibly close by, I probably would very rarely visit tbh. Good luck with it mate, happy to help out if I can.
This is the best unit I've found in the west midlands . 1/2 mile from spaghetti junction and 5 minute walk from nearest train station. Also about a mile from where I live. Problem is work commitments mean I could only open Sundays so it would need a group effort. Luckily the suspending ceiling cuts the roof down to 9ft and there are toilet facilities behind the door
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/commercial-property-to-let/property-34460397.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/commercial-property-to-let/property-34460397.html
Great idea of a barcade. Games set to free play with either membership or a entrance fee of say 20quid..
My only worry would be security. It would need to be in a area that already has cameras or patrols. Thats a lot of money sitting about..
My only worry would be security. It would need to be in a area that already has cameras or patrols. Thats a lot of money sitting about..
Anywhere would have to have FULL insurance. Most units I've seen have street cameras on the estates as standard
Is it though - i.e. have you visited? May be cheap for a reason. Those are far from new units. May be damp. Also looks like there's very little car parking space, which might cause issues if you hold events or decide you want to open before 6pm.
Firstly good luck with it
I think it's a pipedream for a lot of us. About 6 months ago I got around to looking at figures for a bar which then would have a back room/downstairs for games. The big stumbling block was that you need the bar/food bit to pay for everything else to ensure it's viable. Then you have to deal with drunk ****holes and random members of the public in order to make enough on the bar. For me it just didn't stack up, so it went back into the idea pile and I'll wait until I semi retire and open up a holiday complex in the SW with a big games barn.
Location is key to everything. I'd probably lend a machine to the venture provided it's fully insured etc. However it would have to be very easy for me to get to in order to bother going more than a couple of times a year. I've just looked up about how far the Chief(Chef?) coffee house in Chiswick is from me and it's 11 miles. It's been open a while now and I still haven't gone. (For non Londoners believe me driving 11 miles probably takes 60-90 mins
)
If you have a venue in the **** end of nowhere then it might be cheap but that would really kill off any bar sales if you have to drive to get there. Running it as a club house idea probably would mean you simply don't get enough people to cover your costs, so it would need a walk up element.
I also think for the amount of time / effort you need to put into the thing then a profit making business is more likely to succeed than a charity. Maybe a possibility is to become a publican. There are still a lot of pubs out there that can be bought or leased relatively cheaply and how the floor space to be split. a few machines out front for the drinkers and a back room for your club? It's a hefty commitment though
Has Sarah signed off on your idea?
I think it's a pipedream for a lot of us. About 6 months ago I got around to looking at figures for a bar which then would have a back room/downstairs for games. The big stumbling block was that you need the bar/food bit to pay for everything else to ensure it's viable. Then you have to deal with drunk ****holes and random members of the public in order to make enough on the bar. For me it just didn't stack up, so it went back into the idea pile and I'll wait until I semi retire and open up a holiday complex in the SW with a big games barn.
Location is key to everything. I'd probably lend a machine to the venture provided it's fully insured etc. However it would have to be very easy for me to get to in order to bother going more than a couple of times a year. I've just looked up about how far the Chief(Chef?) coffee house in Chiswick is from me and it's 11 miles. It's been open a while now and I still haven't gone. (For non Londoners believe me driving 11 miles probably takes 60-90 mins
) If you have a venue in the **** end of nowhere then it might be cheap but that would really kill off any bar sales if you have to drive to get there. Running it as a club house idea probably would mean you simply don't get enough people to cover your costs, so it would need a walk up element.
I also think for the amount of time / effort you need to put into the thing then a profit making business is more likely to succeed than a charity. Maybe a possibility is to become a publican. There are still a lot of pubs out there that can be bought or leased relatively cheaply and how the floor space to be split. a few machines out front for the drinkers and a back room for your club? It's a hefty commitment though
Has Sarah signed off on your idea?
I think Devon would be a good location especially with the amount of grockles that come here....... Just saying
I think selling good coffee and combining it with pins is the way to go. Two of my favourite things ;-)
Yeah I agree coffee is good as there's no drunk idiots to deal with.
I've l
I've looked at a lot of units/pubs/social clubs. this unit is going rate for that area as it's wall to wall factories etc. very busy mon to Fri but very quiet at weekends . Birminghams largest independent operator have a big unit round the corner.
You could open with a franchise like Costa, they like to get into everything.
Just takes someone with enough silver balls to start it!
The other possibilities could be pinball and pizza, so long as you don't mind a lot of cleaning after children have wiped their hands all over the pins
think chief but a bigger venue. diner arcade
Surely a franchise would mean that Costa or whoever would want to interfere and have input and sign off on business decisions as they can affect their company value.
Otherwise someone could open a Costa and then use the premises for religious or pornographic or other dodgy offensive activity.
Otherwise someone could open a Costa and then use the premises for religious or pornographic or other dodgy offensive activity.
OP
OP
In my case I will be looking to create a venue which is ready to use for league meets and events throughout the year as well as being open at weekends for social use. It will definitely not be a commercial enterprise as I simply can not commit the time or funds into making that happen at present. With this in mind, the location will be somewhere affordable rather than ideal, but the benefit will be its sustainability. My intention is to create a committee and run the club for the benefit of its members rather than attempt to make money from it. If (big if) the club creates a surplus, then those funds will be spent on improving the club in a way that is voted on by the membership. For now, I'll keep quiet until I find out if the council approve the application as that is a major stumbling block ahead.
I'd be happy joining such a club to the tune of £20 or £30 pcm subject to machines and what the subs allow me to do/play and its location.
I'd even entertain loaning a machine as long as the site has full insurance and the machine is cleaned and taken care of.
Best of luck as its a great idea.
I'd even entertain loaning a machine as long as the site has full insurance and the machine is cleaned and taken care of.
Best of luck as its a great idea.
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/uk-pinball-museum#post-2468046
Assume this idea was abandoned?
Assume this idea was abandoned?
Brighton needs an arcade bar/diner called "Wizards" . someone just do it!
also could this apply to a pinball club?
"If you occupy a property as a community amateur sports club, you will also get a reduction of 80%." Birmingham council guide to business rates
"If you occupy a property as a community amateur sports club, you will also get a reduction of 80%." Birmingham council guide to business rates
If you successfully persuade them that pinball is a sport, yes. It obviously has a competitive aspect, requires good hand-eye coordination and is certainly better for you than sitting motionless playing games or watching TV. If you emphasise that you'll be helping people to learn to play (coaching) and holding tournaments, I suspect they'll be satisfied with that ... in their minds such places likely keep the 'yoof' off the streets.
Hi Matt. For some time now I have been looking to do 'similar'. Your main problem is definitely venue. I have been on the hunt for over 6 months now and looked at a couple of premises but dismissed them on location/cost.
As you may (or may not) know, I opened a bar/restaurant last year with the theme being pinball. It is called 'The Bear Kick' (www.thebearkick.com) and named after the center ramp in the Addams Family pinball machine which has its pride of place in our snug. I have been looking to expand on a commercial level for some time (which I will do eventually) but location and cost are my biggest problems. The numbers have to work!
Best of luck,
Tux
As you may (or may not) know, I opened a bar/restaurant last year with the theme being pinball. It is called 'The Bear Kick' (www.thebearkick.com) and named after the center ramp in the Addams Family pinball machine which has its pride of place in our snug. I have been looking to expand on a commercial level for some time (which I will do eventually) but location and cost are my biggest problems. The numbers have to work!
Best of luck,
Tux
No surprise that my name got a mention on a thread like this. As mentioned by others, location will be crucial plus it will need a bar / catering facilities. It also helps to have good finacial backing. Yes barcades are big in the states and I have been to a few over there but they might stuggle in the UK as pinball is seen as too much of a geek thing to do. Perhaps Tilt and Chief coffee will prove me wrong...?
I just got back from the Swiss open - the place they held it was in a 12 lane bowling alley that also had 20 large sized pool tables, bar area, indoor pizza take away place and a small night club (where the tournament took place - held 50 or 60 machines). It also had a small pinball & video arcade with half a dozen machines of each, 2 table footballs and one air hockey table. It was absolutely heaving on Saturday night! I think something like that is more likely to work in the UK.....
I just got back from the Swiss open - the place they held it was in a 12 lane bowling alley that also had 20 large sized pool tables, bar area, indoor pizza take away place and a small night club (where the tournament took place - held 50 or 60 machines). It also had a small pinball & video arcade with half a dozen machines of each, 2 table footballs and one air hockey table. It was absolutely heaving on Saturday night! I think something like that is more likely to work in the UK.....
I think there is some opportunity for the latter kind of venue in the UK in the current climate. A lot of local authorities are looking to try to make sports and leisure centres not only pay for themselves but raise revenue for the council generally, rather than being a drain. When they come up for refurbishment and redevelopment, things like adding a bowling alley and catering tend to be discussed. If you live in or near a major town or city where such local authority owned sports facilities are up for a major overhaul and there's space to add a bowling alley, talk to them.
A slightly random thought to add to this thread for those thinking of possible venues/locations in an area:
Is it worth looking a snooker club venues - either current or former? Taking my (limited) knowledge of the Exeter Snooker club scene as an example, there used to be two clubs, both in 'near city centre' locations.
One closed a few years back (part if a chain the name of which escapes me) but was in premises above a parade of shops. Pretty certain nothing has gone in there instead, so potentially a venue available at a sensible rent, already with bar area/loos etc and plenty of room.
The 2nd club is still going, but last time I was there was pretty quiet and I'm pretty sure they had more space/tables than they'd have players on most nights. Again a venue with all the basics, that could benefit from more footfall.
Using those example are there are similar snooker clubs ( or former clubs) elsewhere in the country that might benefit from a Pinball tie-up?
Is it worth looking a snooker club venues - either current or former? Taking my (limited) knowledge of the Exeter Snooker club scene as an example, there used to be two clubs, both in 'near city centre' locations.
One closed a few years back (part if a chain the name of which escapes me) but was in premises above a parade of shops. Pretty certain nothing has gone in there instead, so potentially a venue available at a sensible rent, already with bar area/loos etc and plenty of room.
The 2nd club is still going, but last time I was there was pretty quiet and I'm pretty sure they had more space/tables than they'd have players on most nights. Again a venue with all the basics, that could benefit from more footfall.
Using those example are there are similar snooker clubs ( or former clubs) elsewhere in the country that might benefit from a Pinball tie-up?
I'd vote with you Rudi - but I may be biased!
I suspect in reality, by the Tim e you've ( obviously) had to ban the Cornish
and 'them northerners' (*) can't make it down past Birmingham you might be a little light on numbers when the 'grockles' aren't in season.....(*) to be fair 'them northerners' would tend to include anybody north of Taunton
snooker clubs can come up but surprisingly not as much as defunct social clubs which usually offer more space and living accommodation which snooker clubs tend to lack. there was a snooker club on the first floor on our local high street that came up for a very reasonable weekly rent and was licensed but the only access was up a flight of stairs. the new tenant kept the pool tables and is using it as a social club but the full size snooker tables had to be smashed up to get them out. IF there had been rear access I would have been very interested as there are ways and means of lifting games such as a forklift truck
Pretty much my feelings on this too. 20-30 quid just to help keep it going, even if I can't make it down every month, would be well worth it to support the local pinball scene.
