The 10 Best Gaming Bars To Visit In Birmingham
Birmingham is the place to be when it comes to gaming bars to visit whilst studying in the city.
If you’re after a late-night spot to show off your skills, have a few bevvies and tons of fun with your pals, you won’t be able to console yourself with our guide (get it?!)
Carry on reading to find out the 10 venues you NEED to visit for the ultimate entertainment.
1. Tilt
First within our guide to gaming bars in Birmingham is Tilt, a multi-functional venue located in the historical City Arcade.
Open from 10am until late, this retro gaming bar has 21 pinball machines spread across three floors including a Stranger Things game, Deadpool Pro and a Guardians of The Galaxy machine.
One game is just £1, whilst 3 games is £2 so it’s pretty good for your student budget, don’t you think?
This hidden gem is a great play to have a few games with your flatmates and listen to some classic metal and rock music – if that’s your kind of tunes!
If you want a tipple to accompany your gaming sesh, you can enjoy some craft beer, speciality coffee, loose leaf teas, hot chocolates, wines, soft drinks and a selection of spirits.
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Address: City Arcade, 2 Union St, Birmingham B2 4TX
2. NQ64 Birmingham
If you haven’t heard of NQ64 then where have you been recently?
This neon-splashed retro gaming hub has bars across the country, with Birmingham being one of the top destinations.
You’ll find this entertainment venue inside The Custard Factory, in the heart of Digbeth.
Grab your pals and play a huge range of retro arcade games and classic consoles from the likes of The Simpsons: Hit and Run, Donkey Kong, Guitar Hero, Pac-man and Crazy Taxi.
Their drinks selection is just as buzzing as their games on offer, with a range of creative cocktails including their Lake Springfield, Power Star Martini, Bowser Breezer and Super Coco Ball.
If you’d prefer something different, they also offer craft beers, ciders and spirits.
The best part is, they’re open until the early hours every single day of the week so no matter when you feel like unleashing your inner gamer, you can head here!
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Address: The Custard Factory, Gibb St, Deritend, Birmingham B9 4BG
3. Chance & Counters – Board Game Café
Are you on the hunt for a unique gaming bar in Brum to hang out with your mates?
Chance & Counters MUST be on your list.
This board game café situated inside the trendy Custard Factory, offers over 500 board games to play.
Some of the games include Castle Panic, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle, One Key and Thunderbirds.
You can even purchase some popular games if you fancy bringing the fun back home with you.
If you’re up for having a few bevvies, this place offers ten draught beer and cider lines for you to choose from, as well as smoothies, milkshakes, coffees, teas and soft drinks.
When you get tired from all the gaming and need a re-fuel, you can munch down on some filthy fries, grilled cheese sandwiches, burgers, tacos and chicken wings.
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Address: Courtyard Studio 8 Scott House Custard Factory, Birmingham B9 4AA
4. Lane7 Birmingham
Boasting one of the best late-night vibes in the city, Lane7 is a gaming bar you need to visit whilst studying in the city.
Located inside Birmingham’s premier destination, The Cube, this place is the home of ten-point bowling, but with a twist!
You and your mates can get competitive and aim to win with nine lanes to choose from.
There’s even a karaoke booth to sing your hearts out, beer pong to show off your skills, as well as shuffleboard and retro arcade games to explore – could it get much better?
if you’re keen to make a night out of it, you can choose from a range of drinks including cocktails, beers, ciders, spirits and mocktails.
Prices are on the higher end at this bar, as you pay separately for each game.
Although, it’s certainly worth it if you’ve got a special occasion coming up or just fancy going all out and having some fun with friends.
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Address: The Cube, Lane7 Level 6, Wharfside St, Birmingham B1 1RN
5. Otherworld VR Birmingham
Otherworld VR is the city’s newest gaming bar, located just a short stroll from Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.
This digital paradise offers the ultimate virtual reality experience for students with sixteen free-roam games to discover.
No matter if you’re a beginner or a VR enthusiast, we’re sure you’ll love this award-winning venue with immersion pod technology – you’ll really feel like you’re in another world.
We haven’t even told you the best part, there’s a self-serve bar with 16-taps to choose from so you can make your own cocktails, sodas and beers.
You can even win drinks coins from playing the games!
Forget about planning a trip to a theme park, this place will give you the biggest thrills with amazing games, futuristic interiors and neon lighting.
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Address: 20 Bennetts Hill, Birmingham B2 5QJ
6. The Floodgate
The Floodgate is a gaming cocktail bar inside The Custard Factory (you could spend a whole night at this place).
With delicious cocktails, tasty street food and a variety of games to explore, your social hub is awaiting. Their fun-filled activities include Bleachers Baseball, Pit Pat Table Golf and Curl Club Curling.
This place gives off the coolest vibes with a backdrop of graffiti, banging tunes and indoor and outdoor seating areas.
Sip on your cocktail of choice whether it’s a Tap That or a Field Of Dreams and have a bite to eat to get yourself pumped up for a competitive evening.
Our go-to order is the Chilli Cheese Dog – mmm!
They’re open till late most nights a week with a 1am closing on the weekend.
Although, it is recommended that you book in advance to ensure you get a chance to unleash your skills.
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Address: 104 Floodgate St, Deritend, Birmingham B5 5SR
7. Golf Fang Birmingham
Another gaming bar you simply must try out whilst living in Birmingham is Golf Fang, the place to be for urban crazy golf.
You can put your shot on the 18 holes of insane golf, groove along to DJs spinning the best hip hop tunes and try out their tasty cocktail menu.
There’s even have BBQ street food dishes available from Locked and Loaded if you’re feeling peck-ish.
The imaginative and funky décor makes it a great backdrop for some Insta pics with your pals.
If you’re looking for an affordable gaming bar, then this place suits the bill with an exclusive student deal for £14.50 where you can play golf and get a drink!
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Address: The Custard Factory, Gibb St, Deritend, Birmingham B9 4AA
8. Roxy Ball Room
Another must-visit gaming bar for students in Birmingham is Roxy Ball Room.
Social gaming has never been better with an array of games including ten pin bowling, American pool, ping pong, shuffleboard, beer pong and basketball.
You can play in a group with your besties and dance along to the indie soundtrack.
If you’re wanting to have a few bevvies, we’d recommend trying our their signature cocktails, with our fave being the Pingstar Martini.
Fancy a nibble? They serve pizza, hot dogs, garlic bread and fries.
You’ve gotta make the most of their pizza slice and fries deal for a fiver whilst you’re here!
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Address: 58 – 60 Heath Mill Ln, Deritend, Birmingham B9 4AR
9. Ball Park Birmingham
Ball Park is Birmingham’s first adult ball pit bar located on Floodgate Street, just outside of the city centre.
You can release your inner child at this place whether it’s taking a dip in the huge ball pit, smashing out some arcade games, whopping your friends at table tennis, downing some bevvies in beer pong or having a game of pool.
This adult playground also has an extensive drinks menu if you’re in the mood to party, with unique cocktails like Screwball and Let’s Get Twisty.
If you’re a bottomless brunch fan, you’re in luck cos’ this place offers a weekend deal with free-flowing drinks, yummy food and all the gaming madness.
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Address: 9-13 Floodgate St, Deritend, Birmingham B5 5ST
10. DropShot
Lastly within our student guide to the best gaming bars in Brum, is DropShot.
You’ll find this place on Heath Mill Lane, with table tennis, shuffle boards, foosball, and pool tables, ideal for an entertaining evening when you’re not busy studying.
Whether you want to have a few chilled games, or you’re looking to go all out and have a few drinks, this place is a great hangout spot.
You can sip on cocktails, wines and craft beers or scran some wood-fried pizza if you fancy it.
We’d recommend giving the Dropshot Slammer and the All-American pizza a go!
They even showcase live sports if you’re looking for somewhere to go to watch any upcoming matches.
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Address: 60 Heath Mill Ln, Deritend, Birmingham B9 4AR
And there we have it, the end of our post on the best gaming bars to visit in Birmingham.
We hope you have an amazing time trying out these different venues.
Whilst staying in our Universal Student Living properties, you can make the most of our communal spaces and have a games night with your flatmates, some of our accommodations even have their own games rooms!
So, you don’t even need to trek out and explore the gaming bars in Brum, you’ve got it right at home.
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