Back Garden Gaming Parties: A Safer, More Inclusive, and Flexible Alternative to Gaming Buses
Gaming buses can be great fun, but here are some things we don't like about them and why we chose to run our parties in the back garden instead.
Safety
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A typical Gaming Bus asks for two standard car lengths for parking. So unless you have a massive driveway, some part of the van will be exposed to live traffic. With 20% of accidents involving a parked car, we felt a little uncomfortable having the kids so close to traffic. Keeping the kids contained in the back garden feels a lot safer.
Accessibility
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We wanted our parties to be accessible to everyone. By its nature, a gaming van has set built-in seating, which makes it very difficult for anyone with any mobility challenges. A gaming bus is an enclosed space with lots flickering lights, often with only one exit, and we worried that this wouldn't be a great environment for anyone with claustrophobia or sensory issues. By running the parties inside or in our Gaming Tents, we can create a much more open and accessible space for the kids where everyone can take part and enjoy the party.
Flexibility
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A gaming bus can be really cool, but it's also very set; everything is literally bolted in place. It's one set of equipment, one package, one experience. We wanted to create something more flexible because not all kids are the same; they don't all want to play the same type of games or invite the same number of guests. By keeping our equipment free and portable, we can customise the experience to suit the birthday child and the type of party they want to have. If they want to have 20-plus kids, we can do that, but if they only want a couple of close mates, we can do that as well.
Reliability
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Gaming Vans break down sometimes, like all vehicles; it happens. Our vehicles break down sometimes, but luckily, we can just move our equipment to another vehicle. With our national Zipcar membership, we can access thousands of vehicles at a moment's notice and be on our way again.
HOW IT ALL WORKS
EVERYTHING YOU GET WITH A POP UP ARCADE PARTY
Take Home Gifts
We've partnered with the great people over at 110% Gaming to give everyone attending one of our parties a copy of the latest issue of their fantastic kid's gaming magazine. Normally £6.99 an issue.
Entertainment
We offer a selection of the latest consoles, including Xbox Series S, PS4, Switch, and VR headsets. We also offer access to fan-favourite games like Minecraft, FC24, Mario Kart, and many more, with over 100 titles available upon request.
Gaming T-shirt
A "World's Greatest Gamer" T-shirt for the Birthday Boy or Girl with their name on it. Something to make them feel special
Comfy Seating
A Light Up X-Rocker Gaming Seat with built-in sound for the birthday boy or girl and Comfy Bean Bags for everyone else
Surprise
Inflatable Gaming Costumes for the Birthday Boy or Girl to greet their guests in Style! They don't have to if it's not for them but some kids absolutely love the surprise.
Help
We'll be there the whole time to set everything up, help the kids with the games, and ensure everyone has a fantastic time.
Challenge
The birthday boy or girl will set up a fun gaming challenge that we'll run throughout the party. The winner gets bragging rights and this awesome certificate to make it official. Don't worry if they can't think of anything we know a bunch of cool ones
Snacks
Bag of Pick N Mix for every child to enjoy while they game! We also have vegan and halal options so no one will miss out. Have them during the party or save them for the party bags
Relaxation
We know hosting a birthday party can be stressful, so to make this the easiest party, we have a special surprise just for you! By combining immersive VR video and aroma therapy we'll send you on an unforgettable 2min VR beach holiday during the party.
Flexibility
Set up in any living room, local hall, or back garden with our Heated All-Weather Pop Up Gaming Tent.
FREE GIFTS FOR THE BIRTHDAY CHILD!
We have a special offer for you! To make your child's birthday even more special, we are giving away some amazing gifts. The next 100 people who book a party with us and claim the offer will receive some really cool extra presents! Besides the personalized T-shirt, you'll get a Minecraft Key Chain, a Finger Skateboard, and a pack of 50 Gaming Stickers.
TO CLAIM THIS OFFER: Mention "FREE GIFTS" in the "Any Other Party Notes" section of the booking form when making your booking
See if we cover your area
Use the cost code checker below to see if we cover your area.
We cover London and 60min outside the M25.
(Get in touch if you’re a little further out and we’ll see if we can still help)
PACKAGES AND PRICES
ULTIMATE GAMING PARTY
"Delight your guests with our exclusive gaming party packages, tailored for every need:
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Intimate Celebration: £219 for 5 guests.
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Fun Gathering: £249 for 10 guests.
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Grand Party: £279 for 15 guests.
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Ultimate Bash: £309 for 20 guests.
Each package includes:
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90 thrilling minutes of gaming (extend the fun: add 30 minutes for just £35).
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An expert Games Master to ensure a fantastic experience for everyone.
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A selection of the latest consoles, including Xbox Series S, PS4, Switch, Wii U, and VR headsets.
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Access to fan-favorite games like Minecraft, FC24, Mario Kart, and many more, with over 100 titles available upon request.
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A "World's Greatest Gamer" T-shirt for the Birthday Boy or Girl with their name on it
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A Light Up X-Rocker Gaming Seat to make the birthday boy or girl feel special at the party.
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Free Pick N Mix for everyone to enjoy while they game!
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Inflatable Gaming Costumes for the Birthday Boy or Girl to greet their guests in Style!
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Ultimate Gamer Challenge, the kids will get a chance to compete in fun gaming challenges throughout the party
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A copy of the latest issue of 110% Gaming Magazine
Booking is easy and flexible:
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Secure your date with a £99 deposit (fully refundable up to 7 days before the party).
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Pay the balance on the day, or opt for three interest-free payments with Klarna.
Our versatile setup options:
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Set up in any living room, local hall, or back garden, enhanced with our Heated All-Weather Pop Up Gaming Tent.
Special Weekday Offer:
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Enjoy 20% off from Monday to Friday with the coupon code "WEEK20".
A portion of the proceeds from every party is dedicated to creating extraordinary gaming experiences for children in need. With each celebration you book with us, you're not just ensuring an unforgettable event for yourself; you're also contributing to bringing joy and excitement to children who need it most. Pop Up Arcade Foundation
ULTIMATE VR GAMING PARTY
Get ready for an unparalleled adventure with our latest VR party experience! Immerse yourself and your friends in a captivating Virtual Reality world, where up to 8 guests can play, explore, and create together in an interactive digital universe.
Choose the perfect package for your party:
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The Ultimate VR Experience: £299 for 8 players, each equipped with their own VR headset.
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The Intimate VR Adventure: £249 for 4 players, with individual headsets for a more personalized experience.
What we offer:
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Convenient set up in any location—your living room, a local hall, or even your back garden—all within the comfort of our Heated All-Weather Pop-up Gaming Tent.
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90 minutes of exhilarating VR gaming (to extend the fun, add 30 minutes for just £30).
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A professional Games Master dedicated to guiding the party and ensuring a fantastic time for everyone.
What you need to provide:
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You need just a bit of space and an active hardline internet connection, and we'll take care of the rest.
Dive into the world of VR with us and create unforgettable memories!
It takes less than a minute!
The Pop Up Arcade Project
At The Pop Up Arcade Project, we're passionate about bringing the joy of gaming to young people who have faced challenging times. We're proud to have collaborated with incredible organizations like Make-A-Wish UK, George and the Giant Pledge, and the National Autism Society, making a positive impact through our shared love of gaming. We invite you to contact us if you know a group of deserving young people who would cherish a free gaming event. Please connect with us via The Project Page, and let's create some heartwarming gaming moments together!"
A portion of the proceeds from every party is dedicated to creating extraordinary gaming experiences for children in need. With each celebration you book with us, you're not just ensuring an unforgettable event for yourself; you're also contributing to bringing joy and excitement to children who need it most
Our Gaming Equipment
Oculus VR
Experience the latest in, top of the line, interactive VR Gaming
Light Up X-Rocker
RGB light up gaming chair to make the birthday boy or girl feel really special
PlayStation 5
Next Generation of PlayStation Gaming with amazing graphics and adaptive controllers
Head to Head Racing
Complete with Two racing chairs and a 60-inch Projector Screen
It takes less than a minute!
FAQ
🎮 WHICH AREAS DO YOU COVER?
We cover London and 60min outside the M25. (Get in touch if you’re a little further out and we’ll see if we can still help)
🎮 WHAT IF IT RAINS?
Our All-Weather Heated Tents are designed to keep everyone dry and warm even in the worst of weather. The tents large and well-ventilated so all there is plenty of room for social distance and plenty of fresh air moving throughout.
🎮 HOW MUCH SPACE DO WE NEED?
We typically need about 4mx7m of space for our gaming parties but can have options for smaller spaces. We have long extension leads so we can be up to 50m from the house.
🎮 ARE THERE TRAVEL COSTS?
No. There are no additional costs to booking any of our parties. The prices shown on our booking form are the total cost of the party.
Why we do what we do!
At Pop Up Arcade, we believe that you only get one 8th birthday, and it deserves to be special! Some of our best childhood memories are of having a group of mates over and all crowding around a single screen to battle it out on the original Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 64.
We created Pop Up Arcade to capture those childhood gaming experiences and take them to another level. We’ve combined all the latest consoles, games, and fantastic gaming tech to create Our Ultimate Gaming Parties.
A lifetime of all-night gaming sessions, queuing up for midnight FIFA launches, and trying to work out how to take an old-style PC monitor on the bus went into making these parties. We hope they’ll be as special to you as they are to us.
Our CEO, 22 years ago.
Oh, and as you can see, we've been working on this for a while
It takes less than a minute!