GAME ON AT YOUR LOCAL
How playing Fortnite down the pub instead could help save your local
FORGET darts and pool; it's video games that are now saving Britain's boozers.
Over six hundred pubs have shut their doors in the past year, so is this the shake-up needed to stop boozers from disappearing?
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Pub with retro arcade games, multiplayer gaming console setups for tournaments and even virtual reality headsets are popping up nationwide.
Encouraging Brits to ditch gaming at home alone, and instead, meet mates in their local pub or bar to battle it out.
There's dabblers who play Mario Kart over a pint at these bars, but as Epic Games' Fortnite Battle Royale continues its world domination, serious gamers have the potential to generate extra cash for pubs.
Enterprising pub landlords are tapping into the UK games industry as a way of boosting appeal explains Jonathan Seath, 27, who manages eDen Esports gaming bar in Leeds.
“I’ve worked in pubs and music venues for eight years and I’ve never experienced this level of repeat customer loyalty as you see with gamers,” he said.
eDen claims to be the first eSports bar in north England which sees people travelling miles from neighbouring cities to watch the best in competitive gaming with their mates over a pint.
“I think the concept is finally catching on in the UK,” says Seath. He revealed to Sun Online that eDen doesn’t make much extra revenue from gaming itself, but just from food and drink because of how loyal gamers are.
“Even on the deadest of days the take is reasonable because people stay for hours on end gaming, he said, “We provide a fun experience which keeps them here longer.”
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According to the British Beer and Pub Association, the pub industry is in decline because technology as part of the home entertainment setup has become so good, no one wants to go to pubs anymore - they’d rather stay at home (and play Fortnite).
Fortnite broke records in February when the game developer reported having 3.4 million simultaneous players globally. Higher than the previous 3.2 million concurrent player record held by Player Unknown's Battlegrounds.
"People are spending more time in their homes and the technology and the environment at home is more comfortable than it ever was," David Wilson, director of public affairs for the BB&PA, said.
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As a result, a quarter of Britain's pubs have disappeared over the last 35 years.
While last year, gaming contributed to over £1.5 billion to GDP, an increase of half a billion over the last five years alone.
Loading bar founder James Dance, 32, said gaming has allowed his London-based business to expand from one pub to four venues over the last eight years - at a time where pubs are struggling and closing year on year. “Gaming when I first started was the point of difference but now it’s not so unique,” he said.
At all four Loading Bar venues – Statford's Secret Weapon, Dalston's Scenario, Brighton's C:Side Quest and Shepherd's Bush's Server event space – the gaming is free.
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Again, extra revenue is made on the food and drinks sold while customers are locked into gaming. “We get a nice mix of customers,” says Dance. “Plenty of people we serve don’t have the latest console or would label themselves a gamer.
"The bar is accessible for all while keeping gamers interested by offering exclusive access events to the latest games before official release dates.”
In Aberdeen, Engage Gaming manager Richard Foster explains the gaming experience booked for corporate clients is what makes the most money at the bar.
Engage opened in August last year, and boasts serious gaming capabilities including virtual reality racing cockpits, 20 gaming PCs for tournaments held every other day which appeals to office parties who want to have a go at social gaming and serious gamers alike.
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“We pride ourselves as being known as a social hub for gamers,” said Foster. “Regulars can get day passes and stay for breakfast, lunch and dinner.”
So if you’re one of the thousands floss dancing on Fortnite for hours on end every evening, why not ditch chatting online and get your squad down to a gaming bar? It could help your local stay open.
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