Revellers in Birmingham will have the opportunity to step back in time when Kongs opens in the city centre, with the bar/amusement arcade slated to be opening in late 2018. The theme of the venue draws inspiration from 80s and 90s gaming, offering an array of activities as part of what will be a unique experience in Birmingham. The addition of Kongs to Birmingham’s bar scene is indicative of a wider trend, both in the city and across the country. Kongs will be the third bar of its kind and one of many retro arcades to be tapping into people’s nostalgia for the glory days of gaming.
Occupying the land vacated by the Chameleon bar and restaurant, Kongs looks set to prove a popular venue in the heart of the city. While Kongs may be romanticising the 80s and 90s, it mixes the modern with the classic through its food menu and craft beer options. With regular DJs set to light up the bar in the later hours, Kongs looks set to be one of the more versatile settings for night-time entertainment.
The arcade element will be the bar’s distinguishing strength, however. With classic games like Donkey Kong and Pac-Man set to be available, Kongs will both allow older clientele to recapture the magic of youth while offering a new experience for those who have grown up with PlayStations. Ready Player One brought many of the legends of arcade gaming and 80s movies to a new audience earlier this year, with Den of Geek spotting 209 references to popular culture in the film. The spirit of Steven Spielberg’s hit film will be imbued in a place like Kongs.
Kongs already has bars in Cardiff and Bristol, so Birmingham residents will have a fair indication of what to expect in their city when the bar opens. Retro arcades are back with a boom in the United Kingdom. Europe’s largest free play video & pinball arcade is the Arcade Club in Bury, which offers over 250 classic machines for gamers. In 2015, the London Evening Standard listed the five top arcade bars in the capital, and the popularity of retro arcade has increased in subsequent years.
Retro appeal extends beyond arcades in Birmingham. Players can enjoy classic games like bingo and slots at the Buzz Bingo club in Birmingham Great Park. Like retro arcades, bingo halls have enjoyed a resurgence in recent years. The BBC reported how bingo clubs in the UK attracted 45 million visitors in 2016, with retro arcades now being similarly revitalised. However, it is not just gaming in which Birmingham caters for lovers of retro products. With the furniture shop Just Be Retro and vintage clothing shops like Urban Village, locals and tourists alike can recreate a bygone era.
Kongs looks set to be a popular addition to what is already a strong collection of retro arcades in Birmingham. Vortex Gaming, for example, pairs virtual reality with traditional arcade games. These retro arcades all have their own distinct identity while sharing a passion for classic games. Birmingham is one of the nation’s leading purveyors of retro arcades, even before the addition of Kongs.
