Four days. That's how long NQ64 Soho had been open when I turned up on a Sunday evening, and I'm fairly confident in saying it's already the best NQ64 I've been to. Tucked just off Manette Street in Orange Yard, it's a four minute walk from Tottenham Court Road tube station, which for anyone who's ever tried to coordinate a group of friends across London on a Sunday, is basically a miracle.
The Games
The group markets this branch as having over sixty games, though the finer print on their own site puts it at thirty one arcade machines, two pinball tables and eight retro consoles, plus a UV pool table and augmented reality darts for good measure. It's spread across two floors, and despite how big the venue is, nothing feels cramped. You'll wander round a corner and find one or two games sitting there almost privately, which is perfect if you fancy a quiet go on something without an audience.
Guitar Hero fans get their own soundproof rooms, which seems to be the done thing at most venues these days, but the one that really caught my eye was tucked away on its own, presumably because they know exactly how popular it's going to be. It's a big circular button-timing game, Guitar Hero-ish in spirit, and the woman behind me summed it up perfectly when she called it a washing machine, though researching just now informs me the creators went with calling it a MaiMai Circle Master instead. Boring. I've seen these go properly viral on TikTok, so I understand the corner placement. Crowd control, probably.
Alongside a few games I hadn't clocked at other NQ64 venues, there were plenty of familiar favourites too, which I think is the right balance. New venue, same greatest hits.
The Drinks
There's no food here, just drinks, so keep that in mind if you're planning a full evening out rather than a pre-dinner pitstop. What they do have is a proper cocktail menu, largely built from NQ64 favourites, shots and shooters, with a few cocktail classics and a range of soft drinks and low/no alcohol options for those like me couldn't drink on my visit.
All of it felt competitive with other bars in the area, and honestly, once you factor in the experience you're getting alongside the drink, I'd say it's good value.
The Atmosphere and the Theming
We went on a Sunday, so things were quieter than a Friday night would likely be, but quieter didn't mean flat. There was a proper mix of people actually playing the games and people just sat with a drink, chatting, and it struck the balance well.
What really got me was the theming. You can tell someone has really thought about every single corner of this place rather than just filling wall space. It's the kind of venue that's going to do very well for a night out, a date, or a group of friends, largely because there's an Instagrammable spot practically everywhere you look.
Which brings me to the two photo booths, because my friends and I love a photo booth, and these two are not messing about. One is a narrow room with the camera mounted high up, which lines you and your friends up one behind the other for a proper sense of depth in the shot instead of everyone stood flat in a row. The other has a single fixed chair on the floor, so one of you sits while the rest stand around, again giving the whole photo more depth than your standard three-in-a-line snap. I won't pretend this is a universal selling point, but for me and my friends, it absolutely is one.
The Birthday Bonus
We were there for a friend's birthday, and she was given a free drink and a free pot of fifteen tokens, which meant she got to treat us to some games alongside her drink. I couldn't find this listed anywhere official, so I'd take it as my own lovely experience rather than a guaranteed perk, but if you've got a birthday coming up, it's worth asking or signing up on their website for updates.
Entry itself is free, aside from after 9pm on Thursdays and Fridays and after 8pm on Saturdays, and tokens run at fourteen pounds for twenty five, with games costing one, two or three tokens a go.
If you're anywhere near Soho and fancy a night that's equal parts nostalgic and new, this one's worth the walk from the station.
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