Gaming is booming up and down the UK, but in Merseyside, particularly in Southport, the popular entertainment medium is really taking hold. In Southport, wannabe gamers can either find exactly what they want to play in the town or are just a few stops on the train from finding a unique gaming destination.
Now, a Southport-based company seeks to spread the area’s love of gaming to fellow Merseyside town St Helens, applying to transform one of its unused buildings.
White Leisure Ltd to bring gaming to St Helens
Based in Southport, White Leisure Ltd knows exactly what it means to develop and cultivate a game-loving community. Being on the seaside, Southport has long been famed for its array of entertainment venues and gaming options around the town. So, naturally, a company based in Southport carries with them a demeanour of being particularly savvy when it comes to gaming entertainment.
In St Helens, White Leisure Ltd seeks to convert the Ormskirk Street building, that used to be an Olive Tree – and a Havana Bar and Restaurant before that – into an adult gaming centre. The upper floor of the building has already been earmarked for conversion into residential flats, per the St Helens Star, but the lower floors are available.
According to the St Helens Reporter, the Southport-based company applied for a licence to transform the building into an adult gaming centre in November, with a council spokesperson stating that they are currently undergoing the process of revoking the outstanding licence attached to the premises in order to grant the new application in full.
The adult gaming centre, which will be exclusively open to those aged over 18 years old, will feature many gaming machines, retail sales, and ancillary catering – making the service significantly different from what is found in your typical UK arcade venue. Per the application, the venue will be open from 9 am to 10 pm each day of the week.
Expanding Southport’s embrace of gaming
On top of the land-based offering like the White Leisure Ltd adult gaming centre, the people of Southport also have easy access to the diverse selection of online casino games at NetBet. At the time of writing Book of Dead, Monopoly Megaways, Jumanji, and the new licensed Friends slot stand as the most popular among Southport-based players.
For those adults who prefer a less-digital form of gaming, there’s Dice & Decks on Hoghton Street. Hosting an array of card and board games with an RPG room available to rent, Dice & Decks has become very popular with local gamers.
Another gaming phenomenon which has been gradually growing around the UK is that of competitive gaming (eSports) and the integration of video games into bars. All over the country, you’ll find venues where you can grab a pint and play some video games. In Merseyside, the Horizon E-Sport Club stands out as a unique offering, combining a luxury, high-end café setting with the chance to play computer games.
Gaming is no longer a niche entertainment medium, with Southport and the greater Merseyside area as a whole embracing it as a leisurely or social activity. The next step in expanding gaming’s reach in the region is the Southport-based White Leisure Ltd establishing an adult gaming centre in St Helens.
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