Quirky retro arcade bar NQ64 opens in the Northern Quarter and is giving away free drinks this weekend

Get ready for a major throwback this weekend as brand new retro arcade bar NQ64 opens  in the Northern Quarter.

Hidden away just behind Affleck’s next to Crazy Pedro’s, you will find a secret new underground gaming oasis where the fun never stops.

Guests are invited to relive the 80s and 90s by getting stuck into some legendary games in this underground neon jungle with wall art, murals and graffiti scribbled furniture.

Take yourself back to the 80s while trying your luck on Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Xmen and the classic Golden Axe.

For 90s babies, there’s a range of uber cool consoles including N64’s, Sega Megadrive, SNES and the original PlayStation to take you back to your youth. They are free to play and come with games including Goldeneye, Sonic the Hedgehog, Mario Kart and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. 

There are more modern games on offer too. Brush up on your shooting skills with Time Crisis, work on your dance moves on the Euromix dance machine, channel your inner rockstar with Guitar Hero and become a race car master with one of several arcade racing rigs.

Each game token equals one play and it costs £5 for 15 tokens. That’s 15 games for a fiver which we think is pretty good value for money.

Battle it out with your mates or just turn up for tournaments against unknown opponents and make full use of the drinks menu with specially gamer themed cocktails and selected beers.

Cocktails include Mad Max (gold rum, Jamaican rum, pineapple, orange, grenadine, passionfruit, falernum and absinthe), Princess Peach (prosecco, peach, orgat and pimento dram) and Luigi, (gin, white chocolate, coconut, lemon, mint and soda). All cocktails cost £8 each.

The beer range boasts Camden Pale and Hells Lager on draught and cans/bottles including The Wild Beer Co and Beavertown.

Guests can also tuck into some classic bar snacks including retro crisps Space Raiders and Monster Munch.

It opens on Friday 22nd February. On Monday to Thursday gamers can get their fix between 4pm and 12am, while Fridays it’s open until 2am, on Saturdays the venue opens from 2pm to 2am and Sundays 12pm till 10pm.

During opening weekend, they’re giving away free drinks to the first 50 people through the doors each day. So get yourselves down this weekend and make the most of this opening offer.

All you need to do is follow them on Instagram to find out updates and exciting news – and turn up!

9 Short Street, Northern Quarter, M4 1AA