Retro arcade game bar set to open Nottingham venue

An arcade bar group looks set to finally open a long-awaited Nottingham venue, three years after first floating the idea, TheBusinessDesk.com understands.

NQ64, which was founded in 2019 by Andy Haygarth and Matt Robson in Manchester’s thriving Northern Quarter, has submitted a licensing application for the former Roxy Ballroom site on Thurland Street in the city.

The move marks a long search for a Nottingham venue for NQ64. Last March, the bar group did have a city centre site going through legals, but that fell through.

Then, NQ64 said it expected to open its new Nottingham venue later last year, but didn’t disclose the location.

In May 2023, the company landed a £10m facility from ThinCats, with the boost adding to a £2.5m package previously provided by the lender in August 2022.

NQ64, which specialises in retro arcade games alongside its drinks and food offering, has other venues in Leeds, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, two in Manchester, Newcastle and two in London