Retro's Gaming & Lounge to open on Roper Street in Whitehaven

Retro’s Gaming & Lounge will open on Roper Street in Whitehaven in the next few weeks and a ‘soft launch’ is currently taking place.

The venue will offer a range of gaming experiences from retro to modern day console games, as well as board games and tournaments and a social space for gamers.

One of the gaming tables in Retro's Gaming & Lounge (Image: Submitted) Kallum White, 23, of Workington, who is opening the attraction with his friends, said: “I know there are a lot of bored youths. There’s nothing round here for youths to do.

“Me and my mates were talking and it really dawned on us that there is nothing anymore for kids, especially in the gaming community.

“We decided we will try our best to open something up for people and for ourselves as well.”

A variety of gaming experiences will be on offer (Image: Submitted) A booking system via Facebook and WhatsApp will allow people to book tables for playing board games and one-hour slots to play on the consoles.

In the future, the venue will also be available to hire out for birthday parties and private events.

Kallum said: “People can play online games from PlayStation 5 to board games, and classic console games from the 1980s.

“We’re getting a lot of public support and excitement. We are getting events and tournaments set up and planning.

“It will be for all ages. That’s why we host a wide variety of games from old retro consoles to your modern day consoles.”

Inside Retro's Gaming & Lounge which will soon be open in Whitehaven (Image: Submitted)

Kallum is also keen for the gaming lounge to become a social space and a part of the community.

He said: “We want it to be a community space.

“There’s a misconception with gaming that you’re just sat behind a computer all day. But nine times out of ten, you’re talking to people while you play the games.

“The gaming community, especially the board game community is very isolated and has a lot of people from diverse communities. We want to bring those people out of their shells and interact with each other. It gives them a place to go in west Cumbria.

“Whitehaven needs entertainment. From a personal perspective, I think that’s the only way for Whitehaven to succeed, is by opening up more entertainment venues.

“That’s the route we need to go down because sadly, the high street isn’t going to come back.

“We have got a lot of things planned and ideally, in the next two years, will be expanding to a bigger premises.”