Choosing arcade machines for a small pub or bar

You don’t need a big room to make money from arcade machines. Plenty of small pubs and bars earn well from one or two well-chosen machines in the right spot. This guide covers how to pick machines that suit your space and your customers.

Start with your space

Before thinking about which games, think about where they could go. Look for a spot that is:

• Visible from the bar or main seating area, so people notice it
• Out of walkways, away from doors, the bar hatch and toilets
• Near a power socket, as every machine needs one
• Clear of TV sightlines, especially if you show sport

A boxing machine needs clear space in front for a safe swing. A pool table needs room to cue all the way round, around 4.5m by 3.5m for a standard pub table. Most video games and strength games fit against a wall in the footprint of a fridge or so. We’ll measure up properly at your free site visit.

Match the machine to your crowd

One machine or a games corner?

If you’re short on space, start with one strong machine. A boxer or a pool table is usually the best first choice for a pub. If you have a back room, a function room or a corner that isn’t used much, a small group of two or three machines can turn it into a games area that draws people in.

Mixing machine types tends to work well: something competitive like a boxer, something social like pool or air hockey, and a quick-play game. Strength and skill games are another good option where space is tight.

Think about noise

Arcade machines make some noise, and that’s part of the fun. In a quieter pub, place machines away from dining tables, and we can turn the volume down to suit your venue.

Take card payments

Fewer customers carry coins, so machines that take contactless as well as coins get played more often. Read more in our guide to contactless payments on arcade machines.

Keep it fresh

Even a popular machine can get less play once regulars have tried it. We keep an eye on how each machine performs and swap in new games regularly, so there’s always something new. There are no contracts, and the machines cost you nothing.

Before you add prize machines

Machines where customers can win money or a prize partly by chance may need permission. Pubs have some automatic rights, but it’s worth checking first. See our guide: Do you need a licence for arcade machines?

More for pubs: arcade machines for pubs, Boxing machines for pubs: are they worth it? and How much can an arcade machine earn?