Level Up Arcade + 1up Cafe has opened in Barrow-in-Furness, bringing a new retro gaming attraction and cafe to Duke Street in the town centre.
The independent venue opened on Friday 7 August 2026 at 51-55 Duke Street, in the former Furness Building Society premises. It combines a free-play arcade with the 1up Cafe, creating a new indoor attraction for families, gamers and visitors looking for things to do in Barrow whatever the weather.
A new retro arcade in Barrow town centre
Rather than charging separately for every machine, Level Up operates around timed free-play sessions. The venue's launch information advertises two-hour arcade sessions from £8, with customers able to move between the available games during their booked session.
The arcade mixes nostalgic machines with games that work well for groups and families. Titles promoted around the opening include Time Crisis, House of the Dead and WWF WrestleMania, alongside racing machines and other retro arcade games.
The exact line-up may change as machines are added or rotated, so anyone travelling to play a particular title should check with Level Up before visiting.
Who is behind Level Up Arcade?
The new attraction is run by Scott Geldart and Jayde Hartley, who were already involved in Barrow's gaming community before opening the Duke Street venue.
Industry coverage of the opening identifies the pair with Level Up Gaming Events CIC and South Lakes Game Exchange. That background means the new arcade is an expansion of existing local gaming activity rather than a national arcade chain arriving in the town.
The opening also puts a leisure use back into a prominent town-centre unit, with Level Up occupying the former Furness Building Society premises on Duke Street.
What is 1up Cafe?
1up Cafe operates alongside the arcade, giving visitors somewhere to pick up drinks and refreshments as part of a gaming visit. The business has also promoted takeaway coffee, meaning the cafe can have a role beyond customers using the arcade.
Visitors should be aware that cafe opening hours and arcade sessions may not always be identical. Level Up has used scheduled gaming sessions and has also promoted selected adult sessions, so checking the current timetable before travelling is worthwhile.
Is Level Up Arcade suitable for families?
Level Up is being promoted as a family-friendly attraction and offers gaming sessions that can work particularly well for children, parents and mixed-age groups.
The free-play format is useful for families because the cost of a standard session is known before play begins rather than depending on how many individual games are used.
The venue also advertises arcade parties. Party arrangements are separate from ordinary gaming sessions, so groups planning a birthday or private event should contact Level Up for current packages, capacity and prices.
For visitors to Cumbria, the arcade also adds another useful wet-weather option in the Furness area. Barrow already has a strong mix of heritage, coast and outdoor places to explore, but an indoor gaming venue gives families another option when the weather makes an outdoor day less appealing.
How much does Level Up Arcade cost?
At launch, the official Level Up website advertises standard two-hour arcade sessions from £8.
Prices can vary for different sessions, events and parties, and the business is newly opened, so visitors should check the live booking information before travelling rather than relying on an older price.
Where is Level Up Arcade in Barrow?
Level Up Arcade + 1up Cafe is at:
51-55 Duke Street
Barrow-in-Furness
Cumbria
LA14 1RT
The location is in Barrow town centre, making it accessible from the main shopping streets, bus services and central car parks.
Barrow-in-Furness railway station is also within walking distance of the town centre, making the arcade possible to visit without a car.
Do you need to book?
Advance booking is sensible if you want a particular gaming session, especially at weekends, during school holidays or when visiting as a group.
Because Level Up has only recently opened, its timetable is still developing. Arcade sessions, cafe hours and special sessions can differ, so the venue's current booking system and official channels should be checked before setting off.
Another reason to visit Barrow-in-Furness
The opening is a useful addition to Barrow's growing visitor offer.
Barrow is sometimes overlooked by visitors heading directly for the central Lake District, but the wider Furness Peninsula has a very different character. Furness Abbey, the Dock Museum, Walney Island and the area's coastline can all be combined with time in the town.
Level Up adds a modern indoor attraction to that mix and is particularly useful for families building a day around Barrow or looking for somewhere to go when the Cumbrian weather changes.
It also demonstrates that new leisure businesses are continuing to invest in Barrow town centre, with an established commercial unit being given a completely different use.
Planning a visit to Level Up Arcade
- Opened: Friday 7 August 2026
- Location: 51-55 Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 1RT
- What is it? Free-play retro arcade and cafe
- Standard sessions: Two hours from £8 at launch
- Good for: Families, retro gaming fans, groups, parties and rainy days
- Booking: Recommended when a particular session matters
- Food and drink: 1up Cafe operates at the venue
- Opening times: Check the current Level Up timetable before travelling
Opening hours, prices and the game line-up can change, particularly while a new venue settles into its regular operating pattern.
You can find the full visitor listing, directions and latest practical information on Level Up Arcade + 1up Cafe on Cumbria Guru.
For more ideas nearby, explore our Barrow-in-Furness guide.
Why Level Up is worth watching
New attractions do not have to be huge tourism developments to make a difference to a destination.
Level Up gives Barrow another all-weather activity, brings a town-centre space back into active use and gives the local gaming community a permanent place built around an interest that appeals across generations.
For visitors, its biggest strength may be its simplicity: book a session, turn up and play.
That makes Level Up Arcade + 1up Cafe an interesting new addition not just to Duke Street, but to the wider list of things to do in Barrow-in-Furness.
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