good arcades

[cfdu]

i know there are a lot of bad arcades out there, but every now and again you come accross a good one. i was in such an establishment yesterday. plenty of staff on hand, and except for the manager not too nosy, and very friendly. regular offers of drinks, and even at luchtime sandwiches, biscuits and swiss roll. machines all well kept with no broken bulbs, and the aforementioned staff regularly cleaning and polishing them (well as soon as someone got off it to remove all fingerprints.) the ashtrays were emptied and even brasso polished! although it is a source of minor irritation to me, some may like having prize draws for tokens/cash and 'rainbow bingo' every 20 or so minutes. it was pretty quiet most of the day, with just a few hardcore lo-tec grannies blowing their heating money, and some suits wandering in and out all day. no sharks, which made a nice change! the machines varied in percentage, although there were 2 magic 7's, one on 70% (ouch!!!) and one without any indication of percentage. i played a lo-tec i'd not seen before called joker (not joker poker), where you have to get 2 matching symbols and a joker online to spin the joker up top. i was very lucky (especially having not played the machine before!) and got the top golden streak which rolled for 70. not sure i'd play it again though. they also have the new hotstuff/viu/afu clone, shark raving mad and a new doshball/revolution/golden dragon clone, although for the life of me i cannot remember the name. after 5 a load of college age barries came in. one went on dbg and actually managed to miss 3 excellent 11's! 12 doh - £1! he had stop 'n'step with the red bar so i tried to be friendly and tell him he had a jp. he then told me i was ' a twat and should fuck off.' can't help some people eh! i did fuck off to party time, and from 15 in caught a largeish £93 streak. i then wanted to leave as i had other things to do, and wanted to change up to notes. this was the lowlight of the day as i had to bargain for notes, with the attendant claiming she had only £30. oh well can't have everything.

surely some others must know of some good, rather than all bad arcades? (although i have to admit it was a rarity!!)

[Aaron]

i do like the arcade in my town centre, not really busy even tho has only a few old machines at the back with a party time and a player monoply, the rest are all lo techs. but i dont mind playing in there as you said the noise is minimal and the staff always ask you if you would like drinks crips ect.. also there is only one or two people in there when i go in usually and the staff and manger normally tell me what has been pilled or what to stay away from which is a unreal help sumtimes for example i had noticed a guy on a lo tech, i dont know the name but it was usuall with three red sevens and its a 5 3 bars for tenner and 3 jp for 25. then there was the streak with two red X's either side and this X on fire in the middle.
anyway the guy had just got the streak and only had one credit in and it droped the jp. normally i would tell a person that you should but another credit in even if its only 25p to see if the streak contiune's, but this guy had already stood there watching me play cob and robs, without even trying play another machine just stood there waiting to see if id lose. so i thought forget it. but he left to my amazement. so i went over and stuck in a pound to have the streak continue for another 35.
thats probs the only good arcade in middlesbrough, not for machines but for staff and actaull enjoyment in there.

[jglenny]

Does anyone know any good arcades near Nottingham & Derby

[kidgloves]

A previous post has mentioned that I got 'barred' from my local arcade by the actual players who moaned about not being able to win anything when I was in. Since my 'barring' I've discovered how much better other places are..a bit more travelling but better % and cleanliness, promotions, drinks and snacks. The owner of the 'local' arcade I used to go to is so tight he won't even by any biscuits and there are never any cold drinks ever, even during Summer. It does take time to build a rapport with the staff and the locals in a new place, you have to make an effort particularly with the players who just look at you as another hand in the pot when they clock you have experience.

[weazel]

you lot would enjoy a wee trip over 2 my neck of the woods , decent sized northern irish town with 4/5 arcades, think only 1 isnt a twlight zone (our local chain). they are basically no go zones. biggest would have no more than 20machines (hi&lo tecs plus poker machines) full of little spides and other undesireables, most staff are wankers, in one near my old school where we'd play pool at lunch the machines were sharked by the staff. find it best to stick to pubs and clubs

[kidgloves]

How does it work over there? When I spent a few days in Dublin the only arcade I came across was a members only place and looked very unfriendly as if they didn't need the passing trade.

[a1056688]

AFAIK or from what i can see fruits are illegal in Pubs in Southern Ireland or certainly not the norm as in Britain.

During my trips to Ireland in the past 12 months the closest i came to a decent machine was a club Cops N Robbers on the Dublin Swift service from Hollyhead. (Cashpot and reserve almost empty, i might add).

Things are a lot slower in Northern Ireland, "behind the times", you might say.

Obviosly in central Belfast you will find more modern machines but out in the other counties, Austin Powers, Legionnaires, Pie Factories etc are ten a penny, im reliabley informed.

[jono2003]

how about Gt Yarmouth they have a couple of new arecades which best oen to go in i played hellraiser it was dropping this is goin to pay jp put 40 in only got £5 werid hay not even a steak

[weazel]

machines arent illegal in northern ireland, most are just really really dated compared to what you lot play over in the mainland

[tedrogers]

last time i was there i was surprised at some of the stuff, you were talking early program caesars palace (ok with most of the lights busted lol), king kebab and even wild west lol!! i imagine it's probably more covered now mind.