Retro arcade bar NQ64's expansion plans given a ‘1-up’ following £1.4m investment

Following rapid growth across the UK, retro arcade bar brand NQ64 is preparing to open its doors to its ninth venue in August 2022 in Newcastle upon Tyne, the home of co-founder Matthew Robson.

The idea for the neon-filled, retro, R&B arcade bar otherwise known as NQ64, originally emerged from co-founder Andy Haygarth’s first bar, Twenty Twenty-Two in Manchester, which became a “popular hub” where people would come to enjoy a small selection of retro arcade games alongside ping pong.

Andy noticed how much his customers loved playing these games when coming in for a drink, and soon realised that it could work as a much bigger concept.

Andy explained: “The key factor to our brand’s national success is, first and foremost, creating a great environment and bar where people enjoy spending time, relaxing and socialising with others, with the added hook of old school arcades and bright exciting interiors.

“We have a really great team of people that have helped us to take NQ64 around the country and grow our brand into the success it is today.” NQ64’s first site in the Northern Quarter, Manchester was launched on a £100k budget.

Andy continued: “With every opening we do, we always look to see how we can add more to the retro gaming and bar experience, with the fundamental concept and visualisation being at the heart of everything we do, generally spending between £500k-£1m per venue build now.”

NQ64 has recently hired a new head of people, Ashley Stevenson, who has been brought in to drive a culture of “team engagement and collaboration” at the heart of the business, build a reward and recognition strategy and embed company values.

To date, NQ64 have created around 125 jobs, with an additional 20 jobs set to be created once they open in Newcastle. With clear sights set on launching a further 16 sites within the UK, NQ64 is looking to expand into cities like Leeds, Bristol, and Nottingham with some additional sites in London, following a £1.4m investment by leisure investor Imbiba.

Andy concluded: “The investment will allow us to take advantage of exciting opportunities to grow throughout the UK.” Imbiba is a specialist investor in the hospitality sector which has also backed restaurant group Darwin and Wallace and the Vagabond wine bars.

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