Continue Arcades, the fast-growing retro gaming lounge concept, has secured development agreements for 42 locations across the United Kingdom, marking a sharp acceleration in its national rollout and placing it among the more active expansion stories in the country’s experiential leisure sector.
Founded in May 2024 by Austin Wood, the brand has quickly carved out a position in the competitive socialising market by combining nostalgia-led arcade gaming with a modern, community-focused lounge environment. The concept centres on a “pay once, play all day” model, allowing unlimited access to a curated mix of retro arcade machines and console gaming, designed to drive longer dwell times and repeat visits.
The company launched its franchise model in April 2025 and has since scaled from a single flagship site in Plymouth to five operational locations, including towns such as Taunton and Swansea. The format is intentionally compact and flexible, making it suitable for high streets and secondary leisure destinations, while requiring relatively simple operations with no full-scale kitchen and lean staffing.
The rollout has been supported by Infinity Business Growth Network, which partnered with the business at an early stage to structure and scale the franchise programme. The consultancy has played a central role in franchise recruitment, helping attract both first-time operators and multi-unit investors.
In the past week alone, two additional franchise investors have signed development agreements, taking the total committed pipeline to 42 units across the UK.
A spokesperson for Continue Arcades said: “The response to our franchise launch has exceeded expectations. Moving from one site to five trading locations in such a short period, and securing agreements for 42 units, is a testament to both the strength of the concept and the quality of partners we’re bringing into the network.”
Infinity Business Growth Network added: “Continue Arcades represents exactly the kind of scalable, experience-driven brand that resonates strongly with today’s franchise investors. The speed of growth since launch demonstrates both market demand and the robustness of the franchise model.”
The brand’s rapid uptake reflects broader consumer demand for experience-led venues, where entertainment, social interaction and affordability are key drivers. By removing coin-operated barriers and offering an all-inclusive pricing model, Continue Arcades positions itself as an accessible, repeat-visit destination for families, students and young adult groups.
With five sites already trading and a 42-location pipeline in development, Continue Arcades is targeting nationwide coverage over the coming years, with a focus on underserved towns as well as established leisure hubs. As more sites come online, the company is aiming to establish a strong presence in the UK’s evolving social entertainment landscape.
