Activate gaming experience set to open in Festival Place

Activate Basingstoke will be taking over three units on the upper level of Festival Place next to Starbucks.

The gaming attraction, described as being like a scene from Mission Impossible, will include physical challenges with interactive, technology-driven gameplay, including lasers and portals.

Festival Place centre director Vicky Hickson said: “Activate is exactly the kind of high-quality, experience-led attraction we are focused on bringing to Festival Place. It adds real energy to the centre and strengthens our position as a destination that goes beyond traditional retail.

The press game (Image: Mike Sudoma)

“There is a clear shift towards social, interactive leisure, particularly among younger audiences, and Activate taps directly into that demand with something genuinely different.

“The continued investment from We Do Play, following the success of Flip Out here, is a strong vote of confidence in Basingstoke and its catchment. We expect this opening to attract significant new footfall and further broaden our appeal across the region."

The experience, for groups of two to five, allows players to jump, climb and problem-solve their way through interactive game rooms featuring lasers, grids, hoops and portals.

The laser game (Image: Mike Sudoma)

The announcement comes from We Do Play, the leisure group behind Boom Battle Bar and Flip Out.

Rich Beese, co-founder of We Do Play, said: “Basingstoke is a really strong regional hub with a wide catchment and an established reputation as a retail and leisure destination. That made Festival Place a natural choice for our sixth UK site.”

“We’re seeing huge demand for social, experience-led activities outside of major cities, and Activate is designed to keep people coming back – whether that’s for group nights out, family visits or corporate bookings.”

The new Basingstoke site will include all of Activate’s games: Strike, Portals, Control, Press, Hide, Laser, Grid, Mega Grid and Hoops.

Laser game (Image: Mike Sudoma)

Activate’s five London venues have had visitors, including Myleene Klass and Simon Cowell’s new boyband, December 10.

Councillor Paul Harvey said: “This is great news and shows yet again the solid progress Estama are making. Increased footfall, over 21 empty units let and this amazing new leisure offer. All building real momentum in our town centre. This has not happened by accident; it's a huge amount of hard work and a collaborative approach that is delivering.”

The strike game (Image: Mike Sudoma)

Originally launched in Canada in 2017, Activate now operates more than 60 locations across the world, with the first London Activate opening at The O2 attraction in December 2024.

Further details, including booking information, will be announced in due course.

The minimum age to participate in Activate is 6 years old and adults must be present through the gaming experience for children between 6 and 13 years old.

For more information, visit playactivate.co.uk