First look at £1m plans for US-style retro ‘barcade’ at former Aberdeen nightclub

By Craig Munro

October 3 2022, 5:00 pm

Jack Codona is bringing a video game-themed bar to the Union Street site once occupied by Espionage. Supplied by Mhorvan Park/DCT

The boss of Aberdeen fairground Codona’s has revealed his plans for levelling up a former nightspot in the city centre.

In August, we broke the news that Espionage nightclub on Union Street was to be reinvented as a bar with a focus on pub sports and games.

Appropriately for its name, Arcade Bar and Games will offer more than 50 retro video games over two floors.

The venue’s new owners say their plans were inspired by ‘barcade’ sites in the United States, which allow punters to defend Earth from aliens in Space Invaders as they enjoy their drinks.

An artist’s impression of the new bar. Image from Arcade Bar and Games

Old favourites like Pacman and Mario Kart will also be available on the two-storey site, while non-gamers can play pool, pinball, basketball or air hockey.

The people behind the overhaul, which has now begun after approval from the city’s licensing board, say it represents a £1 million investment on Union Street.

Around 30 full and part-time jobs will also be created as a result, they said.

Arcade bar part of competitive trend

The bar will not be the first in the city to capitalise on the trend of ‘competitive socialisation’.

The Beach Bar, which opened in January, serves up a variety of games such as table tennis and skee-ball.

But Jack Codona, Arcade’s operations manager, said the focus on video games would be a first for Aberdeen.

He said: “It’s great to bring a new concept which combines cocktails, beer and retro games to the city.

“Opening early next year, work on bringing an unused building back to life is currently ongoing.”

Mr Codona added: “It’s going to be a bar and entertainment destination with an urban street feel.”

Replacement for student favourite Espionage

That “unused building” was formerly home to Espionage, once a favourite of Aberdeen students as the city’s only free-entry nightclub.

It closed prior to the pandemic, with its final event being advertised on Facebook in May 2019.

Since then, its social media has advertised sites such as The Priory, which has returned to Belmont Street.

Codona’s at Aberdeen Beach. Picture by Darrell Benns

Despite Mr Codona’s other job as the manager for the city’s beachside amusement park, Arcade Bar and Games will be a separate entity that is otherwise unconnected to Codona’s.

Aberdeen Inspired chief executive Adrian Watson said: “It’s great news that we have a brand new concept coming to the city centre.”

He added that he thought the venue “will complement the other night-time businesses within the city centre”.