Several years ago a typical night out might have involved a crowded pub and a few rounds of drinks. Today many people are looking for something more interactive. From escape rooms to immersive theatre, nights out are increasingly centred around experiences rather than simply places to meet and Rivals Social fits the bill brilliantly. When I was invited to an evening at Rivals Social I expected a games venue. What I found was a fascinating snapshot of how our nights out are changing.
The Venue:
For context Rivals Social is a huge high tech venue which has in it a large range of activities:
The Arena: The Arena was the activity that surprised me most. Imagine stepping inside a real-life version of The Cube, with different challenges appearing around you. Some required quick reactions, others more strategic thinking, and there was a surprising amount of shouting encouragement (and occasionally criticism) from teammates.
For a 45 minute session it is £120 and up to 10 people can play which at £12 per person works out good value.
The Grid: This is the one for all the wannabe Lewis Hamiltons of Canterbury out there. Seated facing the track you steer your way around a race and for me it was a lot harder than it looked. Within minutes I had somehow managed to turn my racing car the wrong way round and spent much of the race battling oncoming traffic rather than my fellow competitors!! Prices start at £10 a race per person and the track can have up to 10 people on it at a time.
Hot Shots: A VR shooting game with a selection of challenges to choose from – from timed rounds to hunting other competitors. Once you got the hang of it the equipment itself was simple to use although whilst some members of our group quickly embraced their inner action hero, I spent a significant portion of the session shooting at entirely the wrong target.
This is £50 for 45 minutes and again can have up to 10 people on it.
AR Darts: For those that have been to the likes of Flight Club and other AR darts experience this is a similar vibe with your normal darts match getting a glow up. Games are projected onto the dart board and scores automatically tracked with a live leader board. This is £50 for 45 minutes and once again you can have up to 10 players.
On top of these activities above they have sing pods karaoke, bowling, shuffleboard and arcade games. as well as food, drink and a selection of other events throughout the week including interactive quizzes.
One reason venues like Rivals Social work so well is that the experience doesn’t end when the game finishes. Food and drinks can be ordered directly to your activity station from screens that are dotted around the venue, allowing groups to continue socialising without breaking the flow of the evening. I tried a selection of the food including the classic burger, the classic chicken burger, mac and cheese bites as well as the cheesy fries and would recommend all of them! Drinks wise they also have a selection of cocktails as well as mocktails so if like me you are partial to a drink with a pretty garnish then Rivals also have you covered.
What struck me most wasn’t any individual activity but the sheer variety on offer. Increasingly, nights out are no longer built around a single event. Instead, venues like Rivals Social allow groups to create an evening that evolves, moving from one activity to another whilst still staying in the same space.
The Vibe:
Rivals Canterbury is the perfect answer for those that are bored of sitting round a table with drinks but are looking for an activity to anchor the evening. With a huge amount of activities and therefore price points to choose from it gives you the anchor that many are often looking for but with the ease of not being forced out of a venue as soon as the activity is finished and the ability to hang out before or afterwards and even grab some food to discuss how brilliant (or awful) you were at the activity.
It is easy to see why with venues such as Rivals Social that people are increasingly spending money on experiences over possessions and a night out here creates just that. After one evening here I left with stories to tell (mostly about how bad I was at the shooting game), fun photos and videos to look back on, ‘friendly’ rivalry increased with my husband and shared memories with the group I went with.
Who Would I Recommend It To:
In my write ups I try to avoid cliches and recommending it to everyone but due to the range of activities here there is a wide appeal. I attended with a group of 5 friends and it worked really well for a group night out and this would also apply to a work group. However as it’s not an alcohol focused venue (although they do great cocktails) it works equally well with family trips.
In Summary:
The success of venues like Rivals Social highlights how our expectations of a night out are evolving. Increasingly, people are looking for more than somewhere to sit with a drink; they want experiences, interaction and memories to take home with them. Whether you’re fiercely competitive or simply looking for an alternative to another evening in the pub, Rivals Social offers a reminder that sometimes the best nights out aren’t about where you go, but what you do once you get there.
To find out more about Rivals Social you can visit their website here.
If you like this review you might also like my thoughts on Prison Island, The Crystal Maze and Fairgame.