The Empire Amusement Arcade Cleethorpes

The Empire Arcade in Cleethorpes is an impressive Victorian building located in a prominent position on Alexandra Road, overlooking both the Pier and Dolphin Gardens. The historic building originally opened in 1896 as The Empire Theatre, though it has undergone many transformations over the years, with the current owners taking it on in 1996 and transforming it into an exciting family entertainment venue.

The imposing symmetry of the building immediately catches the eye from the road and is sure to tempt curious visitors inside. Sitting slightly elevated and set apart from the other Cleethorpes arcades on the lower promenade, the venue has a unique character and a distinctive presence overlooking the seafront area.

The arcade occupies most of the ground floor, with a fish & chips shop located at the front left of the building and a seaside gift shop on the right, offering toys, souvenirs and gifts. Entry to the arcade is through the three central double doors, which open into a large and welcoming entertainment space.

The venue also benefits from ramps at the front entrance, providing wheelchair access, while parking is available along Alexandra Road, just a short walk away. Toilets are also available within the venue for a small fee.

Kids Arcade Games

With several kiddie rides positioned outside, the arcade is sure to tempt passing families inside. Younger visitors will love the Hello Kitty wheel and Bob the Builder kiddie rides in the foyer, which opens into the main arcade where youngsters can enjoy exciting water shooters including Zombie Outbreak and Ice Man, alongside the Phantom motorcycle game.

Ticket Arcade Games

The Empire Arcade proudly describes itself as a local leader in ticket redemption games, and it's easy to see why. The venue boasts an extensive collection of redemption machines, ranging from the visually stunning Gum Drop and the strangely addictive Grand Piano Keys to the ever-popular Crazy Typhoon wheel spinner and Scooby Doo Racer, a modern hybrid of a ticket slot and the classic horse racing game.

Ticket fans will also enjoy a great selection of traditional two pence roll-down machines, including Let's Go Bingo, Angry Birds and Rollercoaster, all offering plenty of opportunities to boost ticket totals.

Prize Shop

The prize shop features several large glass display cabinets packed with an excellent selection of rewards to suit all ages and tastes. From sweets, lollies and pocket-money treats to larger ticket prizes including kitchenware and electrical gadgets, there is plenty to keep ticket hunters aiming for their next big redemption.

Coin Pushers

The Empire Amusements has a wide range of coin pushers, with many paying out ticket wins to players. They are well-stocked with shelf prizes and coins and are very playable.

Ticket Coin Pushers

Modern coin pushers with ticket wins include Strike Ten, Pick-n-Mix, Prize Quest and the super popular Wheel of Fun that includes an upper feature screen with a wheel spinner for additional ticket jackpots.

Classic Coin Pushers

They have some great retro classics here including Let’s Twist Again, Big Ben, Rainbow Riches, Beachball, Butterfly, Hot Dog and the lovely Crompton's High Roller, Carousel and Disco Fever pushers.

Closed Loop Pushers

Empire also features a Prize Quest closed-loop coin pusher, which uses dedicated coin-op style tokens instead of traditional coins. These machines recycle tokens within the game while offering tickets as prizes, creating a cleaner and more convenient playing experience with less handling of loose change.

Claw Machines

The Empire venue also has a fun range of claw machines with most located around the foyer area. These range from smaller Toy Soldier claw grabbers with mini plushies to a row of classic Maxx Grab and Elaut Mega Cranes with branded plush prizes including the popular Steven the Seagull. There is also a Magic Totem, Prize Cube, Duck Party and Skill Cut Win Me, where players can try to win a giant plush prize.

Classic Arcade Fun

With such a strong focus on ticket games, one classic arcade machine deserves a special mention: the Sweet Land Premia. Branded as "The Empire Cleethorpes Chocolate Factory", this unique four-player crane game gives players the chance to win sweets and chocolate from a rotating conveyor belt packed with tempting treats, making it a fun and eye-catching attraction for visitors of all ages.

VR Arcade Games

At the front of the Empire Amusement Arcade sits a three-player VR Arcade Simulator from Movie Power. Here players can choose from a selection of virtual adventures that provide a fully immersive VR experience for up-to three friends to enjoy together. 

Ticket Slot Machines

At the rear of the venue is an unassuming row of ticket slot machines and these include Puffing Billy, Tickety Boo, a gorgeous arch-top Adders & Ladders and two modern Crazy Fruits machines all with big jackpots of around 500 tickets!

Fruit Machines

The Empire Arcade has a fine selection of triple-row fruities, including Bullion Bars, Golden Game, Monopoly Community Arena and Party Time Arena. There is also a row of classic Electrocoin Bar-X machines featuring the rare upper Flutterbox feature.

Visitors will also find several fun standalone £5 jackpot fruit machines, including Two-Way Nudger, Tik Tok Dosh, Sub Zero and the lovely Bell Fruit Golden Winner, among others.

Slot Machines

The focus here appears to be on classic British fruit machines rather than modern digital slot terminals. Visitors will find a selection of £100 jackpot triple-row fruit machines, including Bullion Bars and Party Time Arena, alongside a unique range of Cat D machines that offer something different for adult players to enjoy. With the wider venue focused on family-friendly ticket redemption games, this traditional slots area provides a golden era amusement arcade feel.

Venue Verdict

The Empire Amusement Arcade is a visual feast both inside and out. Few visitors could walk past this magnificent Victorian building without feeling tempted to take a look inside, and those who do are rewarded with a beautifully clean and well-presented arcade featuring a thoughtfully curated mix of games for all ages.

Whether you're crazy about claw machines or introducing younger family members to the kiddie rides, there is something here to keep everyone entertained. Ticket hunters in particular will appreciate the wide variety of games, with plenty of opportunities to discover new games while chasing big wins.
With so much to see and do, it's easy to spend several hours here before exploring the rest of Cleethorpes' amusement arcades. 

The Empire Arcade sets the bar high and is one of those rare venues that leaves a lasting impression long after you've left. If you're planning a day at the arcades in Cleethorpes, make sure the Empire is at the top of your list.

Our guide highlights some of the venue's standout attractions, though every visit offers different machines and surprises to discover. Pop in and explore the rest!