Family Amusements Arcade Broadstairs

Broadstairs is home to a charming cove beach on the south coast of England’s most south-eastern corner. Just a ten-minute drive from Margate, it exudes a quieter, more refined atmosphere, with fewer tourists but plenty of old-world elegance. While the town has only one amusement arcade, its promenades and gardens are breath-taking. Lovers of historic Victorian seaside architecture will delight in wandering the picturesque streets, discovering quaint shops and lanes that transport visitors back to another era.

The arcade sits at the far end of the main promenade, overlooking the beach. While there is an entrance from the pedestrian walkway, the main door is just around the corner on the gently sloping Harbour Street. From here, visitors can follow the road down to the beach, where public toilets are conveniently located, alongside a selection of charming beachside shops and restaurants, and, of course, direct access to the sands themselves.

The main entrance features wide bi-fold doors that open to greet visitors with the allure of bright flashing machines. Although gently sloping, the right-hand side appears to be accessible and wheelchair-friendly (though best to call ahead). The entrance on the promenade also looks like it might be accessible, though it’s best to call ahead to find out, as the building has at least three different levels inside. 

Claw Machines

The main entrance is adorned with a colourful range of claw machines, and there is a fun Skill Cut-style machine in the doorway offering a big multicoloured caterpillar as the prize! Inside there is an impressive run of thirteen Magnet Crane branded Elaut claw machines covering the entire wall of the lower level. A perfect venue for claw machine enthusiasts at three plays for a pound! 

There is also a Space Drop machine at the lower level, which is similar to the bright yellow Winfall Revolution grabber that is nearby. We also noted a Tickety Boo crane near the prize shop that pays out reels of tickets to winners (perfectly positioned for those who need a few more tickets). Visitors can also find a couple more classic claw machines located just at the promenade entrance, and also a four-player mini Winfall Revolution array next to the coin pushers. 

Children’s Arcade Games

Broadstairs Arcade offers plenty of games suited to younger visitors. Highlights include two charming spinning kiddie rides, perfect for little ones to sit and enjoy, as well as a children-sized, two-player Zombie Outbreak shooting game - a great introduction for youngsters to the thrill of arcade fun.

Coin Pushers

Perhaps the arcade’s strongest attraction is its impressive range of coin pushers, featuring both modern designs and classic favourites offering fun shelf prizes and ticket wins. Classic coin pushers include Jurassic Park, Justice League and several Clockwork Oranges machines, all with wheel spinner mini games that pay out ticket wins.

Modern coin pushers include Aladdin, Temple of Tickets, Cop the Loot and two Pharaoh’s Golden Ticket machines, all with upper feature boards. Broadstairs family arcade also has one of the latest closed-loop ball pushers called Ocean Party, which is a two-player visual delight that pays out ticket prizes. 

Classic Arcade Games

There is no shortage of classic arcade machines at this amusement arcade, and they include a Deal or No Deal quiz machine, Guitar Hero Arcade and a Dance Dance Revolution Dance Machine. Arcade shooting games include Deadstorm Pirates, Razing Storm, Nerf Arcade and Jurassic Park Arcade. 

Fans of arcade racing games will just love the two-player Moto GP bikes and Mario Kart DX machines. An absolute classic worth calling out is the Kung Fu Panda machine, where players have to use their kung fu skills to hit light-up pads for ticket prizes.  

Fairground Games

Broadstairs Amusements has no shortage of quality fairground games, and these include several different types, where players have to use their accuracy and aiming skills. These include Down the Clown, Crazy Kitten, Quik Drop, Pixel Chase and Wild West Shootout. Sports fans will also love the two-player Lane Master, the row of Sonic Allstars basketball arcade games on the upper floor and the Penalty Shootout Pro football game. 

Big Arcade Machines

Go big or go home! Fans of the biggest machines will enjoy the four-player Derby Day racer game and also the Crazy Hammer Wrecking Ball game, where players have to throw the wrecking ball at targets to beat high scores. There is also a two-player Piano Keys game for the musically gifted. 

High Strikers

There is a high striker located on the upper level of this arcade, which is the lovely pirate-themed Whack-n-Win, where players have to whack the barrel to light up the targets to win big ticket prizes. 

Wheel Spinners

There are several fantastic wheel spinner type arcade games in this amusement venue, where players can win big ticket jackpots. These include Treasure Quest and Crank It on the middle floor, Ticket Monster on the upper floor and the fun ‘Pop the Lock’ on the lower floor, where players have to stop the light at the exact moment to pop the lock for big ticket prizes. 

VR Machines

There is a two-player Green Light VR Power machine in this venue, and players can enjoy and pick from a range of experiences on the jukebox-style touch screen.

Ticket Slot Machines

They have a triple-row of Temple of Tickets ticket slot machines with an upper feature board and a jackpot of 500 tickets!

£5 Jackpot Fruit Machines

Broadstairs Family Arcade has a great range of both standalone and triple-row fruit machines, and these include Clockwork Oranges, Deal or No Deal and Monopoly standalone machines. There are also several triple-row machines on the middle floor, and these include Party Time, Monopoly and Rainbow Riches, all with upper feature boards. There is also a Skill Ball Zingy game for those who love fast bingo fun.

Casino Slots

In the upper section, there is an adult slots lounge area located next to the prize shop. This is heavily monitored and has a gate access system, possibly to stop underage players from accessing this area. Something that we very much encourage. Inside players can find a small yet quality range of the latest casino slots terminals including, £100 and £500 jackpot machines from providers such as Blueprint Gaming and Light and Wonder.

Venue Verdict

Broadstairs is a truly gorgeous setting, and for fans of amusement arcades, it’s an added delight. While it may not be quite as accessible as Margate, the balance of quality games here feels just right (arguably outshining many of Margate’s arcades). For anyone exploring the south-east corner, this is a stop not to be missed: Broadstairs Family Amusements Arcade boasts an impressive and varied line-up of machines that capture the best of seaside gaming.

As with all our reviews, plenty more machines can be found, best discovered in person!

Featured Machine: Kung Fu Panda Arcade Game