Gilly's Amusement Arcade Scarborough

Gilly's has been a well-known name in Scarborough’s amusement scene for several decades, with Gilly's Amusements continuing to operate from a prominent position on Foreshore Road overlooking South Bay Beach. This guide covers the larger Gilly's venue, as there are two Gilly's venues close together. Gilly's Family Amusements and Leisure Centre is where visitors can find the large adult gaming centre and upstairs leisure area, while Gilly’s Casino Arcade is a separate amusement venue further down Foreshore Road. Google Maps currently has the two venue names back to front, which might make the difference even more confusing.

The larger arcade venue also has pool tables and mini bowling upstairs, while an old stone staircase runs from the viewing area on Merchants Row above the venue, down the side of the building to Foreshore Road. For those who enjoy Scarborough’s historic passageways, it offers a fun way to explore the town’s historic layout.

Gilly's Amusements is a large, wide-fronted venue on Foreshore Road, with eight open-plan entrances and a range of eye-catching machines on display to attract passers-by. The entrances are step-free, making the ground floor wheelchair-friendly. An escalator goes upstairs, though regular stairs return visitors to the ground floor. There are also steps to access the first-floor mini bowling area, making the upper levels less accessible. There is also an ATM on site, while toilet facilities are located on the third floor (stairs only) and are 20p per use.

Kids Arcade Games

Outside the venue, there are several fun kiddie rides, including cute little vans and motorbike Inside, younger players have plenty to enjoy, including the half-sized Duckling Fight, a ticket water game, and mini claws including Shining Cube and Find-a-Key with instant prize lockers. There are also mini coin pushers and step stools available to help children reach the larger machines.

Claw Machines

A large number of claw machines is immediately noticeable when approaching the venue, with most positioned outside to tempt passers-by. Gilly's has an impressive selection, including E-Claw grabbers, Happy Crab, Skill Cut Winner and Prize Every Time machines, alongside other options such as Trap Door, WinFall Revolution and Over the Edge. The plush prizes are also of good quality, with branded characters including The Simpsons, Paddington Bear and Disney favourites.

Coin Pushers

The 2p selection at Gilly's is made up mainly of classic seaside coin pushers, which fit the beachfront setting perfectly. Highlights include Scenic Railway, Spinning Top, Strike Ten, Around the World, Clockwork Oranges, Scooby Doo, Simpsons Donut Daze, Strictly Disco, Pic-n-Mix and Snakes-n-Ladders. There is also an interesting Elvis-branded hybrid pusher, similar to the popular Pac-Man Ball game.

Younger visitors are catered for with Scenic Shuffle, a kids-sized pusher featuring a ‘match 3 to win’ upper feature game. There do not appear to be any ticket coin pushers at the venue, although the generous selection of shelf prizes more than makes up for this.

Classic Arcade Games

There are several classic arcade games on the ground floor worth seeking out, including arcade shooters Halo Fireteam Raven, Dinosaur Era, Tomb Raider Arcade and Big Buck Hunter Reloaded. Fairground game fans will enjoy Axe Heroes and the four-player Derby Day camel-style racer, while football fans can try World Football Pro.

There is also a good selection of modern arcade racing games, including Asphalt Legends, SuperBikes 3 and the popular Storm Rider 2. Arcade explorers can also spot an official Zoltar Speaks fortune teller machine in an eye-catching cabinet.

Gilly’s 1st Floor Family Area

With no ticket arcade games here, Gilly’s makes up for it with this fantastic first-floor entertainment space. It has the feel of arcades from back in the 1990s, with proper pool tables, two air hockey tables and a selection of classic video games and £5 jackpot fruit machines.

Retro fans can also enjoy four classic pinball machines, including Elvis, Star Wars and Beatlemania, alongside the newer Star Wars Mandalorian. Arcade shooters include Terminator Salvation and the rarely seen Let’s Go Island by Sega, while other games include Lane Master, SuperBikes 2, Nitro Speed and several Sonic All-Stars basketball arcade machines.

A couple of steps lead down to the beach-facing upstairs area, where there is a four-lane Bowlingo section, ideal for families looking for some indoor entertainment. Several more kiddie rides are also available here for younger children.

Fruit Machines

There are several low-stakes fruit machines dotted around the ground floor, including T7s, Pac-Man and Bongo Bingo Skill Ball games. The bulk of the £5 jackpot fruit machines are located upstairs near the pool tables, adding to the retro arcade vibe. Triple-row fruities include Party Time, Bullion Bars and Win Spinner.

Standalone fruit machines include Adders-n-Ladders, Super Line Up, Crazy Fruits, Monopoly, Deal or No Deal, Clockwork Oranges and Super Nudge Gambler, alongside many other titles, including classic machines such as Oxo low-boys.

Slots Lounge

Possibly even more impressive than the classic arcade area upstairs is the large adult gaming slots lounge, which covers the entire rear of the ground floor. The area is split into different sections, with dim lighting, glowing machines and classic seaside lighting tiles creating a nostalgic atmosphere.

There is a fantastic selection of modern digital slot terminals from Blueprint Gaming, including games such as Medusa, with jackpots ranging from £100 to £500. There are also Astra Community Party machines and £500 jackpot Cops & Robbers Grand machines.

For fans of classic big jackpot fruit machines, there are dome-top Bar-X machines with £25 jackpots, high-roller T7s and standalone mechanical fruit machines from different eras. Other highlights include a row of Bar-X Oxo games, classic video poker machines and higher-stakes fruit machines such as Psycho Cash Beast with a £15 jackpot and Monopoly with a £25 jackpot.

Venue Verdict

Gilly's Amusements is everything a classic British seaside arcade should be. It combines an impressive mix of games for all ages with nostalgic sights, sounds and décor, while its different areas give the venue plenty of character and places to settle in, whether visiting during the day or later in the evening. The atmosphere is genuinely authentic, proving that a great amusement arcade does not necessarily need ticket redemption to deliver a memorable experience. If you’re exploring Scarborough’s seafront, Gilly's is a must-visit for anyone looking to experience traditional British seaside amusements.

There are many more exciting machines to be discovered a Gilly's so be sure to visit in person!