Fantasy World Amusement Arcade Cleethorpes

Fantasy World is located on the beach-facing North Promenade at the heart of Cleethorpes' bustling seafront. The venue neighbours the Arnold Palmer putting course next to the manicured Dolphin Gardens. Neighbouring one side is the historic Cleethorpes railway station, while an ice cream parlour kiosk occupies the other end of the building. This stretch of the promenade is also home to the Taylor Made Fun arcade and the historic Browns Café, established in 1880. With Cleethorpes Pier just a short stroll away, this is undoubtedly one of the busiest and most popular parts of the seaside resort.

The Fantasy World Arcade is one of the largest amusements in Cleethorpes, occupying a substantial footprint right on the beachfront. There are several entrances, including direct access from the railway station and further entrances along the promenade. Inside, the arcade opens into a surprisingly spacious entertainment venue with high ceilings and two main gaming areas that wrap around the neighbouring Taylor Made Fun arcade.
Access from the promenade is step-free, with ramps also available from the railway station, making the venue wheelchair accessible. Pay & Display parking is available directly outside, although spaces can become busy during the summer months.

Kids Arcade Games

Entering from the promenade, visitors are greeted by an impressive selection of kiddie rides, including mini merry-go-rounds, 4x4 trucks, vintage cars and even a Hello Kitty wheel. There is also a large soft play area at the rear of the venue for youngsters who love to climb, along with an F1 track where children can race mini Formula 1 cars. Combined with the many smaller arcade games, there is certainly plenty on offer for younger children. Slightly older children will love the four-player Bump-n-Smash which also rewards players with ticket wins.

Claw Machines

Fantasy World Amusements has an excellent selection of claw machines, ranging from colourful rows of E-Claw grabbers and Elaut EX1s to the retro Crompton's X-Factor crane games. The machines are well stocked with a fantastic variety of licensed plush prizes, including Mickey Mouse, Peppa Pig, Pac-Man and Paddington Bear characters. Visitors will also find other popular instant-win games, including Skill Cut Winner and mini ticket grabbers.

Coin Pushers

They have a great range of modern ticket coin pushers here, including favourites such as Sweet Falls, Jurassic Park, Minions and Justice League, all offering fun shelf prizes to be won. There is also a Tornado coin stacker for fans of modern closed loop machines. Whether chasing tickets, coin stacker drops or nudging a prize over the edge, there's plenty to keep 2p machine fans entertained. One machine that particularly stands out is the beautiful classic coin pusher ‘Elvis’, with the glowing red lighting adding a touch of nostalgia to the arcade.

Classic Arcade Games

Fantasy World has some absolute classic arcade machines to discover, with the standout attraction being the beautifully presented Dougans Mining Co. arcade shooting gallery. Visitors can also seek out two vintage Whittakers roll-down machines, Greedy Gobs and Roll-n-Win, alongside the Deal or No Deal quiz machine for those who enjoy a bit of a mental challenge game. There are also two Air FX air hockey tables, a Sonic All Stars basketball arcade game and a combo prize boxing punch machine with a football kicker for competitive visitors.

Racing fans can enjoy several different arcade racing games, including the impressive quad-screen Furious Speed DX or an original Fast and the Furious two-player game. The venue also features the modern four-player ticket shooter Marksman Max, offering a fun multiplayer challenge with ticket prizes up for grabs. Or fans of classic arcade shooters can seek out the Big game Hunter machine.

Ticket Arcade Games

Fantasy World is heavily invested in ticket redemption and offers a superb selection of modern ticket arcade games for players of all ages. From skill-based challenges to multiplayer attractions, there is a fantastic variety of ways to win tickets and compete with family and friends.

Fairground Games

The fairground game selection is particularly impressive, featuring modern favourites such as Aqua Ball, a fresh take on classic skee-ball, alongside Down the Clown, Let’s Bounce and the unique two-player Demolition King. Visitors can also enjoy larger multiplayer attractions including the six-player London Bus and Meercat Racing, which combine ticket slot gameplay with classic horse racing fun.

Other standout ticket machines include the large-screen two-player Space Invaders, where skilled players can compete for a 500-ticket jackpot, the eye-catching two-player Zombie Bowling machine and the high-striker style Whack-n-Win. There is also the colourful two-player Meteor Ball arcade machine, offering another fun way to boost ticket totals.

Prize Shop

All those hard-earned tickets can be exchanged at Fantasy World's fully-stocked prize shop, which is packed with rewards to suit all ages. Visitors can browse a wide selection of treats and collectables, including sweets, lollies, collectible cards and many other fun prizes. With such a fantastic selection of ticket redemption games, the prize shop feels like an area that could benefit from an even wider choice of rewards to complete the experience.

Ticket Slot Machines

With Fantasy World heavily focused on ticket-based entertainment, visitors will also find two triple-row ticket slot machines with upper feature boards. These include Aladdin and Freddie, offering another fun way for players to boost their ticket totals.

Fruit Machines

One of the standout features of this amusement arcade is the extensive collection of late 1990s and early 2000s fruit machines. There is a fantastic selection of standalone £5 jackpot fruit machines to enjoy, including popular classics such as Space Raiders, Legal Tender, The Power (Phil Taylor), Psycho Cash Beast, Bully for You, Top Giza, Hot Shot, Bullseye and many more.

Visitors can also discover a community Adders & Ladders machine with its giant game board, close to a row of T7s and Skill Ball machines. With the arcade's darker theme and atmosphere, the fruity area feels like travelling back to the inner-city arcades of the 1990s, making this a real highlight for fruit machine fans across the country.

Slots Lounge

Fantasy World has a dedicated adult gaming area located in the middle of the venue, with the entrance tucked away next to the Skill Ball Zingy machines. While it is easy to miss at first glance, stepping inside reveals a separate gaming space offering a dedicated adult gaming experience.

Inside, visitors will find a selection of modern digital slot terminals alongside big jackpot mechanical fruit machines, with jackpot values ranging from £25 up to £500. The mix of classic machines and newer digital options provides a good balance for adult players looking for a dedicated space away from the busy bustle of the main arcade.

Venue Verdict

Fantasy World is a fascinating and unique amusement venue with a character all of its own. The large, dimly lit layout creates an atmospheric experience that feels more like stepping into a retro inner-city gaming zone, with visually striking machines, glowing displays and plenty of surprises waiting to be discovered.

While some elements of the venue show signs of age, with a handful of machines requiring attention during our visit, this also adds to the authentic character of a busy amusement venue that has entertained generations of visitors. Families with younger children, plush prize fans, ticket hunters and fruit machine enthusiasts looking for something a little different will all find plenty to enjoy here.

A gritty yet exciting venue with plenty of down-to-earth personality, Fantasy World reflects much of what makes Cleethorpes unique. It may not have the polished feel of a modern entertainment centre, though it has a genuine charm and individuality that makes it one of the resort's standout attractions.

Our guide highlights some of Fantasy World's standout attractions, though every visit offers different machines and surprises to discover. Check out the rest in person!