Sands Family Amusement Arcade Scratby

Sands Family Amusement Arcade is located at the California Sands Holiday Park, in the small hamlet of California, next door to Scratby. Both are part of the wider Borough of Great Yarmouth.
Locals often use the names Scratby and California interchangeably, which can be a little confusing - though the area is compact and easy to navigate.

There’s also another arcade in California, the Pink Palace Arcade, located just around the corner on Rottenstone Road. This makes the area a great little stop for arcade enthusiasts travelling to or from Hemsby or Great Yarmouth.

Sands Family Amusement Arcade is easy to find, with plenty of parking available just outside. The car park also serves the fish & chip shop, local store and the swimming pool. While arcades in holiday villages are often intended only for cabin and caravan owners, it appears that day visitors are welcome here. If visitors park considerately, there should be no issues enjoying the arcade and wider entertainment amenities.

Arcade Entrance

The amusement arcade is located between the aptly named Cod Father fish and chip shop and Club Oasis, a large entertainment venue serving the holiday park. Sands Amusements has several double-door entrances, all of which are wheelchair accessible.

Upon entry, visitors step into a foyer that extends along the length of the venue. This area features a fun selection of traditional claw machines and fairground-style games.

Just around the corner, Sands Arcade opens into a large entertainment venue offering a wide variety of arcade games and fruit machines. For younger children, several kiddie rides are available, including charming buses, cars, and taxis.

Coin Pushers

Coin pushers are found throughout the venue and make up a significant portion of the arcade machines. Sands Arcade offers a great selection of classic pushers, many of which are classic/retro models that parents and grandparents might remember from their youth. 

Classic coin pushers include Hippodrome, Love Machine, Down the Coast, Cosmic Invaders, Happy Days, Helter Skelter and Pirates Treasure. There are also some smaller classic pushers than even include five pence and one pence denominations to enjoy.

The arcade seems to lack modern ticket redemption coin pushers, nor are there closed-loop machines or ball hybrids either. However, there are two Pac Man Ball machines by Namco, which provide a welcome classic touch for visitors to enjoy.

Claw Machines

This entertainment venue offers an impressive range of classic claw machines, including several large Elaut EX1 models and traditional Mega Crane machines. It also features some modern variations on the classic crane, such as the Slam-a-Winner.

A quality range of plush prizes is available to win, including Hello Kitty, Steven the Seagull, and Looney Tunes characters. Players can also win Paddington Bear and other branded teddy bears.

Classic Arcade Games 

This amusement arcade offers a wide selection of classic machines, including popular arcade racing games like Daytona Rally and a four-player motorbike game. There’s also a Euromix dance machine and a classic Block Stacker game. At the very rear of the arcade, a two-player air hockey table provides the perfect arena for some friendly competition.

Pinball Machines

California Sands Amusements also features three fantastic pinball machines, available to play for one pound per game. These include Space Jam, Queen and Star Wars, which are a real treat for any pinball enthusiast.

Fairground Games

Highlights include the fantastic Side Show machine, a modern take on the traditional arcade shooting gallery. Up to four players can use mock rifles to shoot targets and win generous ticket pay-outs. Sports fans will enjoy the NBA Hoops basketball arcade machines, while younger players can try their hand at the half-size Slam-n-Jam games. There’s also a two-player Cute Bowling machine, along with several other fun ways to collect tickets.

They also have several Lucky Ducks machines, where players have to aim their two pence pieces into the ducks’ mouth to win tickets and also three of the Jam Session slalom-style roll-down machines at ten pence per play. 

Big Arcade Machines

This arcade features a large Dizzy Chicken ticket machine, where the aim is to land the ball on the coloured lights along a spiral to win tickets. There are also two Fruit Mania games, which combine elements of a digital coin pusher and a shooting game. The objective is to hit targets that fall onto a digital coin pusher shelf, which then pays out ticket prizes. It’s a fun game worth exploring.

Wheel Spinners

Fans of wheel spinners will be pleased to find a Crank It and a Big Bass Fishing Reel, both offering the chance to win large ticket jackpots.

Ticket Slot Machines

Sands Arcade offers a great range of ticket slot machines, including ten back-to-back standalone games in a row and several triple-row machines. The standalone slots include classics such as Tower of Terror, Pieces of Eight, Aladdin and Freddie. The triple-row ticket slots all feature upper feature boards, and these include Ticket Rush, Wizards of Odds and the ever-popular Lucky Ladders.

£5 Jackpot Fruit Machines

In a world where digital slot machines are becoming more common, this arcade stands out as one of the best places locally to find classic fruit machines. Sands Amusements offers a fine selection of standalone fruit machines alongside many popular triple-row games. The collection spans from the 1980s and 1990s right up to present day. Notable standalone machines include Dracula, The Mob, Frenzy and Cash Lab Gold. Triple-row £5 jackpot fruit machines feature titles such as Party Time variants, Hokey Cokey, Top Slots and Gold Rush.

Casino Slots

Sands Arcade has a dedicated slots lounge, separate from the main arcade, with casino jackpots of up to £500. Located in the central area, the lounge offers a good range of fruit and slot machines. Fruit machines include two Queen £100 games, alongside rows of the latest Blueprint digital gaming machines featuring jackpots ranging from £100 to £500.

Venue Verdict

Sands Arcade is a treasure trove for classic arcade enthusiasts, boasting standout gems in the coin pushers, classic arcade and fruit machine sections. Spacious and well-balanced, the venue offers entertainment for the entire family, blending nostalgia with modern fun. A highly recommended destination for anyone passing through or visiting the local area.

Featured Machine: Strike it Rich – Ticket Tower Game