The Arcade Warehouse Lincoln is getting ready to open in May with over 100 retro and modern gaming machines, Esports PCs and consoles, pool table, air hockey, VR and a cafe and bar.
Business IT professionals Caton Airey, 36, and Dan Rees, 34, started their own company PCSCUK Ltd in Scunthorpe in 2012 before opening a gaming shop in the town 24 months ago. They then launched The Arcade Warehouse Scunthorpe in June last year, which will reopen on May 17.
The friends from Scunthorpe, who have known each other for 12 years, are now getting ready to open their latest venture in the unit formerly occupied by Palmers of Lincoln on Dixon Street on May 21, and The Lincolnite went to check it out.
Take a look inside The Arcade Warehouse Lincoln, which opens on May 21, 2021. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
An area dedicated to driving-related games. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Caton and Dan competing against each other. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Over 100 arcade and gaming machines to choose from. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
There will be an entry fee of £8.95 for two hours for the entertainment venue, which is suitable for all ages.
Once this is paid you can play any of the games or activities inside at no extra cost – booking is now open and it is advised to book online in advance. Children under five can enter for free and there is currently a capacity for 70 people.
There are arcade and gaming machines for all ages, including driving, shooting, retro, virtual reality, pinball and basketball games, as well as Guitar Hero, a DJ game, a PC gaming area and more.
You can book two hour slots for £8.95. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Esports PCs and consoles area. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Games for all ages, including for children. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The cafe and bar area will be completed next ready for May’s opening. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The cafe and bar will serve alcoholic and soft drinks, such as milkshakes and ice blasts, and food including burgers, chips, hot dogs, pizza and Focaccia sandwiches.
Over £200,000 has been invested into the Lincoln site being leased by the two friends. It will create around 10 new jobs with the potential for more in the future.
It will open 12pm-8pm Monday to Thursday, 12pm-10pm on Fridays and 10am-10pm Saturdays and Sundays.
Dan having a go at Blazing Angels. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Time to shoot some hoops. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Or to try the pinball machines. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Caton told The Lincolnite: “I am excited, nervous and optimistic. We are really keen to get going. We’ve had the site since November and seeing it transform now we want to see people here enjoying themselves.”
Dan added: “We’ve felt like it’s been dragging because of COVID, but we’re eager to open in Lincoln and looking to expand with other sites. We are looking forward to seeing our first customers enjoying the experience in May.”
Panic Park is Caton’s favourite game at The Arcade Warehouse Lincoln. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
When asked what their favourite games are inside The Arcade Warehouse Lincoln, Caton said Panic Park, which is a Japanese import arcade game.
Dan’s top game is Dark Escape 4D, a horror experience including fans blowing onto the back of your neck, vibrating seats and heart monitors to gauge the user’s reactions.
Dark Escape 4D is Dan’s favourite game at The Arcade Warehouse Lincoln. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Caton Airey and Dan Rees outside their latest venture – The Arcade Warehouse Lincoln. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The business partners aim to have five Arcade Warehouses open across the country in the future.
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A 20-year-old man has been locked up for three years after starting a fire in care accommodation with a discarded cigarette.
Callum Lilliot, 20, dropped a cigarette on his coat which he then threw onto his bed at his care accommodation in Awdry Drive, Wisbech, at about 10pm on Boxing Day 2021.
Officers initially were called to the property when Lilliot threatened to jump out of a second-floor window, but arrived to find smoke coming from an open window.
An officer began to kick the door down through fears that people were inside, before a carer opened it with a key and police tried to tackle the fire themselves.
The officers were beaten back by smoke and heat, causing two of them to be hospitalised with smoke inhalation. Four residents and carers were evacuated as Lilliot was arrested a short time later.
He claimed the fire had been an accident as temporary accommodation had to be arranged for other residents, but that was not to be the last time that Christmastime he got himself in trouble with the police.
In a further incident on December 29, just three days later, Lilliot rang 999 to say he wanted to hurt staff at Peterborough’s Edith Cavell Centre by burning it down.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of arson with intent to endanger life, arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered, and threatening to damage or destroy property, during a hearing at Cambridge Crown Court on Wednesday, June 29.
Lilliot was sentenced to three years detention in a young offenders institution.
Detective Sergeant Lee Womak, who investigated, said: “Lilliot showed little regard for the safety of others when he decided to deliberately drop his cigarette on his coat and start a fire.
“I don’t need to explain why starting fires is so dangerous and I hope Lilliot will reflect on his actions and consider how tragic the consequences could have been.”
A judge has issued an apology to a Boston man who admitted drug dealing after his sentence hearing was postponed for a second time because of strike action by crown court barristers.
Stacey Housham, 42, has been warned to expect jail after he pleaded guilty to supplying cocaine and heroin to other users.
Housham was due to be sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on June 9, but the hearing could not go-ahead because of protest action by defence barristers.
His case was postponed until July 5, however Judge John Pini QC was again forced to adjourn the sentence hearing after being told Housham’s barrister was unavailable because of strike action.
Housham, who attended the hearing by video-link, will now be sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on July 27.
Judge Pini told Housham: “These are serious matters. I have read the papers and the pre-sentence report in detail.
“Quite plainly your barrister needs to be here before you can be sentenced.
“I am sorry about this. It is something completely out of my control.”
Housham pleaded guilty to four charges concerning Class A drugs when he appeared at Lincoln Crown Court in April.
He was due to be sentenced after the preparation of a report by the Probation Service.
A number of other cases at Lincoln Crown Court have been impacted by the nationwide strike action by the Criminal Bar Association. (CBA)
Eight out of 10 barristers voted for the walkouts amid concerns the Government will not improve a proposed increase in criminal Legal Aid.
Housham, who was of no fixed address at the time of his offences, and is formerly of Collingwood Crescent, Boston, admitted possessing both cocaine and heroin with intent to supply others on February 10, 2020.
He also pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of cocaine and heroin to others between December 6, 2019, and February 11, 2020.
At a previous hearing the court heard Housham is now clean of drugs and has turned his life around.