Popular Isle of Wight retro gaming café and bar Game On, which opened in Ryde back in July 2023, has announced it will be closing at the end of August.
Located on Union Street, the venue offered gamers a chance to enjoy classic arcade machines, retro consoles and modern gaming setups alongside food and drink. The café and bar quickly became a hub for local gamers, hosting regular events, tournaments and community meet-ups.
The venue will shut its doors for the final time on Sunday 31st August 2025.
Owners say that despite the closure, the business has been a success and they are grateful to their loyal community.
In a statement, Game On Level 1 said:
“Due to complicated rules from councils about what’s the right and wrong colour and complicated people, we have made the decision to close the doors on 31st August 2025.
“Business has been amazing. To our loyal gamers, we will phoenix as Game On.”
Plans for the next phase of Game On are yet to be confirmed but the team has reassured fans that they will return in a new form,
Sadly another one bites the dust.
I quite like the ‘Black/Red’ but the council would prefer a much more boring colour.
A bit more explanation about what are “complicated things” would be appreciated to understand why they are closing.
Quite, Edgar. Why would a place doing ‘ amazing business’ close because of unnamed problems with the Council? Hmmm.
For context this is a listed building in a designated conservation area. There is also a design guide that all shopfronts have to adhere to in Ryde, which needless to say this doesn’t.