1. The Collector Origin

Retropolis was born directly from the private collections of dedicated enthusiasts of British Amusement with Prizes (AWP) machines, commonly known as “fruit machines.”

The Problem: For many players, the nostalgia of the 1970s, 80s, 90s, and early 2000s is tied to the clunky, mechanical fruit machines played in pubs, snooker halls, and seaside arcades. However, the trend in modern arcades shifted almost entirely to digital casino slots, opting for cost efficiency over the artistic, interactive, and mechanical complexity of the classics. These classic machines were becoming increasingly difficult to find and play in public.

The Solution: A small group of passionate collectors decided to reverse this trend. They pooled their extensive private collections—machines they had painstakingly restored and maintained—and opened them to the public. Retropolis was conceptualized as a place where these machines could live again, allowing the public to once more hear the familiar mechanical “clunk” of the coin hoppers and engage with the nudges and hold features.

2. Founders and Formation

While the concept grew from a group of enthusiasts, the operating company was recently formalized to run the public venue on the Eastern Esplanade.

The Business Entity: The arcade operates under the company name RETROPOLIS CLASSIC AMUSEMENTS LTD.

Key Directors: Official records show the company was incorporated on October 17, 2023. The key active directors involved in the operation are Mr. Alan Kenneth Frost and Mr. Andrew Mark Kirkby, both based in the Southend area, underscoring the local, passion-driven nature of the project.

3. Mission and Location

The core mission of Retropolis is preservation and community, setting it apart from typical commercial arcades.

The Curated Experience: The choice of location in Southend is significant. Southend has a massive history of seaside amusement, from the Victorian era through to the famed Kursaal and the modern Adventure Island. Retropolis continues this tradition but dedicates its space to a niche that was rapidly disappearing: the classic mechanical AWP machine.

The Collection: The venue houses machines from every decade since the 80s, featuring major manufacturers like JPM, Maygay, and Barcrest. This broad, carefully maintained collection cements its reputation as a “living museum” of UK amusement history.

The Atmosphere: The entire venue is designed to evoke the lighting and atmosphere of the 1980s and 1990s arcade scene, reinforcing the sense of stepping back into the “glory days” of coin-operated entertainment.