WHEN Mo Patel was a boy he fell in love with the amusement arcades on Blackpool front.

“I used to jump on a train and go to Blackpool, I’ve always loved arcade games and penny slots,” says Mo. “It’s the escapism, and the immersive element. I’ve always been into sci-fi and my favourite games are shooting joystick games - it’s like being in the movies.”

Mo went on to work in the arcade games industry, supplying machines nationally. Now, after 30 years in the business, he has opened his own retro entertainment centre, Flashback Arcade - Telegraph & Argus Trader of the Week.

Based in the old T&A building on Drake Street, the arcade has nearly 100 classic games from the 1970s, 80s, 90s and Noughties, including Space Invaders, Pac-Man, Nintendo and Street Fighter II. There are air hockey tables, pinball machines imported from America, a Japanese dance floor machine and Star Wars-themed games.

What sets Flashback from other arcades is that there are no gambling machines and visitors pay a one-off entry fee, giving them unlimited use of the games. Adults pay £15, for under-16s it’s £10, and children under five have free entry and must be accompanied by an adult. It’s a family-friendly venue, with a cafe (the menu includes burgers, loaded fries, chicken nuggets, nachos and milkshakes), and can be hired for parties. A colourful mural created by a local graffiti artist gives the venue a cool urban vibe.

“It’s a secure place, we can see who we’re letting in. It’s somewhere families can spend time together; we have a mix of retro and modern games, so there’s something for everyone,” says Mo. “Parents love the retro games because they remember them from first time around. They say it brings back memories.

“Usually in arcades you have a time limit on a machine, and you have to put money in as you go along. But here people can stay as long as they like. They can pre-book or just turn up.”

Manager Sajda Bibi says the games bring different generations together: “A man and his grandson were in here recently playing Pong. It was really nice to see them both having fun together. And a couple came here on a first date. Kids can come here to socialise and play interactive games, rather than just staring into a screen alone at home. As we come out of the pandemic, it’s important that people get together and have fun again.

“The centre has become quite a community hub. It’s a very inclusive space. We have older people coming in to sit and chat and have a coffee. We have access for people with disabilities, including a lift. A young woman who is on crutches is a regular; she loves to go on the dance floor game.”

Flashback Arcade opened last August. Mo worked seven days a week for six months transforming theplace, installing new flooring and LED lighting. He started working in the industry with just one arcade machine and over the years has acquired them from around the world. As well as classics like Pong, Mai Mai rhythm games, table football, a basketball machine and an original 1980s Space Invader machine, there are modern consoles that can be played a large TV in a side room. Movie-themed pinball machines include Guardians of the Galaxy, Deadpool and The Avengers. Car racing game Out Run is one of the most popular.

Mo’s vision for Flashback was inspired by a retro arcade he went to in Hong Kong. “I wanted to create something accessible for people of Bradford and surrounding areas,” he says. “This building is in the heart of the city centre, opposite the Interchange, so easily accessible. We’ve had people from York, Harrogate, even Birmingham.”

Mo and his team are working with local schools and businesses to develop the centre as an inclusive environment. “We’re working hard at incorporating the arcade into a community hub,” says Mo. “We’re in talks with schools to make it accessible for children as a safe place to go in their free time and also with school for good school attendance rewards.

“This a light entertainment venue where people can feel at ease and can be themselves, from team-building with professionals to strengthening family bonds. Spending time together in joint activities has a positive effect on relationships and wellbeing."

* Flashback Arcade, Drake Street, Bradford. Open Friday to Sunday. For half-term opening times, and other details, call 07584 190799. Email info@flashbackarcade.co.uk. Visit flashbackarcade.co.uk