This March, Barcadia, a stylish retro arcade space with kitchen and bar will officially open its doors to the public. For the last three months it has been operating on a trial basis, full-proofing the concept, tweaking the machines, and listening to the customer feedback, and now is ready to operate on a regular schedule.
Featuring a wide range of retro arcade machines, including ultimate classics like Mario Kart GP, Pac-Man, and Street Fighter, along with pinball tables, ping pong, and the only full-size Shuffleboard table in Ireland, Barcadia brings back the golden age of retro gaming in its full glory. The machines operate on a token basis and are all original cabinets.
Adding a gaming reference to every aspect of the space, from GTA Vice City game styled menus and a Street Fighter mural designed by Marvel artist Will Sliney, to burgers and cocktails branded with famous arcade game characters, Barcadia promises to become a new gaming mecca in Cork.
On top of all-time gaming classics, Barcadia features a solid food menu, that focuses on homemade Pizzas, themed Burgers, Southern Fried Chicken (with a subtle nod to the three fast food restaurant chains in the Grand Theft Auto universe), and sweet treats to keep the gamers’ sugar level high enough for the next level up. True to its name, Barcadia also serves top quality beers and delicious themed cocktails.
A brainchild of Cork’s two beloved entertainers, Colm Lougheed and Patrick Ahern, also known as members of 80’s Vs 90’s DJ group, Barcadia joins the ranks of three other venues within the Mardyke Complex, Holy Smoke BBQ restaurant, Woolshed Baa&Grill, and Mardyke Bowl, that Patrick and Colm worked closely with for the last six years.
“We’ve wanted to do this for quite sometime and the Mardyke was the perfect location for the Barcadia concept. The Mardyke is a fabulous activity driven venue and Barcadia compliments that concept further. But being honest, we’ve always wanted to own an arcade too!” – Colm and Patrick.
Those, who have been in Cork in the late 90’s, might remember a different arcade, M2, on the very spot that Barcadia has taken over. In those days, the now Woolshed Baa & Grill was a jungle gym and Holy Smoke – a Q-Zar laser tag.
“Interestingly enough, back in M2, we had many of the very same arcade machines which we have now re-imported and lovingly restored to their original state,” comments Eddie Nicholson, Managing Director of the Mardyke Entertainment Complex.
Barcadia is open till late every week day from 4.30 p.m. and from 12 p.m. on the weekends.
The official public launch party, with DJ, various giveaways, and competitions, is scheduled for March 8th, 2018 (5-7.30pm).
More details here: https://www.facebook.com/BarcadiaCork/
Press contact:
Colm Lougheed
lougheed@gmail.com
021-427-3000
087 765 9178