Geek Retreat
Appearance
Geek Retreat is a chain of franchised combined shops and board game cafés in the United Kingdom.[1][2] The venues offer food, drink, and have various items for sale, while also providing a space to play board games, console games and trading card games.[3] The venues also hold regular events.[4]
History
The company opened its first venue in Glasgow in 2013. Its second venue opened the following year in Newcastle upon Tyne.[5] It joined the British Franchise Association in 2021.[6] In June 2021, it had 27 venues.[7]They applied for a liquidation of the company in November 2022, which is currently being resolved as of January 2023.[8][9]
Business model
The individual venues are franchised. Entry is free and guests are asked to purchase food and drink.[10]
Locations
- Aberdeen, opened 2022[11]
- Barnsley, opened 2022[12]
- Bedford, opened August 2021[13]
- Blackburn, opened June 2021[14]
- Bournemouth, [15](now closed)
- Bradford, [16](Now closed)
- Bury, opened December 2020[3]
- Chelmsford[17]
- Daventry, opened October 2021[18] (Now closed)
- Dumfries, opened July 2021[19] (Now closed)
- Exeter, opened May 2021[20] (Now closed)
- Glasgow, opened 2013[6]
- Harrogate[21]
- Hereford, opened 2021[22]
- Ipswich, opened October 2021[23]
- Kidderminster, opened 2021[24]
- Leeds[4]
- Leicester, opened April 2021[25]
- Lincoln, opened August 2021[26] (Now closed)
- Lisburn, (Northern Ireland) opened March 24th 2021 (closed 10th July 2022, reopened under new management 1st October 2022)
- Llandudno, opened March 2021[27]
- London Camberwell[28] (Now closed)
- London Holloway[28]
- Middlesbrough, opened January 2020[29] (Now closed)
- Milton Keynes, opened 2021, closed December 2022
- Motherwell, opened November 2019[30]
- Newcastle upon Tyne, opened 2014[5]
- Northampton, opened October 2020[31] (now closed)
- Northwich, opened August 2021[32]
- Nottingham, opened November 2020[33] (now closed)
- Oxford, opened August 2021[10] (Now closed)
- Portsmouth, opened July 2021[34]
- Reigate, opened march 2022 (now closed)
- Southampton, opened 2021[35]
- St Helens, opened October 2021[36] (Now closed)
- Sunderland, opened April 2021[37]
- Torquay, opened March 2022. Changed ownership December 2022 [38]
- Truro, opened May 2021[39]
- Wakefield, opened April 2021[40]
- Wirral, opened 2019[41]
- Loughborough, opened February 2022 (now closed)
References
- ^ "Geek Retreat: Retailer of 'all things geeky' to open 100 new shops". BBC News. 2020-10-19. Archived from the original on 2021-01-28. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ "Geek Retreat rolls the dice on smaller town stores". BBC News. 2021-07-26. Archived from the original on 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ a b Hopkins, Daniel (2020-12-15). "Holy new business Batman: New café for all those nerdy opens in Bury". Bury Times. Archived from the original on 2020-12-30. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ a b Williams, Jenessa (2018-07-24). "'The stuff of introverted teen fantasy' - what happens inside Geek Retreat Leeds?". Confidentials. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Rodger, Hannah (2016-08-29). "Glasgow Means Business: Stephen and Carina Walsh of Geek Retreat". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Geek Retreat". British Franchise Association. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ "Geek Retreat 'on track' to open 60 new stores by end of 2021". 2021-06-03.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC528634/filing-history
- ^ https://www.creditman.co.uk/company-notices/company/SC528634
- ^ a b Eirian Jane, Prosser (2021-08-16). "A new board games cafe has opened in Oxford (and is welcoming all 'geeks')". Oxford Mail. Archived from the original on 2021-08-16. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ Scott, Jenna (2022-04-01). "Aberdeen game store aims to provide a 'safe space' for minority groups". AberdeenLive. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
- ^ "Wednesday Yugioh at Geek Retreat Barnsley! – Geek Retreat UK". geek-retreat.uk. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
- ^ Barrett, Fay (2021-08-10). "Newlyweds open disability inclusive Geek Retreat in Bedford". Bedford Independent. Archived from the original on 2021-08-11. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ Harrigan, Joe (2021-06-10). "'Geek culture' comics and video games cafe comes to Blackburn". Lancashire Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2021-06-11. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ Reader, Jane (2020-10-19). "Attention all geeks: Retailer Geek Retreat plans to open a store in Bournemouth". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Trader of the Week: 'I wish this place had been in Bradford when I was a kid'". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 2020-10-29. Archived from the original on 2020-11-06. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ Ferris, Mick (2021-05-17). "Ground-breaking service supports Essex adults with learning disabilities into paid employment". Yellow Advertiser. Archived from the original on 2021-05-17. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ Green, Lucie (2021-11-03). "Magical cosplay fun and all round geekness at grand launch of new Daventry business". Daventry Express. Archived from the original on 2021-11-04. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ "Geek Retreat Unveils New Store in Dumfries". Retail & Leisure International. 2021-07-20. Archived from the original on 2021-07-20. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ Vowles, Charlotte (2021-07-16). "Shop obsessed with geek culture opens this weekend". DevonLive. Archived from the original on 2021-07-16. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ "Harrogate's Geek Retreat to create autism-friendly space". The Stray Ferret. 2021-09-23. Archived from the original on 2021-09-23. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ Key, Alys (2021-06-02). "Geek Retreat confirms high street expansion plans are on track". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Mclaughlin, Charlotte (2021-10-22). "First look inside Ipswich's new Geek Retreat games cafe". Ipswich Star. Archived from the original on 2021-11-02. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ Collis, Emily (2021-02-13). "Geek Retreat new gaming store opening in Kidderminster". Kidderminster Shuttle. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Jones, Becky (2021-04-03). "See inside new city centre shop Geek Retreat". LeicestershireLive. Archived from the original on 2021-04-03. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ Verney, Joseph (2021-10-14). "Hidden gem: Gamers meet at inclusive Geek Retreat Lincoln". The Lincolnite. Archived from the original on 2021-10-14. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ "Shazam! Take a look at the superhero transformation of Llandudno's old post office". North Wales Pioneer. Archived from the original on 2020-08-04. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ a b Freeman, John (2021-06-02). "Geek Retreat expands stores across the UK with future plans for European roll-out". downthetubes.net. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
- ^ Welford, Joanne (2020-01-21). "Dedicated 'geek' culture cafe chain opening in Middlesbrough". TeessideLive. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
- ^ "Geek Retreat to open branch in Motherwell". Glasgow World. 2019-11-11. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Odell, Carly (2020-10-16). "Take a look inside the brand new gaming cafe opening in Northampton TODAY". Northampton Chronicle. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Geek Retreat confirms plans to open new Barons Quay store next month". Northwich Guardian. Archived from the original on 2020-07-21. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ Pinchess, Lynette (2019-11-20). "Geek Retreat to open in the city - with appearance by Star Wars actor". NottinghamshireLive. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
- ^ "Portsmouth sees opening of new card and tabletop gaming store and cafe Geek Retreat". www.portsmouth.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2021-08-01. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ Edgley, Timothy (2021-08-14). "Listed: New firms that have opened their doors for the first time in Southampton". Daily Echo. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Mulligan, Simon (2021-10-06). "Geek Retreat shop launches in town centre". St Helens Star. Archived from the original on 2021-10-06. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ Wheeler, Katy (2021-04-19). "Geek Retreat opens new gaming cafe and shop in Sunderland city centre unit". Sunderland Echo. Archived from the original on 2021-11-02. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ Abbott, Caroline (2022-01-25). "'Geek culture' cafe coming to Devon". DevonLive. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
- ^ Morwood, Ryan (2021-05-12). "New gaming community hub in Cornwall gives players a place to 'geek out'". Falmouth Packet. Archived from the original on 2021-05-12. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ "Luxury boutique and board game cafe among new Wakefield businesses opening for the first time as lockdown easing continues". www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2021-04-12. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
- ^ Echo, Liverpool (2019-11-28). "An autism friendly 'Geek Retreat' for comic and gaming fans trials in Merseyside". Liverpool Echo. Archived from the original on 2021-01-24. Retrieved 2021-11-04.