Arcade Archive

About the museum

Arcade Archive is a museum of coin-operated video arcade history. It was created by the retro-gaming presenter Alex Crowley, who is named as its founder on the museum's website, after space became available in Belvedere Mill at Chalford, near Stroud. It sits on the ground floor of the mill, below The Cave, a hands-on museum of home computers and consoles that operates in the same building.

Belvedere Mill is an 18th-century Grade II listed building that has produced grain, cloth and motorcars over the centuries. Today it is home to the electronics maker Heber and to the two museums, which work together under the name The Retro Collective and offer booked public sessions as well as corporate and private hire.

The collection follows arcade history from its beginnings, with replicas of Computer Space and Space Race, through classic cabinets such as a 1978 Space Invaders machine to games of the 1980s and early 1990s. Each cabinet is presented as authentically as possible with a CRT display and original hardware, and information boards explain why each game matters. The team keeps repairing, restoring and adding machines, and visitors can see restorations in progress and talk to the staff about their methods.

Highlights

• Replicas of Computer Space and Space Race, the earliest coin-op machines
• 1978 Space Invaders cabinet
• Vector-graphics games such as Star Wars and Battlezone
• Driving and trackball games including OutRun, Super Hang-On and Missile Command
• Four-player Gauntlet II; every game is on free play

Permanent exhibition

• Arcade Archive collection – More than 40 restored arcade cabinets from around the world, from Pong and Space Invaders to OutRun, set to free play.

Operated by

The Retro Cave Ltd

Admission & discounts

Tickets are sold for timed sessions through the museum website. All games are free to play once inside. Booking a morning and an afternoon session at any Retro Collective venue on the same day gives 10% off. Gift vouchers are available.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: not available
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Arcade Archive is on the ground floor of the mill. There is a very slight step at the main door, and inside a small ramp leads through an 80 cm wide doorway between the two halves of the exhibition. The toilets for both museums are on the 3rd floor and can only be reached by stairs; the listed building has no lift.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations
• Kids’ birthday parties

Children from 7 to 16 and a family ticket are offered. Children aged 16 or under must be accompanied by supervising adults at all times. Groups for a child’s birthday party are welcome if enough adults are booked as supervisors; children cannot be dropped off.

Getting there & parking

The mill is in Chalford, Gloucestershire, and has a large red sign reading HEBER on the front. The entrances to Arcade Archive and The Cave are signposted from the car park. The EV chargers on site are not for visitors.

Amenities & dining

• Coat check: not available

Soft drinks, tea, coffee and snacks can be bought (card payment only). There is no cloakroom, so coats and bags are best left in the car.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 30 guests.

Arcade Archive and The Cave can be booked for morning and afternoon slots, together or separately, for groups of up to 30. Food can be provided on request.

Plan your visit