To some it is one of the worst places within the UK, to others (me) it is an island beach heaven that could do no wrong. Yes, of course, I am talking about the Isle of Sheppey and, in this review at least, Playtime Arcade Sheppey.
What is Playtime Arcade, you ask? Well, it is only the most popular arcade next to the beach at Leysdown-On-Sea!
What the Sheppey and Leysdown?
The Isle of Sheppey is an island that lies just to the north of Kent, connected to the Garden of England by bridge, and was once a jewel in the crown of the British tourism industry. Back in the day, there were ferries to Holland and it was a favourite for people from across the land to come and bathe on the sandy beaches.
Alas, this changed when its patrons discovered Spain and it has largely been a downward spiral since then. The place was once parodied by the Sheppey Scum website and social degradation is now a thing. Sound enticing? Well, the jewel in the crown of this place is, and was, Leysdown-On-Sea!
Today both survive in an almost post-apocalyptic tourism land dominated by the poor and elderly of the UK. Yep, it’s fair to say I really like this place.
The Leysdown Promenade
Described as such: “The Leysdown Promenade is a classic British seaside walkway located in Leysdown-on-Sea, a small resort town on the eastern tip of the Isle of Sheppey, Kent. It’s a charming throwback to a bygone era of UK coastal tourism, where fish and chips, amusement arcades, and beach huts dominate the landscape.”
The reality now is very much, and like Ryde on the Isle of Wight, a tale of two seasons: summer and winter. In the summer it is indeed a very busy social hub of all these things, one in which I visited as a youngster. But in the winter? Well, less so. In the winter, things as expected tend to close — but not Playtime Arcade. No, that stays open for the duration. But what does it have? And who on earth is actually going here?
Playtime Arcade Sheppey
Located at the bottom of the promenade and by far the biggest amusement arcade on the stretch, this is without doubt the place to be in Leysdown. Now to explain exactly what it is? Well, this is a place for EVERYONE to gamble — and yes, we even mean the kids! Basically, there’s the family section which has video games and all other manner of family games that offer prizes. Said prizes come in the shape of tickets that can then be swapped for prizes (more on that later).
And then there is the actual gambling, which for the most part comes from the penny tip machines where one puts in 2 pence pieces in the hope they will knock other money down in a cash Jenga-type game. Of course, if this is not enough like gambling, then there are the actual fruit machines — which can serve the kids because it’s only 10p a roll. This is very different from the adult gaming section where it is at least 25p (see the difference).
Of course, this also means there are winners and losers, with me personally getting to walk away with £10 of profit, while my brother lost £10. That, my friends, is the circle of life! We also though had quite literally hundreds of tickets from which our 13-year-old niece could select prizes.
What can you win at Playtime Arcade?
So, what can you win at Playtime Arcade? Well, in reality the prize-to-ticket ratio is never that much in your favour, although in theory at least you could play for a whole summer and perhaps win a microwave oven from the 1980s.
In reality, this means that your prizes on any given day (that you can afford) work out to be very cheap made-in-China paper planes, or 10p candy that you would get from a corner store. No prizes for guessing what us fat bastards did with our tickets….
So, who comes here, you might ask? Well, in the summer it really is holidaymakers and day-trippers that are passing through, but in the winter it is a slightly smaller crowd. For the most part, it seems to be locals trying to eke out an existence in a place shunned by the winter world — but also the odd passer-through, and odd indeed they are! For who would deem it OK to go through the Isle of Sheppey for fun in the winter? Well, me, my brother and my niece, to name but three!
And that is Playtime Arcades, which I now realise it might sound like I have pretty much been railing on, but in fact really like. Perhaps it is the nostalgia, or my aforementioned obsession with the island, but in my mind there are few better places within an hour of the hell that is the Medway Towns worth visiting for the afternoon as much.
Playtime Arcade Sheppey Address
Playtime Amusements is located at 21 The Promenade, Leysdown-on-Sea, Sheerness, Kent, ME12 4QB.
Opening Hours:
- Family Area: Monday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Adult Gaming Area: Monday to Sunday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM Cain’s Amusements
Please note that operating hours may vary, especially during holidays or special events. It’s advisable to contact Playtime Amusements directly for the most current information. You can reach them at 01795 510357 or visit their official website: