There’s a fine line between exhilarating and overwhelming. On Oxford Street, that line runs right through the middle of Boom Battle Bar. When the shops shut and the neon signs flicker to life, this Central London hotspot throws open its doors to reveal a sensory overload of flashing targets, chaotic cheers, and rum cocktails dressed to impress.
This isn’t your average night down the pub. Instead, Boom Battle Bar Oxford Street offers something far rowdier. With games that pit friends and strangers against each other in contests involving axes, pucks, darts, and musical showdowns, it trades quiet conversation for high-octane fun. Whether that sounds like the perfect night or a personal nightmare depends entirely on your appetite for chaos.
What Is Boom Battle Bar and Why Is It So Popular
At first glance, Boom Battle Bar is a novelty venue offering cocktails and games. In truth, it is one of the most polished examples of competitive socialising in the UK, a rapidly growing sector in the hospitality industry. This concept turns drinking sessions into full-on events, encouraging guests to battle it out on shuffleboard tables, augmented darts lanes, and even axe-throwing cages.
The bar’s origins lie in the post-pandemic shift in social habits. As younger crowds turned away from traditional nightlife, founders like Richard Beese saw an opportunity. The goal was to create a space where people could socialise through shared experiences, not just small talk and drinks. In other words, it is a venue where you do something memorable, not simply sit and chat.
It works. Surveys in recent years confirm that Millennials and Gen Z consumers are more willing to pay for activities than passive nights out. These generations are also drinking less on average but spending more per outing, especially when experiences come with Instagram-friendly moments. Boom Battle Bar capitalises on this shift with vivid branding, shareable decor, and hands-on games that make a pub crawl feel positively tame by comparison.
Where Is It and What Should You Expect
The Oxford Street location places Boom Battle Bar at the centre of London’s busiest shopping district. Located at 70-88 Oxford Street, the venue occupies both ground and basement levels, with Tottenham Court Road station a mere 60-second walk away. Its accessibility makes it a magnet for tourists, after-work parties, and groups on a night out.
Step inside, and the atmosphere shifts from high-street polish to vibrant absurdity. Neon lights, themed props, and that signature octopus mascot holding a cocktail and axe set the scene. The ground floor offers a teaser of what’s below, but the basement is where the action happens. With a capacity of up to 500 guests, the layout sprawls across various activity zones, a main cocktail bar, and karaoke booths.
The interior has been described as a hidden gem by those who stumble in without knowing what to expect. But as with many venues of this kind, the popularity has its drawbacks. Some recent reviews from 2024 mention the space feeling overcrowded during peak times, with signs of wear and tear on fixtures. Still, for those not deterred by a little rough and tumble, the energy inside remains infectious.
The Games You Can Play and How They Work
Games are the heartbeat of the Boom experience. Each one is crafted to maximise interaction, competition, and humour. From the satisfying thunk of axe blades to the tense silence before a shuffleboard puck lands in the perfect spot, these activities turn the bar into a battlefield.
Here is a breakdown of what’s on offer at the Oxford Street venue:
- Augmented Reality Axe Throwing: Throw real axes at digital targets. Guided by staff, this game blends old-school strength with new tech visuals. Alcohol is off-limits beforehand for safety.
- Augmented Reality Darts: Traditional darts meets gaming visuals, complete with automatic scoring and wild effects.
- Crazier Golf: Forget gentle putting. This mini-golf includes baseball bats, moving platforms, and obstacle-laden holes. It is more wild invention than polite game.
- Shuffleboard: Slide pucks across long tables and aim for victory. Easy to learn but deceptively strategic, especially when paired with cocktails.
- Beer or Prosecco Pong: A throwback to student days with a grown-up twist. Expect a few spills and a lot of laughter.
- Karaoke Booths: Book a private space and unleash your inner diva. A solid crowd favourite for birthdays and hen nights.
- American Pool: A more traditional pub activity that provides a breather from the chaos elsewhere.
Fun Fact: Boom Battle Bar’s axe-throwing arenas use an augmented reality system originally developed for military simulation training. It tracks your throws in real time and lets players compete in themed mini-games like zombie hunts and target races.
Booking is highly recommended. While walk-ins are accepted when space allows, evening slots and weekends get snapped up quickly. Missing a reservation by more than 15 minutes or cancelling with short notice could result in a £10 per person penalty. Some games are available as one-off purchases, but the venue strongly encourages bundled packages, which combine food, drinks, and gameplay into better-value offers.
Who Goes and Why It Matters
The customer base reflects the venue’s appeal to an experience-driven generation. Most guests fall into the 18 to 40 age bracket, ranging from early-career professionals on work socials to tourists chasing something different. You’ll also find birthday parties, stags, hens, and couples breaking the first-date ice with Crazier Golf rather than dinner.
The attraction is clear. Unlike traditional bars, where newcomers often stand awkwardly between cliques, here everyone is engaged in a shared task. Whether that task is throwing axes or belting out 2000s ballads depends on the group, but the atmosphere builds a kind of camaraderie that traditional venues rarely achieve.
And while the noise levels can veer toward the overwhelming, especially on weekends, they form part of the experience. For many, the point of Boom is to shed inhibition, not maintain polite conversation. Staff are often described as enthusiastic and welcoming, though a few reviews have mentioned service delays during busy times.
Packages Prices and How to Make It Work
Prices vary depending on the activity, time slot, and whether you’re visiting solo or in a group. A round of Crazier Golf may set you back around £9, while corporate or group packages range from £40 to over £100 per person depending on inclusions.
The Pints and Playoffs bundle, for instance, offers two hours of play and two drinks for £50. More extravagant deals include street food, multiple games, and cocktail upgrades, especially for corporate bookings or private celebrations.
For couples, the venue occasionally runs a Date Night offer, bundling a game and a drink for £15 per person. These deals, often scheduled midweek, are ideal for first-timers unsure whether they want a full three-hour session. Reviews suggest that drinks purchased outside of a deal can feel pricey — expect to pay around £11 per cocktail, or more depending on location-specific pricing.
Groups should consider spacing their bookings. Back-to-back games can be intense and leave little room for food, drinks, or conversation. Spacing activities with breaks can create a more enjoyable rhythm to the evening and help avoid burnout.
Food and Drink Options at Boom Battle Bar Oxford Street
Competitive axe throwing and chaotic golf holes will inevitably build an appetite. Fortunately, Boom Battle Bar is not just a playground for grown-ups but also a decent stop for street food and high-impact cocktails. The venue’s food offering, dubbed Boom Bites, is tailored for fast sharing, finger-friendly grazing, and dishes that fit neatly between games.
The menu leans into classics with a crowd-pleasing twist. Guests can pick from halloumi fries, chicken tenders, loaded nachos, or battered cauliflower bites, alongside more unusual choices like breaded mushrooms and prawn stars. The emphasis is on accessible, allergen-marked dishes, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Though, like many fast-paced kitchens, the venue is quick to note that cross-contamination risks mean nothing is guaranteed allergy-safe.
A common refrain in reviews is that the food is better than expected for what is essentially a bar with games. While it will not rival Fitzrovia’s fine dining, dishes are designed to do a job, fuel the frenzy and they do it well.
Drinks, however, take centre stage. The cocktail menu includes cheeky inventions like the Boom Punch (spiced rum, amaretto, passionfruit) and the Spiced Mango Margarita with a Tajin rim. For those less inclined toward mixology, the usual staples like Mojitos, Zombies, and Espresso Martinis are available too.
Those visiting in groups might opt for the Cocktail Trees or Shot Paddles, both theatrical and ideal for sharing. Pricing is variable, but reviews point to cocktails hovering around the £11 to £14 mark, depending on the drink. Some have raised eyebrows at these rates, especially when soft drinks are not far behind in price.
There are also value-led bundles. The Fully Loaded Lunchtime deal offers a drink, a meal, and one game for around £15 per person. Happy Hour promotions with 2-for-1 cocktails are run frequently, though specifics may vary by location and time of year.
What Is the Crowd Like and When to Visit
Boom Battle Bar Oxford Street attracts a fairly predictable crowd in the best way. If your idea of a good night involves shouting over karaoke while your mate nearly slices a bullseye with an axe, you will be in like-minded company. The clientele leans young, outgoing, and group-focused. Think stags and hens, birthday celebrations, office teams, and TikTok-happy tourists.
The venue is strictly 18+ after 7pm. Before that cut-off, there may be more flexibility, especially during quiet weekdays, but the branding and energy remain very much adult-centred. It is not marketed as a family destination, and most of its appeal lies in the unfiltered chaos of adult social competition.
Music plays a major role in that atmosphere. With live DJs spinning tracks during brunches and late-night weekends, the vibe often resembles a nightclub more than a cocktail bar. For some, this is the perfect energy boost. For others, the sound levels can make conversation impossible. Visitor feedback often mentions that you will need to raise your voice if not shout, to be heard across the room.
If you are looking for a slightly more relaxed version of the experience, midweek evenings or early afternoons are your best bet. Crowds thin, noise levels drop slightly, and there is more breathing room between games.
Private Hire and Packages for Larger Groups
Boom Battle Bar has become a go-to venue for work parties, big birthdays, and organised socials, and the Oxford Street branch offers tailored event packages for all of them. The options range from straightforward drink-and-play deals to elaborate multi-hour affairs with food, multiple games, and drinks included.
Here is a snapshot of the 2025 packages:
- Pints and Playoffs – £50 per person: Two hours of gaming, two drinks, and a welcome beverage with a dedicated host.
- Bullseyes and Bevvies – £77.50 per person: Three drinks, food served buffet-style, and a group shot on arrival.
- Cocktails and Competition – £104.50 per person: Full three-hour experience with multiple games, four drinks, a buffet, and added extras.
Larger bookings can customise their experience with cocktail masterclasses, bottomless brunches, or venue-wide takeovers. The latter can accommodate up to 500 guests, turning the entire basement into a private battleground. Minimum spend for full-hire events tends to range between £9,000 and £16,000, depending on day and inclusions.
Groups are welcome to bring decorations, cakes, and even arrive in themed outfits — within reason. Fancy dress is permitted, though offensive costumes are strictly banned. For brand-led hires, Boom offers optional extras like branded popcorn, live DJs, magnums of prosecco, and bespoke entertainment.
This flexibility is what makes Boom Battle Bar such a hit with corporate organisers and event planners. It is not simply a room with a bar. It is an entertainment venue with a full production team behind it.
What Else Is Nearby for a Full West End Night
Oxford Street is not short on options, and Boom Battle Bar is well placed to act as either the starting point or the main event of a bigger night out. Within walking distance are dozens of notable venues, restaurants, and bars.
For food before or after the games, consider:
- Circolo Popolare (Fitzrovia) – Bold Italian food in a riotously decorated space
- Arcade Food Hall – A sleek collection of global street food stalls near Tottenham Court Road
- Greyhound Café – Late-night Thai fusion in a more relaxed setting
Drink lovers are equally well served nearby. Within fifteen minutes, you will find:
- Cahoots – 1940s-themed cocktails in an old Tube station
- Mr Fogg’s House of Botanicals – A floral fantasy for those who like their drinks exotic
- The Cocktail Club – Perfect for those who want their gin with a show
For something more traditional, there are countless pubs and gastropubs around Soho and Fitzrovia. And for those who refuse to call it a night, Maroto in Marylebone or 100 Wardour Street offer late-night lounge vibes and dancing.
Boom’s location also lends itself well to daytime plans. Shopping, gallery visits, and even West End theatre shows are all within reach. You could easily browse Selfridges, catch a matinee at the Dominion Theatre, and then descend into Boom for a chaotic end to the day.
Final Verdict Is It Worth the Hype
The answer depends entirely on what you want from a night out. If you are craving high energy, raucous laughter, and a series of games that will test your coordination and competitiveness, Boom Battle Bar Oxford Street absolutely delivers.
It is not for everyone. Those looking for quiet conversation or polished dining may find it grating. The volume, the pace, and the unfiltered silliness are all part of the brand’s identity. It does not try to be subtle. It tries to be unforgettable.
For first-timers, here are a few quick tips:
- Book ahead – Especially on weekends or for games like axe throwing and Crazier Golf
- Wear comfortable clothes – You will be moving, and drinks may spill
- Time your visit wisely – Weekdays are calmer, weekends louder
- Stick to the packages – Better value and easier to manage
- Talk to the staff – They are usually helpful, but like any busy venue, service varies
Boom Battle Bar is not just another night out. It is a choice. A commitment to volume, laughter, chaos, and maybe even a little axe-induced adrenaline. And for those ready to embrace it, it offers something few London bars can… an experience!.
