NEXT LEVEL GAMING

Video game bus for children's parties in Berkshire

NEXT LEVEL GAMING is a company based in Reading (Berkshire) that since 2019 has offered birthday parties on wheels in a bus converted into a gaming area. The service is aimed at children aged 7 to 13 and accommodates up to ten participants playing at the same time, with no waiting turns.

Vehicle equipment

The interior of the bus was designed specifically for this use, with seats and screens at the children's height. It includes two driving simulators with force feedback steering wheels, pedals, 4K screens and soundbars, with a vehicle catalogue ranging from Ferrari and monster trucks to motorbikes, speedboats and planes. In addition, there are seven large 4K screens, over 70 games from the main consoles and Nintendo Switch 1 and 2 consoles. LED lighting and climate control (air conditioning or heating) allow the vehicle to be used at any time of year.

How the party unfolds

The bus parks at the home and connects to the household electricity supply: it requires two standard domestic plug sockets and a maximum distance of 25 metres to the house. The company estimates that two hours of operation using the customer's electricity costs around £1.50. The vehicle needs 9 metres of length to park and operate with the rear doors open, although its width does not exceed that of a Range Rover. A host accompanies the children throughout the session and helps them with the games. For online games the bus has its own connection, with the option of using the customer's network as a backup if the signal is poor.

Adaptation to weather

The service operates in any weather. In spring and summer the rear doors are opened, with the gaming area covered by a special canopy; in autumn and winter curtains are installed or the doors are closed to keep the heat in, always with climate-controlled heating or air conditioning.

Coverage areas

The company serves Berkshire and surrounding areas. In Berkshire it covers Reading, Maidenhead, Bracknell, Wokingham, Slough, Windsor, Newbury and Thatcham, among other towns. In Buckinghamshire it works mainly in the south of the county, with Marlow, Taplow, High Wycombe, Beaconsfield and Bourne End. In Surrey it reaches Camberley, Woking, Bagshot and Chobham; in Oxfordshire, Henley-on-Thames, Goring-on-Thames, Sonning Common and Wallingford; and in Hampshire it covers the north of the county, with Basingstoke, Farnborough, Hook, Tadley and Fleet.

Track record and organisation

The company, led by Scott, has accumulated over 2,500 parties held and more than 600 five-star reviews, according to its own presentation. Scott leads the events and usually personally handles those that require only one person; he has DBS verification, whose link can be requested by email. The website catalogue also includes party extras and invitations.

Location and contact

Reading, Berkshire, RG63TE · Phone: 07921 145847