Urban Fun Opens Landmark Entertainment Centre in Kingston upon Thames

The official opening of Urban Fun’s new entertainment centre in Kingston upon Thames last week marked the culmination of a long-planned project for operator Matthew Deith – and the arrival of a major new leisure destination for the town.

Located in the iconic former Wilko building, previously home to both Wilko and C&A, the two-storey, 24,000sq ft venue occupies one of Kingston’s most recognisable retail locations, directly associated with the famous red telephone boxes and a long history of department store use. For Deith, the building’s prominence and heritage were central to the project’s appeal.

“I’ve been looking for a site in Kingston for years,” he explained. “This building has always been a landmark. It’s a great location and everyone knows it.”

The journey to securing the site began around two years ago, as the future of Wilko became uncertain. Through ongoing dialogue with the building’s South African owners, Deith was able to move quickly once the unit became available, despite significant interest from other parties. What followed was an extended period navigating licensing, planning and redevelopment – a process he describes as lengthy but ultimately worthwhile.

Urban Fun Kingston is the second venue to open under the Urban Fun brand, following the launch of Reading. Both sit within the wider FunBox group, which now operates 14 locations across its portfolio. While Reading spans around 15,000sq ft, Kingston represents a step up in scale, reflecting Deith’s belief that modern leisure destinations must offer breadth as well as quality.

“People’s expectations have changed,” he said. “They want lots of different things to do in one place. You need space to deliver that properly.”

The Kingston site offers a wide mix of attractions including arcade games, karaoke, axe throwing and indoor golf, alongside food and drink. The aim is to appeal to multiple demographics at different times of day, from families and grandparents during the daytime to younger adults and groups of friends in the evenings. At weekends, the venue transitions further, with DJs from 8pm and late-night opening until 1am.

Deith believes this multi-activity, cross-generational model is increasingly important as parts of the competitive socialising sector face pressure. Single-activity concepts, he suggests, can struggle to generate repeat visits, whereas venues offering variety encourage longer stays and return custom.

Urban Fun Kingston also benefits from its position within an emerging leisure quarter. Neighbouring venues include Circuit, Bonnie Rogues, Tenpin at The Rotunda, restaurants, a cinema and a nearby Wetherspoons, creating a critical mass of attractions that collectively draw footfall to that side of the town.

“It’s very much become a leisure destination,” Deith said. “We all know each other and try to bring people into the area.”

The opening weekend saw strong footfall, with positive feedback from visitors and local stakeholders. Kingston’s Mayor attended shortly after launch and offered enthusiastic support for the project, describing it as an exciting addition to the town centre.

Looking ahead, Deith is actively searching for further sites of a similar scale, ideally between 24,000 and 30,000sq ft, where the Urban Fun concept can be replicated. While no locations are confirmed, the ambition is clear: to create large-format entertainment venues in strong, high-profile locations that deliver variety, value and repeat appeal.

The Kingston opening was also supported by a number of industry suppliers, with Sega and LAI playing particularly prominent roles in the attraction mix. As Deith noted, long-standing supplier relationships continue to be an important part of delivering venues of this scale.

With its blend of heritage location, modern entertainment and broad appeal, Urban Fun Kingston represents both a significant investment and a clear statement of intent – one that reflects where destination leisure is heading, and what today’s customers increasingly expect.

For a full gallery of pictures from the opening click here

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15 December 2025

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