Supercharging a UK City-Centre Bar with AR Darts

In the heart of Liverpool, one of the UK’s busiest cities, a popular bar - already known for its vibrant atmosphere and crowd-pleasing food menu - was looking to stand out further in a highly competitive hospitality market. With guest expectations evolving and experience-led nights out on the rise, the management team approached 501 Fun with a clear goal: find something unique that would drive engagement, extend dwell time, and keep their venue top of mind.

 

Despite a loyal customer base, the venue faced a common issue: guests were coming in for one drink or quick meal, but often moving on quickly. With rising pressure from newer, trend-led venues offering gamified experiences, the team knew they needed to adapt, without compromising their brand or overhauling the space.

They were looking for an activity that was compact, exciting, repeatable, and importantly, would get people to stay longer and spend more - especially on food and drink.

After our initial discussions, it quickly became clear that Augmented Reality Darts had instant appeal - not just because of its high-impact visuals and immersive gameplay, but also for its ability to generate buzz and spark shareable moments throughout the venue.

We provided full consultation on how to reconfigure a small area of the venue’s layout, shifting a rarely used seating zone to make way for two AR darts lanes. This adjustment gave the experience maximum visibility from the bar, drawing guests in as soon as they walked through the door. From planning to install, the process was fast and low-disruption, with our team supporting layout optimisation, staff training, and launch activation ideas.

The results spoke for themselves:

📈 25% uplift in group bookings within the first two months

🍻 Average dwell time increased by over 30 minutes per group

💷 Significant boost in food & beverage spend, especially during midweek evenings

📸 Guests shared gameplay on socials, creating organic buzz and footfall

🔁 Return visits increased, with customers coming back to try new game modes

Staff reported higher energy in the venue, with the lanes quickly becoming a go-to spot for after-work drinks, birthdays, and casual date nights.

By adding 501 Fun’s AR darts experience, this city-centre bar didn’t just upgrade their entertainment offering, they created a new reason for people to walk in, stay longer, spend more, and come back again.

In a competitive market, it’s no longer enough to just offer good food and drinks. Smart operators are investing in memorable, high-impact experiences, and with a small footprint and proven ROI, AR darts has become this venue’s secret weapon.