After the UK imposed its lockdown in March, bars and restaurants struggled to survive. Some venues, like Platform, a gaming and esports bar-restaurant based in East London, used the shutdown to prepare for an eventual reopening.
Founded by brothers Tomaso and Nicolò Portunato, Platform has spent the last few months undergoing a complete renovation. Last weekend, the venue reopened with a new design and a menu that features game-themed, unabashed titles such as GTA: Slice City and Pork of Duty: Modern Boarfare pizzas.
Although guests will have to follow strict coronavirus safety measures, they will also be able to enjoy enhanced multiplayer zones which feature a curated library of games – from Mario Kart to FIFA, an esports PC stage with package options for 1-6 players, a retro arcade, and of course, a bottomless brunch on weekends.
Platform has also added PVC separators between gaming stations and staff will sanitize all peripherals and points of contact between sessions to prevent the spread of the virus. Guests are encouraged to book ahead to avoid overcrowding. The venue has also postponed larger events like The Esports Watering Hole, hosted with Esports Insider, until further notice.
Tomaso and Nicolò hope the new design will appeal to both gamers and non-gamers and redefine the traditional gaming venue. Mostly, the Swiss brothers want Londoners to feel safe when they visit Platform. They say that so far guests have been surprised by the improvements and happy to see the bar reopen.
The esports and gaming industries want to encourage consumer confidence in the coming months as more venues reopen and adapt to new safety protocols. Last week, esports infrastructure company Vindex purchased the Belong Gaming Arenas brand for a reported $50 million, with plans to expand in the US by opening esports gaming venues across the country. Mike Sepso, Vindex CEO and co-founder, said the company plans to invest $300 million over the next five years to build 500 arenas in the US as well as 1000 globally.
Source: Esports Insider
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