“Family fun for all ages,” is how Chris Fenney describes his new business in one of the pier’s kiosks. Vintage slot machines, including a puppet show, a 1920s film star machine and a grip tester are just a few of the games of skill that you can try in the Old Penny Arcade.
The machines all work with an old-fashioned penny token, which you buy at the kiosk: £1 will buy 5 old penny tokens or £2 will buy 12 old penny tokens. Chris has renovated the machines himself which have no batteries or screens. He also hand painted all the signs and decorative panels in the kiosk.
The Old Penny Arcade on the pier is a new venture for the Traditional Fairground Company run by Chris and his wife Zelda, who are hoping to help visitors to the pier to step back into a bygone era and enjoy a pastime that was once the height of popularity on many Victorian piers in their pier penny arcade.
A blustery day on Sunday 25th August for the opening day did not dampen Chris’s spirits.
He said, “I have really been looking forward to opening in our wonderful new home and am feeling really positive about it all. It is nice and peaceful on the pier: it is a hidden gem.”
“We are hoping to be open most weeks, Thursday to Sunday, and when the weather is better, I will have the traditional candy floss and popcorn stall outside.”
Find out more at: https://www.traditionalfairground.com/oldpennyarcade