Small Space, Big Impact: Rocket Room and the Rise of Competitive Socialising

London’s hospitality scene continues to evolve, and the launch of Rocket Room at Leicester Square is a clear signal of where the industry is heading. Built on the growing demand for experience-led venues, Rocket Room combines premium cocktails with interactive gaming in a compact, high-energy setting – proving that small footprints can still deliver big returns.

Seamless integration with an existing hospitality environment

Located within the Market Place Food Hall in London’s Leicester Square, Rocket Room has been designed as a 120-capacity activity bar that integrates seamlessly into an existing hospitality environment. Rather than relying on large, standalone sites, the concept embraces a 3,500 sq ft footprint, demonstrating how operators can maximise revenue per every sq ft while maintaining a premium guest experience.

This approach reflects a wider shift across the sector. Competitive socialising has seen rapid growth as consumers prioritise experiences over traditional nights out. Rocket Room taps directly into this trend, offering axe throwing, darts, beer pong and shuffleboard alongside a curated cocktail menu.

Flyby for a Martini, in the heart of the West End

Ideal for both small groups and larger events

But what makes the concept particularly interesting is its focus on intimacy and flexibility. Unlike larger-scale venues, Rocket Room is designed to work equally well for small groups, dates, and private events. The space balances energy with atmosphere – low lighting, DJs, and a central bar – creating a setting that feels more like a premium cocktail lounge than a typical gaming venue.

At the core of this model is efficiency. The format has been “compact by design,” allowing operators to deliver a fully hosted, high-quality experience without the operational complexity of large leisure sites. This is exactly where solutions like FLYBY Darts come into play.

From a traditional pub game to fully immersive experience

FLYBY Darts is built for this new generation of venues – small, high-impact spaces that need engaging, easy-to-operate experiences. By combining classic gameplay with digital scoring and social interaction, it enhances dwell time, drives repeat visits, and fits seamlessly into multi-activity environments like Rocket Room.

In a market where differentiation is key, darts has re-emerged as one of the most effective competitive socialising formats. When paired with technology-led concepts like FLYBY, it transforms from a traditional pub game into a fully immersive, inclusive experience.

A varied Competitive Socialising hub

“This is just the start,” according to Elangeni Hospitality Group

Rocket Room’s launch is just the beginning of a much bigger vision. Founded by Michael Pearson, CEO of Elangeni Hospitality Group, the concept has been built with scale in mind – targeting a pipeline of sites across the UK and beyond in the coming years.

Backed by Elangeni’s experience in building and growing hospitality brands, Rocket Room reflects a new generation of commercially focused, experience-led concepts. It has been designed not as a large standalone venue, but as a format that integrates into existing hospitality environments – enhancing performance through dwell time, energy, and repeat visits.

Its success will likely reinforce a growing industry truth: standout experiences are no longer defined by size, but by how intelligently space is used. For operators looking to future-proof their venues, the message is clear. The next wave of hospitality isn’t about size – it’s about smart, compact design, social interaction, and scalable concepts built for modern spaces.

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