Virtual Recreation FAQs

Yes! You can purchase digital gift cards on-line by clicking to "book your VR experience now" and scrolling down to the bottom of the product list. Gift cards can be for any amount you choose and are valid for one year. They can be used against any VR experience at VRec, or even in the cafe!

The VR Arcade Booths are small booths for one person to play in. You will have 30+ games to choose from, some of which are solo player and some you can play in multiplayer mode to play with your friends. During game play you stand in one spot while you move your avatar around the game by using the hand controls.

The Free Roam Arena is a larger space that allows up to six players to play together in the same arena. You can move around freely, and you will see the other players’ avatars as you would in real life.

The games available in the Free Roam Arena are slightly different too, with options such as Escape Rooms and shooters.

We’re very happy to discuss which option is best for your visit – feel free to get in touch, or drop by to take a look for yourself.

In the Free Roam Arena you will be able to see other players’ avatars as in real life, so you won’t bump into each other. There are clear boundaries set to avoid you leaving the game area or walking into anything, and so as long as you follow the in-game instructions it will be safe. In addition, our staff will keep an eye on the players to check that everyone is playing safely.

In the arcade booths, you will see a red line around your play space to prevent you from going outside it. As long as you remain within the lines, you won’t hit the walls around you. Do be careful though as it is easy to get caught up in the game!

The game play in the Free Roam Arena is around 45 minutes. Depending on your game choice this might be split between two different games, or (if you choose the virtual escape room) just one game for the whole time. Please do arrive 15 minutes prior to your start time so we can get you checked in and set up so that you can enjoy the full 45 minutes of game time.

In the VR Arcade Booths it will take a few minutes to get you set up and then you’ll have around 55 minutes of playtime (or 25 minutes if you book a 30-minute trial session). We recommend that you arrive at least 15 minutes before your session time so that you can chat with the team about how the equipment works, and which games are available.

The experiences at VRec are suitable for anyone over the age of seven. Please seek guidance from a member of the team when selecting games for younger children, as some may not be suitable. We can set the booths up with age limits so that younger children do not accidentally choose a game that is not appropriate for them.

If your group are playing the VR Free Roam Arena, the staff will discuss your game options with you based on the age group. Younger children must be mature enough to play sensibly in the arena.

We have 8 VR Arcade Booths, with one player in each, plus the Free Roam Arena allows up to 6 players. If you have a large group of more than 14 people, please get in touch to discuss options.

Our Ultimate Party Package is limited to 12 players so that every player gets to try out both experiences during their session, with 25 minutes of play time in each.

Each of our VR headsets have removable face covers which are cleaned after each use. In addition, the items that are frequently touched (the headset itself, the controllers etc.) are wiped down after each use. We also provide sanitiser for guests to use throughout their visit.

Absolutely. We have a comfortable seating area in the Rec Room Café, where you will be able to see your child(ren) enjoying their VR experience while you enjoy a coffee and a light snack. Or why not book yourself a session and play alongside your child(ren)!

We recommend that you seek medical advice if you are unsure whether you are able to play due to a medical condition. However, we do have the following guidelines:

• Wheelchair users can use the VR Arcade Booths, but the Free Roam Arena is not suitable.
• We advise against using VR if you have epilepsy.
• If you have a broken arm you will not be able to use the controllers and so will not be able to play.
• If you wear glasses you should have no problem wearing the VR headsets – feel free to come in and try one on prior to booking.
• Some people with sensory conditions may find VR too overwhelming, while others really enjoy the experience. Please feel free to discuss your needs with us before booking.

Our facilities include a Changing Places accessible toilet which is open to the public during our opening hours.

Peak times are weekends, bank holidays and school holidays (based on Kent County Council term dates). Off-peak is anytime outside of this. Our only closure days are Christmas day and Boxing day.

VRec is located in Elwick Place in Ashford Town Centre. It’s a 5-minute walk from Ashford International Train Station, and many buses stop close by either on Elwick Road or Bank Street. If you’re coming by car, you can park at Elwick Place Car Park which offers free parking after 3.00pm every day.

In the Free Roam Arena, we currently have four games available:

• Cook'd Up (a team challenge to cook up as many burgers as possible for some demanding customersm suitable for age 7+)
• Cops Vs Robbers (a laser-tag style shooting game, suitable for age 7+)
• RE:COIL (a laser-tag style game suitable for age 10+)
• B:Block Breakout (a virtual escape room suitable for players age 15+)

We have more games coming to the Arena soon!

We have around 30 different games in the Arcade Booths including sports, music, and shooting games. New games are regularly added; please ask staff to see the current list, which will also advise on the age-rating and whether a game is solo or multiplayer, or follow us on Social Media to find out more. If you have a favourite game let us know and we'll see if we can add it to our library!