Immersive Pioneer Little Lion to Open 3 New Arcade Arenas

Little Lion Entertainment has today announced it will open three new Arcade Arenas across the UK in the next 12 months. As well as the recently announced central London flagship that promises to be the most electrifying yet, another London venue is set to open before the end of the year and the third in Northern England.
Known for pushing the boundaries of live gaming, Little Lion’s Arcade Arena format blends real-world challenge with gaming spectacle a genre it has effectively pioneered with its fusion of game design, theatre and high-concept storytelling.
Following a substantial new funding package from HSBC UK, the immersive experience company behind the smash hit Crystal Maze LIVE Experiences, Chaos Karts & PAC-MAN LIVE EXPERIENCE is levelling up once again.
A Bold Expansion Backed by HSBC
The multi-million-pound loan facility from HSBC is enabling Little Lion to press fast-forward on its UK expansion plans. Two of the new Arcade Arenas will be based in London; one in West London, due to open later in 2025, and a flagship site scheduled to open in 2026 in a prime central location. A third venue is planned for Northern England.
“This funding is a huge vote of confidence in both our vision and the next stage of our journey,” said Tom Lionetti-Maguire, Founder and CEO of Little Lion Entertainment.
“With the backing of HSBC UK, we’re supercharging our ability to create jaw-dropping, genre-busting experiences that continue to thrill and delight audiences across the globe.”
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George Raven, Relationship Director at HSBC UK, added: “Little Lion Entertainment continues to break new ground in immersive entertainment. We’re proud to support the team’s next phase of growth as they bring their bold, creative experiences to even more locations across the UK.”
Innovation at Speed: Two New Games in Development
While physical expansion is a headline win, the real excitement for fans and industry watchers may lie in what’s happening behind the scenes. Expansion isn’t just about bricks and mortar, it’s also fuelling an acceleration in the company’s research and development programme.
Little Lion is currently developing two brand-new live game experiences specifically for the Arcade Arena platform, and aims to announce both titles within the next six months. Following the massive success of the PAC-MAN LIVE EXPERIENCE, launched in collaboration with Bandai Namco Entertainment, and the high-octane CHAOS KARTS, expectations are understandably high.
“Our upcoming games are going to be out of this world!” teased Lionetti-Maguire. “We cannot wait for people to see we have in store!”
While no details have yet been released, industry insiders suggest that Little Lion’s ability to blend nostalgia, IP partnerships and cutting-edge tech will continue to set the tone for what live entertainment looks like in the coming decade.
A Bright Future for Immersive Attractions
This latest announcement continues a winning streak for Little Lion, with more exciting news on the horizon, due to be announced soon.
For Lionetti-Maguire and his team, the road ahead is clear: build, innovate and inspire. “This is more than expansion; it’s ignition,” he said. “We’re proud to be creating new opportunities, new formats, and new magic for audiences. It’s an incredibly exciting time for Little Lion, but also for the immersive entertainment industry as a whole. We’re just getting started.”