UK’s leading immersive leisure brand is coming to Dorset

A brand-new immersive leisure experience is coming to The Dolphin in Poole this summer, bringing a fresh, competitive social entertainment concept to the heart of the town centre.

Activate was the world’s first active immersive gaming facility when it launched in Winnipeg in Canada in 2019. It combines physical activity with immersive technology, offering a high-energy experience that challenges both body and mind. Activate at London’s O2 attraction was the first Activate outside of North America, and since then, five other venues have opened across the UK, stretching from London to Newcastle. Poole’s opening is part of the brand’s plans to open further sites across the UK. 

Activate at the O2 now boasts a top-tier TripAdvisor ranking, #5 must-visit attraction in London, and glowing five-star reviews across the board. 

Poole’s new venue – Activate Dorset – will create a dynamic arena featuring a series of nine interactive game rooms, bringing all of Activate’s signature games – Strike, Portals, Control, Press, Hide, Laser (which is like a scene from Mission Impossible), Grid, Mega Grid and Hoops – under one roof. 

Activate has quickly become a go-to destination for families, Gen Z, young professionals and groups looking for fun, fast-paced activities with a social edge. Suitable for children aged six and over, it offers a screen-free way for families to spend time together while tackling physical and mental challenges as a team. 

Groups of two to five players can jump, climb and problem-solve their way through high-energy, interactive game rooms. The range of games test speed, strategy, memory and teamwork. Players move between rooms, earning points and levelling up as they go, making every visit different from the last. Each room uses advanced tracking technology and responsive digital systems to create fast-paced challenges which teams can play competitively or collaboratively. 

Colin Perry, National Operations Manager for Activate, said: “Activate is a completely new type of leisure experience for Poole. We’re thrilled to be bringing this innovative, high-energy concept to The Dolphin. It’s social, competitive and immersive – something genuinely different that we know will resonate with families, friends and corporate groups looking for an unforgettable shared experience.” 

John Grinnell, Centre Manager of The Dolphin, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Activate to The Dolphin. Activate’s opening strengthens our leisure offering and reinforces our commitment to providing locals and visitors with engaging, experience-led attractions alongside our much-loved retail and dining brands. 

“We are working closely with the Activate team and look forward to the unit’s launch later this year.” 

Activate Dorset will open in the former Flip Out unit in The Dolphin. Further details, including booking information, will be announced in due course. 

The minimum age to participate in Activate is 6 years old and adults must be present at the facility throughout the entire gaming experience for children between 6 and 13 years old. 

For more information, visit playactivate.co.uk or on social media at Instagram: @activategames.uk / TikTok: @activategamesuk