Westbrooke Associates Reviews The Rise of Competitive Socialising in the UK

The UK leisure sector is undergoing a structural transition, with traditional nightlife models facing sustained pressure and new, experience-led formats gaining traction.

Recent industry data highlights that almost 1,000 night-time businesses have closed in parts of the UK in recent years, reflecting changing consumer habits and declining footfall across alcohol-led venues.

At the same time, a new category has emerged. Competitive socialising, a format combining entertainment, activity and social interaction, is rapidly establishing itself as one of the fastest-growing segments within the leisure market.

This reflects a broader move away from passive consumption towards participation, with consumers increasingly seeking immersive, shared experiences.

Westbrooke Associates and Rumble Rooms™

It is within this context that concepts such as Rumble Rooms have been developed. 

Positioned as a competitive socialising brand and reflecting many of the key drivers shaping the sector, Rumble Rooms brings together entertainment, food, drink and social interaction within a single venue, creating environments designed for engagement rather than consumption alone.

Rumble Rooms sits within the We Do Play portfolio of companies, a global leisure and hospitality group owned by MFT Capital Ltd.

The team behind Rumble Rooms also previously founded Boom Battle Bar, which grew to become the UK’s largest competitive socialising brand before being sold in 2021.

The UK Leisure Shift

Forming part of the wider experience economy, going out is no longer defined solely by food and drink, but by engagement, interaction and memorable activities.

As highlighted in recent industry commentary, experience-led venues are becoming central to how people socialise, particularly among younger demographics.

Notably, changing attitudes towards alcohol, including reduced consumption among younger audiences, are accelerating demand for venues where drinking is complementary rather than the primary focus.

From an investor's perspective, this change is significant. Experience-led leisure venues often benefit from longer customer dwell times, group-based bookings and higher levels of repeat visitation, supporting more resilient revenue models compared with traditional hospitality formats.

As a result, competitive socialising is increasingly attracting attention from landlords, operators and institutional investors seeking concepts that drive footfall and engagement.

The Growth of Competitive Socialising

Growth data reinforces this momentum. The number of competitive socialising venues in the UK has increased by approximately 40% since 2018, with forecasts suggesting the market could exceed 800 venues by 2029 as demand continues to expand across major cities.

This sustained growth trajectory highlights the sector’s transition from emerging trend to established market segment.

Institutional activity further supports this data. Major operators and investors are beginning to position themselves within the space, recognising the scalability of experience-led formats and their alignment with evolving consumer behaviour.

This growing validation from larger market participants indicates that competitive socialising is no longer niche, but an increasingly important component of the wider leisure landscape.

A short video introducing Rumble Rooms also provides further context on the concept and its position within the competitive socialising sector. You can view the video HERE.

Westbrooke Associates continues to identify opportunities aligned with these structural changes, focusing on sectors where evolving consumer behaviour, market demand and scalable business models intersect.

As competitive socialising continues to expand, it represents a notable area of interest for investors seeking exposure to the future of UK leisure.

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