Nova Wild Empire
Nova Wild Empire gaming arena interior with warm lighting
Shoreditch · London

Where wild runs meet warm wood and neon

Nova Wild Empire is an independent gaming lounge and esports venue on Rivington Street. RTX battlestations, console pods, a 6-player VR arena and tournaments every week — set inside a calm, plant-filled space.

Book a StationSee the Sessions
24 RTX battlestations
Open 10am–11pm daily
6-player VR arena
Our Story

From a back-room LAN to a Shoreditch landmark

We never wanted a sterile internet café. We built the room we always wanted to play in — warm timber, soft light, and machines that never throttle.

  1. 2016

    A flat full of cables

    Four friends ran weekend LAN parties out of a Hackney flat, hauling towers up three flights of stairs every Friday night.

  2. 2019

    The Rivington Street lease

    We took over a former print workshop on Rivington Street and spent six months stripping it back to brick, beam and daylight.

  3. 2021

    The VR arena opens

    A 60m² free-roam VR arena launched, letting up to six players move untethered through the same virtual world.

  4. 2024

    Empire League kicks off

    Our in-house Empire League now runs nightly ladders across Valorant, Rocket League and Tekken 8 with real cash prize pools.

Sessions

Pick your battlestation

Every price is per person and includes peripherals, a save-locker login and unlimited filtered coffee. Members get 20% off all sessions.

Casual Station

Drop in and play

£6/ hour
  • 1080p 165Hz battlestation
  • RTX 4060 · Ryzen 5
  • Steam, Epic & Game Pass library
  • Free filtered coffee & squash
  • Minimum 1 hour
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Most booked

Pro Station

For ranked grinders

£10/ hour
  • 1440p 240Hz battlestation
  • RTX 4080 · Ryzen 7
  • Wooting & Logitech peripherals
  • Private save-locker & headset
  • Priority booking window
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VR Arena

Free-roam, up to 6 players

£18/ hour
  • 60m² untethered play space
  • Quest 3 & PICO 4 headsets
  • Co-op and PvP titles
  • Staff guide for first-timers
  • 30 or 60 minute sessions
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Squad Room

Private 5-seat booth

£40/ hour
  • Five Pro Stations in one booth
  • Shoutcaster mic & shared screen
  • Snack platter from the kitchen
  • Ideal for parties & team scrims
  • Booked in 2-hour blocks
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The Arena

Inside the empire

A look around the floor — from the battlestation rows to the VR arena and the kitchen counter. Scroll sideways to wander through.

The main floor

The main floor

24 timber-framed battlestations under warm pendant light.

VR free-roam arena

VR free-roam arena

Our 60m² untethered space, padded and sensor-tracked.

Console lounge

Console lounge

Sink-in sofas with PS5 and Switch pods for couch co-op.

The kitchen counter

The kitchen counter

Filtered coffee, loaded fries and bottomless squash all day.

Reviews

What our players say

Real feedback from regulars across the four Empire League ladders and weekend drop-ins.

“I booked a Squad Room for my brother’s birthday and the staff set up a custom Rocket League bracket for us. Zero lag all night and the loaded fries were unreal.”

P

Priya R.

Hackney, London · March 2025

“The Pro Stations are genuinely better than my home rig. I climbed from Gold to Diamond in Valorant grinding two evenings a week here.”

M

Marcus T.

Islington, London · February 2025

“First time in free-roam VR and the guide was so patient. Lost an hour in there without noticing. Only knock is it gets busy on Saturdays.”

S

Sofia L.

Shoreditch, London · January 2025

“Empire League nights are the highlight of my week. Proper prize pools, friendly crowd, and the shoutcaster mic in the Squad Room is a brilliant touch.”

D

Daniel O.

Bethnal Green, London · December 2024

“I work remotely and use a Casual Station as my afternoon switch-off. Quiet, great coffee, and never once been throttled mid-match.”

Y

Yuki M.

Camden, London · November 2024

“Brought my niece for the half-term VR taster and she hasn’t stopped talking about it. Booking online was simple and the space feels really safe.”

A

Aisha K.

Dalston, London · October 2024

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Search below or scroll through — most things are covered here.

Walk-ins are welcome whenever stations are free, but weekends and Empire League nights fill up fast. We recommend booking online at least a day ahead for Pro Stations, the VR Arena and Squad Rooms.

Casual Stations start at £6 per hour, Pro Stations at £10 per hour, the VR Arena at £18 per session and the private Squad Room at £40 per hour. Members get 20% off every session and there is no joining fee.

We are open every day from 10am to 11pm, including weekends and most bank holidays. The kitchen counter serves food and drinks until 10:30pm.

Under-16s are welcome until 7pm when accompanied by an adult, and we only load age-appropriate titles for them. After 7pm the lounge is 16+, and the bar area is 18+ with ID.

Absolutely. Every station has front-facing USB-C and USB-A ports, and your save-locker login keeps your launcher accounts and settings between visits. Bring your own keyboard or mouse if you prefer.

Yes. The Squad Room and full-floor hire are popular for birthdays, studio socials and team scrims. Email us with your date and headcount and we will put together a package, usually within one working day.

We are at 42A Rivington Street, a two-minute walk from Old Street and Shoreditch High Street stations. There is no on-site parking, but the Finsbury Square and Old Street car parks are a short walk away.

Contact

Drop us a line

Questions about membership, private hire or the Empire League? Send a message and we usually reply within one working day.

Visit the lounge

Find us on Rivington Street

42A Rivington Street, Shoreditch, London EC2A 3DU