Erica Pilavaki mixes cricket, cocktails and croquettes at Sixes, Fitzrovia
I was one of those people that always gave an excuse not to do PE at school, so when the opportunity presented itself to check out Sixes I must admit I was a wee bit sceptical as I do not have the foggiest about cricket. Let me tell you, for a complete novice I had the best time pummelling balls mercilessly left right and centre.
Open from morning until late, Sixes is located on Great Portland St in Fitzrovia. It’s a state-of-the-art cricket simulator batting net experience as well as a place you can eat, drink and watch live sport. The concept was created by the founders of Mac & Wild and it’s been labelled as a ‘social entertainment venue.’ Credit where credit is due, these guys have smashed it out the park; the immersive experience with a range of difficulty settings from fast bowling to spin was so much fun that I’m considering becoming a member.
For thirty minutes I was transformed into a batting expert, thrashing cricket balls and scoring points and laughing my head off along the way. It’s a perfect place for a fun date night, team away day or even a kiddies’ birthday party. You don’t need a great passion for the sport or any special skills - just a competitive streak and a little hand-eye coordination.
After revelling in my win and having worked up a heroic appetite we were led into the other half of the venue; a British gastro pub vibe seating area, with a full bar and stellar drinks list. The restaurant’s menu is made up of an array of relishable comfort foods with solid favourites like a chunky sausage roll, mac 'n' cheese croquettes and a deeply satisfying rib-eye steak with triple-cooked whopper chips. For me, the jewel in the crown was the bread and butter pudding with ice cream – a megastar dessert I recommend everyone should order.
Meshing cutting-edge sports tech with elite pub food in a relaxed environment, Sixes has a genuinely winning format. Sport in general is more than just the game itself and Sixes is no different. I was super impressed by the whole experience, from the superb service to some of the best cocktails I've tried in London.
Sixes can be found in Fulham and Fitzrovia in London and now in Manchester too. Booking a slot for of 2-3 people is 30 minutes, parties of 4-6 is 60 minutes, and parties between 7-9 for is 90 minutes. There is also a leaderboard if you have mad skills and are super competitive.
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Chatting Food Contributor: Erica Pilavaki
Born in Cyprus but now living in London, Erica has an insatiable appetite for good food and tasty drinks!
Follow Erica @erica_eeeats