Coca-Cola & Stranger Things Join Forces For A Free UK Pop-Up Arcade On July 11th

[Thanks to Coca-Cola UK for providing the PR & images]

Arcades and pop culture blend together more often than we can count, with arcades being a perfect driver for nostalgia in any given piece of media. Many shows and movies these days are set in the 1980’s or 90’s, decades where arcades would play a major cultural role.

One of those current shows is one that many of you many be familiar with – Netflix’s Stranger Things. If you’re unfamiliar with it, the show is set in the town of Hawkins, IN in the early/mid 80’s. As such, arcades have made an appearance once in a while (kind of like in that other 80’s based TV show, The Goldbergs).

With the 3rd season of the show launching tomorrow (perhaps today, depending on when you read this), Netflix is firing up the promotional circuit for the show, and they are being joined by sponsors in the effort. One of those is Coca-Cola, who is creating a “pop-up arcade” in the East London area of Shoreditch. The idea is to bring Hawkins to Shoreditch for a day, looking to recreate an arcade from 1985 in the space. I wasn’t able to find out which games will be on hand apart from Dragon’s Lair, but they did say that seven cabinets will be there to play.

One reason that Coke is involved is because the introduction of New Coke back in ’85 will also play a role in the new season; they will be offering “a limited edition, upside-down world Coca-Cola x Stranger things can.”

Here more info on that and the event in general can be taken from the press release below; if any of you happen to be in the area on the 11th and find this arcade, be sure to report back!

COCA-COLA TURNS STRANGER THINGS FANS’ WORLD’S UPSIDE-DOWN WITH THE LAUNCH OF HAWKINS PALACE ARCADE AND 800 LIMITED-EDITION CANS 

On Thursday 11th July, Hawkins is coming to Shoreditch as Coca-Cola launches a Stranger Things pop-up Arcade!

The Hawkins themed Arcade, which fans will remember from season 2, features authentic 80’s video games as used in the set, as well as a secret ‘upside down‘ room, only accessible to those with a keen Stranger Things eye…

The first 800 guests who are able to find this secret space will get their hands on a limited edition, upside-down world Coca-Cola x Stranger things can (pictured).

The Arcade pays homage to the story of ‘New Coke’ interwoven into Season 3, which is set in 1985, the year that New Coke launched in America.

Summary of details below with press release and campaign images attached.

Event details:
Date: Thursday 11th July 2019
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (last entry 8.30pm)
Location: The Coca-Cola and Stranger Things Arcade, Shop 4, Brick Lane, Spitalfields, E1 6QR
Nearest Tube Station: Liverpool Street / Old Street / Shoreditch High Street
Event: Coca-Cola and Stranger Things welcome fans to experience the famous Arcade in London, offering the chance to play the original arcade games featured in the series and collect a limited-edition Coca-Cola x Stranger Things Upside Down can*
T&C Overview: Entry to the Arcade is free. Visitors will be provided with Coca-Cola x Stranger Things tokens to play the arcade games.
*Only 800 ‘Upside-down’ Coca-Cola cans are available on a first come, first serve basis. Those aged under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Website: www.coca-cola.co.uk/stranger-things-arcade