We went to the F1 Arcade, and you should definitely take your mates

From the moment you walk up the stairs at the new F1 Arcade, the opulence and attention to detail that define the sport are right there for you to see, and enjoy.

The latest idea from Adam Breeden, the mind that brought the likes of Flight Club and All Star Lanes to England's capital, is now opening an F1 experience like no other.

Based right by St Paul's Cathedral, at One New Change, just walking up the stairs and seeing the highlights from the recent season are enough to get the heart of any fan racing.

The main bar area looks like something that Jay Gatsby would be proud to get a drink from and there's a wonderful array of cocktails to choose from, each of course with an F1-related name, such as the 'Box, Box, Box.'

Take a look at the F1 Arcade experience in our video below:

I indulged in the Halo and Baby Driver, of course the non-alcoholic cocktails, after all, the sport's sponsor Heineken are always reminding us not to drink and drive.

To be perfectly honest, it took some time to get served at the bar, even when getting served the cocktails took quite some time to make but that'll always be the case on opening night and it'll never be busier than when we were partying.

The other reason to hit the alcohol free drinks was my desire to be on top form for the simulators, and speaking of which, around 60 machines stretch out across the floor and are ready for you to jump into and prove whether you're the next Lewis Hamilton or Taki Inoue, considered by himself as the worst driver of all time.

F1 drivers get into simulators on a regular basis to test their cars and practice circuits and this experience isn't too far off that.

The bar (left) has plenty of little F1 details on the walls and floor and even the toilet (right) has a neon light of a track on the wall. Image: F1 Arcade

In fact, speaking to David Coulthard at the opening, the former Red Bull Racing driver said that the simulators were better than the ones he used when he was still in the sport.

There's the lovely touch of the front of the machines being shaped exactly like the nose cone on the current cars but it's when you sit behind the wheel you get the real experience.

Much like the real cars, the steering wheel looks complicated, although on this occasion most of the dials are for the aesthetic, even if you can fiddle with them, rather than actually making you faster.

With speakers in the seat and the movement of the sim, everything feels very real, even from the fact that you're paying to be there and can't stop crashing into others, a bit like Nicholas Latifi.

Getting to grips with the sim wasn't impossible but definitely took me a couple of goes, even on the easiest setting, which potentially says more about me than the actual difficulty.

By my third race I'd rather mastered it, even closing a massive gap towards the end of the race to grab a podium finish, as long as the race director didn't haul me in for an issue with the car later on.

Going up in difficulty brought me down a peg or two again but I would say I was competent at the simulator long before calling it a night, and no doubt people with driving licenses will get it quicker (it probably has no bearing but I need an excuse).

There's plenty of lovely little aesthetic touches for the F1 nerd in you. Image: F1 Arcade

As well as earlier struggling to get drinks, we also seemed to be everywhere the food wasn't as their servers walked around the floor.

We did manage to catch some fried chicken and that was excellent, so that's pretty much all that I can recommend if you're hoping to eat.

Being the opening night, there was lots to entertain and impress the masses of influencers and socialites on the night, which included some DJs.

You're unlikely to get that kind of reception when you head down there with your mates, but if anything that might be more preferable.

Aside from the sims themselves, fans can also find out how good their reactions are, another test to see if you're better suited to free practice or the actual race.

Participants can either hit lights as quickly as possible, they light up around you, or a game where you hit the screen as the traffic lights go out.

Watch highlights and check data from classic races on the screens. Image: F1 Arcade

Speaking of the famed F1 traffic lights, they adorn the walls of the arcade in our favourite part of the decor, while the tiles by the bar make up a chequered flag on the floor.

Perhaps one of the best little touches from those of us obsessed with the sport is the wall, which is decorated with some of the most legendary quotes from team radios.

The arcade has plans to show races when the season gets back underway in March 2023, just like visiting your favourite local to watch Super Sunday.

There will be no finer venue to enjoy whatever next year offers us on the track, surrounded by fellow fans and with the chance to also have a go on the simulators.

Of course, if you're not a fan of Formula One, and if not you should start by watching Drive to Survive, then there's still plenty to enjoy.

After all, it's highly doubtful previous ideas have made their money in the past from people who enjoy watching darts or bowling on television, especially the latter, it's less a sport and more entertainment at a kid's party.

F1 Arcade may only be in London right now but it wouldn't surprise us to see other locations cropping up, especially wherever races are held around the world.