There's a moment, roughly thirty seconds into my visit to Fayre Play, when I find myself hurling a ball at a stack of tin cans labelled "Tinning Park" while a stranger at the next booth shouts encouragement. I haven't felt this competitively alive since primary school sports day — except this time there's a Clown Star Martini in my other hand and absolutely no responsible adults in sight.
Fayre Play, Scotland's first adults-only fairground games experience, has taken over the old Fore Play crazy golf venue at 124 Portman Street in Kinning Park. The team behind the original concept — led by co-owner Craig Neilson — decided after five successful years that it was time for something new. The result is a miniature Coney Island on Glasgow's southside, and it is an absolute riot.
Nine Games, One Giant Ego
The setup is simple: nine competitive fairground games, each given a distinctly Glaswegian makeover. Whack-a-mole becomes Cannae Whack It. Skee ball is now Skee Baw. There's Bulls AYE, Slam Drunk, Lucky Tosser, and the brilliantly named Shots Fired shooting gallery.
You play each game twice over, and the whole circuit takes about 90 minutes. Some games are pure luck, others demand genuine skill — the Hoopla is sneakily difficult, and I say that as someone who spent an embarrassing amount of time convinced I was about to nail it.
The real draw, though, is the atmosphere. Groups of pals trash-talk their way around the room. Couples on date nights discover competitive streaks they didn't know they had. Hen parties shriek with delight at the hook-a-duck station, Duck Hunt, where snagging a star on the bottom of a rubber duck wins you a prize. And those prizes? Giant yellow plush ducks that have become Fayre Play's unofficial mascot. Collecting enough stamps across the games can win you one — though the venue cheerfully warns the difficulty level is "ducking hard."
Scran, Bevvies, and a Scottie Dog
Once the games are done, the food and drink menu keeps the carnival theme rolling. I ordered The Scottie Dog — a loaded hot dog with haggis, cheese, and pickled red cabbage on a brioche bun — and it was outstanding. The Fire Eater burger, with buttermilk fried chicken and house katsu mayo, looked equally tempting at the next table.
The cocktail list is playful and potent. The Merry Go Rum does exactly what the name suggests, while the Who Gives A Duck — a vivid blue concoction of Bacardi, Raspberry Sourz, Blue Curaçao, and fresh lemon — is as photogenic as it is dangerous.
Why Adults Only?
"We took all the best bits from Fore Play and applied them to a competitive fairground games experience, where you can challenge your mates across a whole host of familiar favourites," Craig Neilson told Secret Glasgow when the venue launched. The adults-only format means the music's pumping, the drinks are flowing, and nobody has to worry about small children darting between the games.
That said, families aren't entirely shut out — kids aged seven and up are now welcome on Saturdays until 3pm and Sundays until 6pm, with the venue reverting to over-18s only after that.
Since opening, Fayre Play has welcomed over 250,000 visitors and expanded to Edinburgh and Newcastle. It's become a go-to for date nights, stag and hen dos, and team-building events — even Love Island winner Paige Turley has popped in.
The Practical Bits
Where: 124 Portman Street, Kinning Park — a five-minute walk from Kinning Park Subway.
When: Thursday 5–10pm, Friday 4–11pm, Saturday 11am–midnight, Sunday 11am–10pm.
Packages: Choose from a Games Ticket (games only), a Game & Drink package, or the full Games, Food & Drink deal. Student and NHS discounts are available on selected days. Check thefayreplay.co.uk for current prices and to book.
Tips: Walk-ins are welcome, but book ahead for Fridays and Saturdays. Card and contactless only — leave your cash at home. Allow 90 minutes for the games, longer if you're eating.
Fayre Play isn't reinventing the wheel — it's sticking a Glasgow accent on it and daring you not to have a good time. I lost at nearly every game, spent more than I planned on cocktails, and left grinning like an idiot. You will too.
