Empire Alternacade and Events opens function room on level one of Plaza Hotel

Just in time for the Christmas party season, a new function room is opening with a 1930s Chicago-themed bar and️ 40 free pinball machines. Find out where.

Jason Lynch at the new Empire Level 1. Picture: Evan Morgan

In more ways than one, the popular Townsville entertainment business Empire Alternacade and Events has levelled up with its new function room upstairs in the Madison Plaza Hotel.

Jason Lynch established Townsville’s number one bar and arcade in the hotel’s basement in 2018, before opening a Pinball Holiday House in Belgian Gardens with more than 20 pinball machines, yet he still had more pinballs than the space to put them.

After noticing that the hotel had an unused function space gathering dust on its first level, Mr Lynch approached the owners about giving the space a new lease on life as Empire Level One – a function room for up to 80 people with a 1930s Chicago-themed bar and decor, and️ 40 free-to-play pinball machines.

Jason Lynch at the new Empire Level 1. Picture: Evan Morgan

Since being given the green light three months ago, he’s spent “many thousands of dollars” repairing pinball machines, getting tradies in to update the space, and their “graffiti guy” to paint the entire place.

“When we went in to view the space for the first time it had such old school vibes … and we were already loading in pretty old games from the 60s and 70s, so it sort of fit the theme,” Mr Lynch said.

Jason Lynch at the new Empire Level 1. Picture: Evan Morgan

“We actually drew inspiration from a particular pinball machine called Old Chicago, so we went all in with that kind of colour and dim whiskey vibes.”

In addition to the pinballs, the function room boasts a full bar, several lounges and seating to handle a large group, making it ideal for celebrating special occasions like bucks and hens parties, milestone birthdays, kids parties, or even school excursions – although food would need to be brought/ delivered.

Jason Lynch at the new Empire Level 1. Picture: Evan Morgan

Bookings are now being taken in the lead up the busy Christmas party season, with the first guests welcomed on November 29.

“In February, this place will be hosting the Australian Pinball Championships and we’re expecting to get a good couple of hundred people flying in from around Australia to that, so for pinball, it’s probably the biggest thing on the map for the year,” he said.

“In the future … we plan to have bring the kids to Empire open days, where for a small entry fee, people can come and check it out and get that same experience, but not in a function setting.”

The room will cost $500 to hire for three hours, although that may change.

For bookings and more information, visit: www.empiretownsville.com.au.

Originally published as Empire Alternacade and Events opens function room on level one of Plaza Hotel