The Amusement & Retail Entertainment Expo (ARE) is bringing together some of the sector’s most influential operators for a must-attend seminar:
Game On: A Practical Guide to Competitive Socialising
We are delighted to confirm that Ben Warren, Commercial Director at Professionals at Play, will join the panel alongside Daniel Chadaway, Head of Gaming at Stonegate Group, and Dawn Clarke, Head of Electronic Leisure at Mitchells & Butlers.
The session will be moderated by Jade Craig of Inntegra and GameChangers, who will guide what promises to be a practical and commercially focused discussion on one of the fastest-growing areas of the licensed trade.
From First Concept to National Expansion
Ben Warren brings over 13 years of experience working alongside founders Matt and Ben Jones, helping to shape what has become one of the UK’s leading competitive socialising operators.
He played a central role in launching the very first Roxy Ball Room in 2013 as Operations Manager and subsequently helped open five original Roxy sites across the UK. In 2018, he moved to Concept Taverns as Operations Director, quickly stepping into his first Managing Director role and scaling the business from three to eleven sites.
Returning to Roxy Leisure in 2023 as Managing Director, Ben oversaw further expansion, with multiple openings in 2023 and six additional sites targeted across 2024/25.
In 2024, his remit broadened further when he became Commercial Director of Professionals at Play, overseeing the combined growth of Roxy Leisure and Pins Leisure — two brands synonymous with modern competitive socialising.
With six new openings this year, growth remains firmly at the forefront — even amid economic pressures.
A 360-Degree View of the Market
This ARE panel will offer a rare combination of perspectives:
- Daniel Chadaway (Stonegate Group) — overseeing gaming strategy and pay-to-play entertainment across one of the UK’s largest pub estates
- Ben Warren (Professionals at Play) — scaling experience-led venues at pace
- Dawn Clarke (Mitchells & Butlers) — leading electronic leisure across a major national operator
Together, they represent large-scale estate management, entrepreneurial expansion and operational integration — giving attendees insight into how competitive socialising works across different business models.
Practical Guidance, Not Just Trends
Moderated by Jade Craig, the session will focus on the real-world mechanics of introducing competitive elements into venues, including:
- Choosing the right concept for your audience
- Integrating competitive experiences into existing layouts
- Driving revenue in high-volume environments
- Balancing compliance with innovation
- Maintaining quality while scaling
- Turning entertainment into measurable commercial performance
Competitive socialising is no longer a novelty. It is transforming nights out and redefining venue strategy across the UK.
For operators considering interactive, skill-based or immersive entertainment, this session promises actionable insight from those delivering it at scale.
Let the games begin.
