Business
27 March, 2026
It’s game over
EMPIRE Alternacade and Events Cairns has closed its doors and will rebrand as an Irish pub, with regulars saying the loss will be felt across Cairns’ gaming and alternative social scene.
Patrons interviewed at the venue said the closure would end one of the city’s few spaces centred on arcade games, pinball and community events, with the site expected to reopen as Murphy’s Pub.
Avid customer and pinball player Pablo Pardoen said the venue had become much more than a bar.
“It became a place where a lot of people, who didn’t feel comfortable in typical pubs or clubs, could go and hang out,” he said.
Mr Pardoen said he had been coming to Empire for the past three to four years and had watched it grow from a quieter venue into a regular meeting place for a diverse crowd.
“We had a lot of diversity come here through and it’s a great meeting place,” he said.
He said the venue had helped foster a strong local pinball scene and a wider sense of connection.
“This is a very social place, very friendly,” he said.
Pinball player Michael Kenny said the monthly tournament scene had become a major drawcard, with strong attendance and few alternatives elsewhere in the city.
“I just like coming to the tournaments and seeing the usual people, you know, it’s sort of a hangout every month,” he said.
“And yeah, the only thing I’m bummed about is there’s nowhere to go now.”
Mr Kenny said other venues had pinball machines, but not the same tournament setup or the same regular community.
Joseph (surname withheld), who has been coming to Empire for just over a year, said the venue also held personal significance, as he met his partner at one of the monthly competitions.
“Yeah, it was the first competition, because they have the monthly competitions, we just randomly went to one, and we met there, and we’ve been going to every one since,” he said.
Another regular, Lauren (surname withheld), said Monday night competitions had become a highlight.
“I just come in here on a Monday night for comp night and just absolutely love having a ball with everyone that’s here and encouraging everyone to play their best,” she said.
Regular patron and events organiser Wendy Ramsey, who has hosted community and private events at the venue, said Empire had played a unique role in Cairns’ social scene.
“Unfortunately, we now lose what was becoming a strong pinball culture and we’ve lost it to the nearest town – Townsville.”
Competitive pinball player Dave Biddle said the venue had played a key role in building both his skills and connection to the local gaming community.
“I just come in here on a Monday night for comp night and just absolutely love having a ball with everyone that’s here and encouraging everyone to play their best,” she said.
Regular patron and events organiser Wendy Ramsey, who has hosted community and private events at the venue, said Empire had played a unique role in Cairns’ social scene.
“Unfortunately, we now lose what was becoming a strong pinball culture and we’ve lost it to the nearest town – Townsville.”
Competitive pinball player Dave Biddle said the venue had played a key role in building both his skills and connection to the local gaming community.
