
The business began as a pop-up operation in 2017 in Edinburgh and to test demand for the activity in Northern Ireland, Gareth and his team then opened a pop-up at S13, the former B&Q store on Belfast's Boucher Road.

"All three of us have worked in the weird and wonderful side of events for many years, so just ran with it. Mr Fairlie then left London with his other business partner to begin Black Axe Throwing in Scotland. It was so much fun we knew we could do something with it." He said: "Myself and right-hand man Kevin used to produce festivals and events and after one particularly gruelling festival, we found a couple of axes in the back of a van and rigged ourself up a target. Mr Fairlie created Black Axe Throwing after a discovering he had a talent for it. It's a great night out - fast paced, energetic and brilliant fun for all." Axe throwing is one of the fastest growing urban sports in the US and Canada and is described by The Times as 'the new 10-pin bowling' - so we are very excited to house the first dedicated venue in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Participants must be over 16 years of age, advised Mr Fairlie.īrian Gaffney of property agents Savills, which represents Cityside retail park, said: "We have a rapidly expanding experience offering at Cityside and building on the phenomenal success of their Edinburgh venue, Black Axe is fast becoming the best axe throwing experience out there. "You can leave feeling elated having learned a whole new skill-set," added Mr Fairlie.Īn hour's session at Black Axe Throwing costs £20 and is open to all abilities.

We then ramp it up and bring in the factors that help determine how the axe will stick to a target. "When people pick the axe up for the first time, they begin with quite a tentative throw. There's a satisfying thud throwing something heavy that has a danger element, it's like a deep-seated primal thing and once you've got that motion it becomes a little bit like playing darts. "Axes tend to have a weird stigma attached to them, making many people think about that scene with Jack Nicholson in The Shining, but many find that there is something very satisfying about throwing one. "Around 95% of people we see have never held an axe, so there's a lot unfamiliarity with the tool," he continued. Pre-booking for a one-hour session is advised, however walk-ins are also welcome, he told the Belfast Telegraph.
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Receive today's headlines directly to your inbox every morning and evening, with our free daily newsletter.Įnter email address This field is required Sign Up "We are not going to lie, axe throwing is pretty addictive, but that's okay, we've got plenty of axes!" said Gareth Fairlie, founder of Black Axe Throwing.ĭaily Headlines & Evening Telegraph Newsletter The cinema at Excite has also benefited from its own multi-million pound overhaul.Ī typical session in axe throwing includes "a walk through the basics" as well as some advanced techniques that will allow participants to throw two axes at once.Ĭompetitions and rapid-fire rounds are also part of the experience. The venue, run by Edinburgh company Black Axe Throwing, will sit alongside Excite's other entertainment establishments including VR CityX gaming centre, Northern Ireland's first virtual reality arcade with "never before seen" VR simulators and more than 280 games and Lost City Adventure Golf, which opened as part of a £2m revamp at the retail park. This reduces time in line, which gets everyone into the house quicker.Northern Ireland's first ever axe throwing centre has opened in Belfast and it's inviting visitors to "unleash their inner Viking".ĭubbed the new ten-pin bowling and the fastest-growing urban sport in the US and Canada, axe throwing will now be available at Cityside Retail Park's Excite pavilion off York Road. Buying tickets at the door- You get a colored ticket and enter the attraction when the building lights match that color.

When selecting this, you're selecting an escape room or hatchet time. This ticket gives you the VIP to enter the haunted house at any time in the evening. Combo tickets, haunted house and escape room, haunted house and hatchet throwing. You can do a time ticket, which is selecting a time increment of 30 minutes.
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Our axe masters will be available to teach you how to throw axes. Private lanes and private party lanes available, each time is for 1 hour. Experience throwing hatchets in a one of a kind way. Starting at 6pm, we kill the lights with our glow in the dark hatchets and targets. Experience 13th hours newest attraction: Haunted Hatchets! Throw hatchets at our custom targets in an exciting and thrilling way.
