Haven for 'all things geeky' shuts down as site goes on market for £40,000 a year

The "temporary" closure of a Liverpool city centre gaming cafe has turned permanent as its unit has been placed on the market. Geek Retreat, on Church Street, closed its shutters earlier this year as it was announced the chain was searching for new premises in the city.

The former Geek Retreat site, located down a flight of stairs between the Quest apartment hotel and Heavenly Gifts, is up for rent at £40,000 per annum with Mason Owen Financial Services. The 2,612 sq ft space offers "lower level trading space with direct access off Church Street, suitable for a variety of uses subject to planning", and is available "by way of a new full repairing and insuring lease outside the Landlord and Tenant Act."

Following its closure, it was hoped the Geek Retreat would be re-established elsewhere in the city. A statement posted on the Geek Retreat Liverpool Facebook page on July 22 read: "Hi everyone, the unfortunate news is that Liverpool is temporarily closed. We will be in touch here tomorrow (Tuesday 23 July) with updates about outstanding preorders and to make arrangements for personal property.

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"We’ve been planning to move the store to a new location for some time, but the high level of rates and ongoing issues with the condition of the building has forced us to accelerate our timeline. Although we’re sad to have to say goodbye to the old premises, we are fully committed to having a store in Liverpool.

"For now, this means that the store will be shut until we find a more suitable location where we can better serve you and the community. Thank you for your kindness and understanding."

A new venue has yet to be announced, however, and the Facebook page has been seemingly inactive since July.

The Geek Retreat, a chain of gaming cafés specialising in "all things geeky", including anime, comic books and memorabilia, currently operates 24 stores across the UK. The Church Street branch is the latest in a long line of closures affected 44 venues nationwide. Geek Retreat St Helens closed in July 2022; Geek Retreat Wirral, in Hoylake, closed in November last year; and the Chester branch on Watergate Street closed in January.

This means Geek Retreat Warrington, in Crown Parade, is the only remaining branch in the Merseyside and Cheshire areas. Liverpool customers were directed to use the café while new premises were sought in the city. A spokesman for the Warrington café confirmed that such premises had not yet been found.