Spare Time Windsor Locks is a sizable family entertainment venue in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, just north of Hartford. Despite its name suggesting a single activity, the facility pulls in visitors with a broad mix of attractions that includes bowling lanes, laser tag arenas, escape rooms, and a full bar alongside its video arcade.
The venue functions as an all-in-one destination for families, birthday parties, and group outings, with guests able to move between activities without ever leaving the building. Its location near Bradley International Airport also makes it a natural gathering point for travelers and a convenient hub for the broader Hartford metropolitan area.
For anyone planning a stop, it’s worth noting that the arcade is only one section of a much larger operation, so a typical visit here tends to run considerably longer than a quick session at a standalone arcade.
At a Glance
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | Windsor Locks, CT |
| Phone | +1 860-623-2597 |
| Hours | Sunday–Thursday 10 AM–11 PM; Friday & Saturday 10 AM–12 AM |
| Rating | 4.4 out of 5 from 1,800 Google reviews |
| Best For | Families, birthday parties, group outings, multi-activity entertainment |
What Players Say
Spare Time Windsor Locks draws most of its praise for packing so many activities under one roof, with reviewers calling out bowling, laser tag, and escape rooms together as a winning combination. Food and drink quality also earns consistent compliments, and certain staff members are highlighted by name, though service overall is uneven — particularly at the bar, where several visitors report being ignored or spoken to curtly.
That range of feedback shows up clearly across the major themes. On the positive side, entertainment variety is the single most-mentioned strength, summed up by one guest who described the venue as offering “bowling, laser tag, escape rooms. Come join the fun!!” — Google review. Cleanliness and food quality also stand out, with another visitor noting approvingly, “The food is so much better, hell they even have REAL plates” — Google review.
On the other side, pricing is the most commonly cited complaint, with one reviewer writing, “Easily cook over $100 in 20 min with 2 kids” — Google review. Wait times and crowd management also draw frustration, captured in a remark like “Waited 4 hrs for a lane for my kids, when I was told it would be an hr at most” — Google review. A few visitors mention broken lanes or machines during their visit, and service consistency gets mixed marks, with remarks including “the staff seemed to have attitudes throughout the night” — Google review, balanced by standout shout-outs such as “Emma the bartender was amazing!” — Google review.
It’s worth flagging one caveat in particular. The venue is heavily marketed toward families and birthday parties, but kid-friendliness as a theme earns mixed reviews in the data — one party booker was blunt enough to say the experience “was NOT WORTH IT” — Google review, so any family planning a celebration should weigh that pattern alongside the positive entertainment-variety feedback. On a brighter note, bargain-hunters get a clear winner: Tuesday is widely recommended for its half-price games and shoe rental promotion, summarized by a reviewer as, “Tuesdays are also half price games and shoe rental which is awesome” — Google review.
Games & Machines
The venue runs a large video arcade as part of its broader entertainment lineup, giving players plenty of options to rotate through between bowling frames or laser tag rounds. As a multi-activity family entertainment center, the arcade is set up for casual, high-volume play rather than a curated destination, so it’s a better fit for families and mixed-age groups than for collectors hunting rare cabinets.
For a deeper sense of what’s currently on the floor and how the game card system works, the venue’s own site is the best source. Visitors looking to compare cabinets and pricing against other Connecticut venues can also browse the interactive arcade map and the arcade finder directory.
Visiting
Spare Time Windsor Locks sits in Windsor Locks, just north of Hartford in north-central Connecticut and minutes from Bradley International Airport. Parking is straightforward thanks to the venue’s standalone entertainment-center footprint, and the arcade map lists its exact position for anyone planning a route from elsewhere in the state.
Hours run daily from 10 AM, with the building closing at 11 PM Sunday through Thursday and at midnight on Friday and Saturday. Tuesday is the clear standout value day thanks to the half-price games and shoe rental promotion, which several reviewers cite as the best reason to plan a visit midweek rather than on a crowded weekend.
Food and drink are a meaningful draw here, with sit-down service and a full bar that lets parents and adult groups stay onsite without breaking up the outing. Birthday parties and group bookings are a core part of the venue’s identity, though prospective party hosts should weigh the mixed kid-friendliness feedback in the review data before committing. Other Connecticut entertainment centers in the same metro area include Spare Time Vernon as a sister location, plus Nomads Adventure Quest and Dave & Buster’s Manchester near Hartford — all searchable through the arcade finder directory.
Venue operators who want to update the hours, game list, or contact details on this page can use the claim your listing tool. Readers exploring more options across the region can start with the arcade finder directory or jump straight to the interactive arcade map for a geographic view of every venue currently in the index.