Clays Soho: This virtual shooting location is my new favourite way to socialise

I didn’t know what to expect when I was invited for virtual clay target shooting on Soho’s Brewer Street on a Friday night, or even quite what virtual clay target shooting was.

Weaving through the after-work pub crowds, I slip into a swish Art Deco building, the door held open by a doorman in a tweed flat cap, and I’m officially impressed. This new London bar is clearly not your average night out.

Clays describes itself as a “competitive socialising venue,” which translates to an elevated arcade slash upmarket bar, where you can drink, dance and dress up. There are no coin-pusher games or plastic prizes here – instead, players can sip drinks while they aim prop guns at virtual clay targets. There’s also a DJ, custom cocktails and a tempting food menu.

I shot with a friend, Luis, competing against each other in the Clays Arcade, where five shooting pegs each featured different games. Luis might have beat me most of the time, but he couldn’t quite top me in the more strategic games. It’s this variety that keeps the Arcade exciting after 10 games – everyone always has the chance to snatch first place.

While I played in a duo, I saw all different types of groups shooting, sipping or socialising. I spied plenty of couples, a birthday night out and a table that looked ready to hit the town. There was also the unmistakable chaos of an office night out, or team building, tucked away in Clays’ private rooms – The Hide hosts up to 35 guests, while the Private Room can hold 100 with a private bar and DJ facilities. This space is perfect for your work Christmas party, or a stag or hen do group activity.

This is Clays’ fourth location, alongside sites in Moorgate, Canary Wharf and Birmingham, and the brand’s flagship venue.

Set inside a Grade II-listed Art Deco building, Clays Soho looks worlds away from what you’d expect from stuffy clay pigeon shooting, with pink walls, floral staircases and 1930s-inspired lighting. It sets the immersive experience apart from other less enticing venues, ones you associate with sticky floors and cheap-tasting drinks.

Even the toilets were aesthetically impressive. It also smashed my preconception that this type of venue would feel quite ‘laddy.’

After (just) losing to Luis, we settle into velvet banquettes for food and more cocktails – I’ve already had the vodka Ruby and the spearmint-infused A Caddy’s Tip. We opted to try a couple of pizzettes (pepperoni for him; margherita for me,) fries and KFC – cauliflower in a spicy Korean sauce.

We finished with quite literally every dessert on the menu, and I’d happily eat a Chocolate Cone every day of the week.

Happily for me, the menu had plenty of veggie options, and the staff were a delight when they delivered our meal to our marble table – not a guarantee these days. I wish I’d had room for the Loaded Spicy Fries, but there are only so many chips a girl can eat.

If you love indoor crazy golf, darts bars or immersive gaming, Clays is a must-try. Instead of sharing a packet of crisps crammed onto a cold pavement, Clays offers a unique night out that still checks the boxes of good food, great drinks and better tunes. Usually, I’m smashing a cold veggie sausage roll on the way back from an evening out, but I loved that I wasn’t heading home starving.

Clays is stylish enough for a date night, spacious enough for a celebration and more than enough fun to make you reconsider everything you thought about virtual shooting locations and gaming bars in London.

Book now at clays.bar/soho, and follow Clays on Instagram (@clays_bar)