'I visited a Yorkshire garden centre with a hidden vintage arcade - it was the ultimate nostalgia'

Yet, on Harden Road near Bingley, Woodbank Garden Centre & Nurseries has a hidden collection of over 100 vintage machines.

According to Woodbank’s website, what started as a single machine in its gift shop expanded into a record-breaking arcade. It claims that its Old Penny Arcade has the largest collection of vintage coin-operated machines in Yorkshire.

Last weekend, my family put the experience to the test.

Arriving outside, there were no signs to suggest Woodbank Garden Centre offered anything other than succulents, fruit trees, or compost.

Since the site covers 10 acres, I wondered whether the arcade would be difficult to find – and if we even had the right place.

I shouldn't have worried; entering the building, there was an immediate signpost for the “Old Penny Arcade.”

Following the sound of jangling music, we descended a flight of stairs and emerged at what could only be described as a time capsule.

Brightly-coloured machines were jammed into a large space to the left of the walkway. The walls were covered in vintage posters, and at 11am, visitors were already clustered around some of the machines.

Having exchanged our modern cash for old pennies (at a rate of £1 per six), we immediately scattered.

My brother made a beeline to shoot fluorescent targets on ‘The Big Shot,’ my mum and I headed for the fortune-telling section, and my dad was instantly ensnared by the ‘Double Penny Falls.’

“That is slightly creepy,” I whispered to my mum, as we peered through the glass at a Sidney Knows figure.

The conversation was interrupted by whoops of celebration from my dad, who was still transfixed by Double Penny Falls. “I’ve hit the jackpot,” he cried, as a Pez bar clattered into the tray below.

The arcade felt incredibly nostalgic; it reminded me of childhood trips to Blackpool Pleasure Beach, and coincidentally, some of the games were designed nearby.

Produced in the 1950s by Walton’s of Blackpool, The Twins is a two-player game where you spin separate wheels in a race to empty bottles of milk.

Other games included horse-racing at ‘The Derby,’ coin-operated puppet shows, and themed machines, like ‘The Egyptian Tomb.’ Some of the games dated back to the 1920s.

Before I knew it, an hour had passed; I’d forgotten how much fun arcade games were.

We wandered through the rest of the garden centre, including its Christmas section – which, in early November, was already in full swing, with twinkling trees and ornate decorations. It was magical, but the Old Penny Arcade was the highlight.

Having spent less than £5 per person, the Old Penny Arcade felt like good value. I’d never have thought to combine vintage games with plant-shopping, but a return visit is definitely on the cards.