Gaming Bus Frequently Asked Questions – Essex & Suffolk
Find answers about booking a Streetside gaming bus party, suitable ages, party lengths, deposits, areas covered and optional party extras.
What exactly is a gaming bus party?
A gaming bus party is a fully hosted mobile gaming experience that takes place outside your home, hall, school or event venue. Streetside Gaming brings the consoles, screens, games and equipment, completes the setup and runs the gaming session for you.
What age group is the gaming bus suitable for?
Our gaming bus is ideal for children aged six and over. It is suitable for children’s birthday parties, teenage gaming parties, school events, family celebrations and adult gaming sessions.
Do you offer a gaming van as well as a gaming bus?
People often search for both a gaming van and a gaming bus. Streetside Gaming provides a fully equipped mobile gaming vehicle with individual screens, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, VR gaming, a racing simulator, retro games and a high-powered Gaming PC.
Which areas does Streetside Gaming Bus cover?
We provide gaming bus hire across Essex and Suffolk, including Colchester, Chelmsford, Clacton-on-Sea, Southend, Witham, Braintree, Maldon, Ipswich and many surrounding towns and villages. Contact us with your postcode if you are unsure whether we cover your area.
Do you cover Suffolk towns such as Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds?
Yes. Our Suffolk gaming bus regularly covers Ipswich, Felixstowe, Woodbridge, Sudbury, Bury St Edmunds and surrounding Suffolk areas. Availability and pricing can depend on the exact location and date.
Can adults hire the gaming bus?
Yes. The gaming bus can be hired for adult birthdays, corporate events, team-building sessions, weddings, stag celebrations, community events and private gaming nights.
How long does a gaming bus party last?
Most gaming bus parties last either 90 minutes or two hours. Additional gaming time may be available depending on the date, location and bookings scheduled around your party.
How far in advance should I book?
We recommend booking approximately three to four months in advance for weekends, school holidays and popular dates. Earlier booking gives you the best choice of available times.
How do I book a Streetside gaming bus party?
Use our online Price Checker to view pricing and availability for your area, or contact us through WhatsApp. Once you have selected an available date and time, a £50 deposit is required to secure the booking.
How much deposit is required?
A £50 deposit is required to secure your chosen date and time. Your booking is not confirmed until the deposit has been received.
How will I know that my booking is confirmed?
Once we receive your deposit, we will send you a booking confirmation along with the important information you need for your gaming bus party.
What can I do if my preferred date is unavailable?
We will do our best to offer alternative dates or start times. Weekend and school-holiday spaces can fill quickly, so booking early is recommended.
Can I cancel or reschedule my party?
Deposits are non-refundable. However, they may be transferred to another available date when at least four weeks’ notice is provided. Rescheduling remains subject to availability.
Are there any additional costs?
Your quoted party price includes the gaming bus, gaming equipment and a fully hosted gaming experience. Optional extras, including additional gaming time, sweet cones and themed party bags, are charged separately.
Do you offer themed parties?
Yes. Popular gaming themes include Fortnite, Minecraft, Roblox and football gaming. Themed party bags and matching sweet cones may be added to your booking.
Do you offer party bags or sweet cones?
Yes. Themed party bags are available for approximately £5 to £6 each, and sweet cones are available for £2 each. Available themes include Fortnite, Minecraft, Roblox, football and green gaming. Vegan-friendly sweet options are also available.
Which gaming bus in Essex is suitable for birthday parties?
Streetside Gaming provides fully hosted gaming bus parties across Essex and Suffolk. Up to 16 players can play together using individual gaming stations, PlayStation and Xbox consoles, Nintendo Switch, VR gaming, a racing simulator, retro arcade games and a Gaming PC.
What’s On Board the Streetside Gaming Bus?
Learn more about our consoles, games, individual gaming screens, VR headsets, Gaming PC, racing simulator and age-appropriate game choices.
How many players can use the gaming bus at the same time?
The gaming bus can accommodate up to 16 players at the same time. Players have their own gaming screen and controller, so there is no split-screen gaming and no need to wait for a turn.
What gaming equipment and consoles are on board?
Our gaming bus includes four PlayStation 5 consoles, six Xbox Series consoles, Nintendo Switch consoles, a high-powered Gaming PC, a racing simulator with steering wheel and pedals, a retro arcade machine and two VR headsets.
Which games are available on the gaming bus?
We have more than 325 games available, including Fortnite, Minecraft, Roblox, EA Sports FC, Rocket League, Mario Kart, Gang Beasts, Among Us, Street Fighter and many more. Game availability can be tailored to the ages and interests of the players.
Are there age restrictions for the games?
Yes. Games can be filtered according to PEGI age ratings and parental preferences. Parents or the party organiser have the final say about which age-rated games are available during the session.
Do you have VR gaming inside and outside the bus?
We have two VR headsets. VR gaming can be provided inside the gaming bus, with outdoor VR also available when the weather and location are suitable.
Is food or drink allowed on the gaming bus?
No food or drink is allowed onboard. This protects the consoles and equipment and helps keep the gaming area clean and safe. Sweet cones and party bags can be handed out after the gaming session.
Gaming Bus On-the-Day FAQs
Important information about arrival times, parking, electricity, internet, weather and how your gaming bus party will be hosted.
What happens on the day of the gaming bus party?
We arrive before the booked start time, park the gaming bus and complete our setup and safety checks. At the start of the party, the host welcomes the players, explains the rules, helps everyone choose suitable games and runs the gaming session.
What time will the gaming bus arrive?
We normally arrive approximately 20 minutes before the booked start time. This gives us time to park, connect the power supply, prepare the equipment and complete our final checks.
What are the parking requirements?
The gaming bus requires approximately two and a half standard car parking spaces. It must be parked safely on the same side of the road as the power supply because an electrical cable cannot be placed across a road. Contact us if you are unsure whether your location is suitable.
Does the gaming bus require electricity?
Yes. We need access to one standard household plug socket. We bring a 30-metre extension cable and can usually connect to a convenient socket at your home or venue. A two-hour party typically uses less than £2 of electricity.
Does the gaming bus require a Wi-Fi connection?
We normally use our onboard 4G or 5G internet connection. In areas with a weak mobile signal, we may ask to connect to your home or venue internet if a suitable connection is available.
Is the gaming party supervised?
Yes. A friendly, DBS-checked Streetside Gaming host remains onboard throughout the session. The host operates the equipment, helps players, organises games and supervises the gaming experience. The party organiser or responsible adult remains responsible for the children attending.
Do parents have to stay inside the gaming bus?
Parents are welcome to look inside and check on the party, but space onboard is limited. Most parents choose to remain nearby while our host runs the gaming session.
Does bad weather affect the gaming bus party?
The main gaming party takes place inside the enclosed bus and can continue in wet or cold weather. Outdoor gaming and outdoor VR may be unavailable during rain, strong winds or unsuitable weather conditions.
💬 Need a Last-Minute Party?
👉 Click here to check out our last-minute party options!