The price of the unlimited gaming upgrade at 1st Base is not published in this guide, because upgrade prices change and a stale number costs you money on the night. Get the live figure from 1st Base before you book, and use the checklist below to compare it properly in 2026.
- The unlimited gaming upgrade price at 1st Base is not fixed in this guide; confirm the live figure when you book in 2026.
- Ask whether the upgrade is per person or per group, and which games it covers.
- Price it against pay-as-you-go play for your group size and session length.
- Groups of 8 or more usually gain most from an unlimited option.
Why this matters
A games bar bill rarely goes wrong at the door. It goes wrong when six people each assume the upgrade covers something it does not. 1st Base is an American-themed activity bar and interactive baseball batting cage in Southampton city centre, with shuffleboard, ping-pong and foosball alongside the cage. More games means more places for a vague "unlimited" label to hide a limit.
The verdict: the unlimited upgrade is worth it only if your group will actually rotate through several games. If you plan one batting cage session and a drink, skip it.
How much does the unlimited gaming upgrade cost at 1st Base?
No price for the upgrade appears in the information available for this page, so none is quoted here. That is deliberate. Any figure printed here would go out of date and could contradict what you are quoted at booking.
What you can do in 2026 is get the number in a form you can compare. Ask the venue for these five details in writing:
- The price, stated as per person or per group.
- Which games the upgrade covers: shuffleboard, ping-pong, foosball, the batting cage, or a subset.
- How long the upgrade lasts, by session or by booking.
- Whether it can be added on the night or only in advance.
- Whether the price changes by day or time.
The batting cage is the item most likely to be treated differently from the table games, so check it first. For a view of how cage pricing is usually framed, read how much a batting cage session costs in Southampton.
Is the unlimited gaming upgrade worth it in 2026?
Run a simple test with the quote in your hand. Take the upgrade price, multiply it by the number of people it applies to, and compare it with what the same group would spend playing each game once or twice.
| Your group | Upgrade makes sense? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Two to four friends, one game | Usually no | You will not rotate enough to use it |
| Five to ten, mixed ages | Often yes | Games run in parallel, so people keep playing |
| Birthday, stag or hen do | Often yes | Competition drives repeat rounds |
| Corporate team night | Often yes | Tournaments and rotations fill the evening |
Best for: groups that treat the evening as a tournament. Not for: anyone who wants one session and a seat.
What drives the upgrade price
The factors below shape what any venue charges for unlimited play. Treat them as questions to ask, not as 1st Base policy.
- Group size: per-person pricing scales with headcount; a group rate may not.
- Which games are included: table games only versus table games plus the cage.
- Time of booking: busy evenings and weekends can be priced differently from quieter slots.
- Session length: a longer window gives more rounds per pound.
- Occasion: private bookings for birthdays, stag and hen dos or corporate events may be quoted separately. See what it costs to hire 1st Base for a private event.
Pros and cons of the upgrade
Pros
- One decision up front, so nobody counts rounds or chases the bar for tokens.
- Suits mixed groups: 1st Base pitches the games to ages 8 to 80, so everyone can join in.
- Encourages the rotation between shuffleboard, ping-pong and foosball that makes a group night feel like an event.
Cons
- Wasted if half the group sits out and drinks.
- Easy to misread. "Unlimited" can still have exclusions, so confirm them.
- Hard to justify for a short visit.
How do you split the cost across a group?
Collect the upgrade money before the night, not after. One person pays, everyone transfers a share the same day. If the upgrade is per person, only the players pay; spectators do not need it. Read how to split payment for a group booking at 1st Base for the mechanics.
Is unlimited gaming cheaper than paying per game?
It is cheaper only when your group plays enough. Count the games you expect per person across the evening, price them pay-as-you-go from the venue's current rates, and compare with the upgrade quote. If the upgrade comes out within a round or two of the pay-as-you-go total, take it: you gain flexibility for free.
Do you need the upgrade for the batting cage?
Check this one directly. Whether the cage sits inside the upgrade is a question only the venue can answer for 2026, and the answer changes the maths for any group planning to bat. If you have never used a cage, the guide to preparing for your first batting cage session in Southampton covers what to expect.
Get the current upgrade price
Check 1st Base for the live 2026 options before you book.
FAQ
How much does the unlimited gaming upgrade cost at 1st Base?
The price is not fixed in this guide because it changes. Confirm the live 2026 figure with 1st Base when you book, and ask whether it is per person or per group.
Is the unlimited gaming upgrade worth it?
It is worth it for groups that will rotate through several games, such as parties and team nights. For one session and a drink, skip it.
What games might the upgrade cover?
1st Base offers shuffleboard, ping-pong, foosball and a batting cage. Which of these the upgrade covers must be confirmed with the venue.
Is the upgrade charged per person or per group?
Ask when you book. The answer decides whether the upgrade suits a big group or a small one.
Can I add the upgrade on the night?
Confirm this with 1st Base before you arrive. Booking ahead is the safer route if you want the price locked in.
Can kids use the upgrade?
1st Base describes its games as suitable for ages 8 to 80. Check any age rules on the upgrade itself when you ask for the quote.
One last thing
Ask for the upgrade terms by message or email so you have them in writing. If the venue's reply names the games, the price basis and the time window, you have everything you need to decide in under five minutes.
