Former Funland worker aims to bring beloved arcade back from the dead

Wednesday 15 March 2023

A former employee of Funland - which burnt down in one of the worst fires in Jersey's history - is hoping to revive the iconic 1970s and 1980s hangout next month.

Organised by former IQ owner Tim Evans, the 'Ghost of Funland' event aims to revive a little of the spirit - if not the body - of the former Castle Street hotspot.

"It's a hark back, a homage to Funland. It was a rather special place," said Tim, who is organising the event alongside his wife Lydia.

The original Funland was destroyed in a blaze on the 29 July 2000 in what was, at the time, the island's largest fire in 50 years.

The site was reportedly undergoing repair work, when the fire broke out after sparks ignited combustible sawdust waste that covered the nightclub's floor. 

"When it burnt down, it signalled the end of that era, it was sort of the last of its kind in Jersey," Tim said. 

Pictured: A graphic representation of the SpaceBox, the new semi-permanent event space designed by Tim Evans, which will host the 'Ghost of Funland' event.

Tim was an employee at the original Funland, working in the workshop at the back helping to strip the old machines.

"I just remember thinking, surely we can save some of these machines!"

Prompted by his time at Funland, Tim developed a "passion" for 1980s era arcade machines, which he has been collecting for the last few years.

His collection, consisting of approximately 30 machines, will be free for islanders to use at the 'Ghost of Funland' event this April.  

Islanders can play Pinball, Asteroids, Tron, Tempest, Space Invaders and many more great classic games in the pop-up SpaceBox. Designed by Tim, the SpaceBox is an aluminium structure with a marquee outer skin which will provide a temporary event space that feels like a room, rather than a tent. It will have its own lights, sound and a proper floor. 

Those hoping to rekindle their 80s nostalgia will be able to book a two hour slot in the SpaceBox, in which all the games will be free to play - "you don't have to have bags of change with you," Tim noted.

Importantly, Tim says that all the background music will be authentically 80s. 

"We're all realising that the 1980s was a bit of a special era, it really was the last of its kind. You know, you had the 1980s, then the 90s and it's all gone wrong from there...I feel like young people today look at the 1980s the way I would have looked at the 1960s." 

The event will be running from Saturday 8th April to Sunday 16th April at the Weighbridge with three sessions daily, each lasting for two hours.

Pictured: Tim Evans with his wife Lydia and son Luther (inset), and the pinball machines in the original Funland in 1979. (JEP archive)