Leicester is getting a shiny new place to throw axes, sink pool balls, eat tacos and make a fool of yourself at the darts this Christmas.

Rocket Room is opening at Highcross Leicester this December, taking over a 4,000 sq ft space in St Peter’s Square for what will be the activity bar brand’s second venue and its first fully standalone site.

And yes, there’s a pleasing bit of geography involved here. Having launched its first Rocket Room at Market Place Food Hall in Leicester Square earlier this year, the brand is now making the journey from Leicester Square to, well, Leicester.

The new venue is going big on competitive socialising. Inside, you’ll find four AI-powered darts lanes, two shuffleboards, an axe-throwing lane and two pool tables, all arranged around a large cocktail bar serving cocktails, beer and wine.

Because hurling an axe across a room apparently works up an appetite, Leicester will also be the first Rocket Room with a full food menu.

The kitchen will major on elevated Mexican-inspired food, with dishes including pork carnitas tacos, Baja fish tacos, loaded barbacoa fries and char-grilled bavette with chimichurri.

Rocket Room says it wants its spaces to feel a little more grown-up than the traditional dark, neon-heavy games bar. The idea is somewhere that works as a light, open social space during the day before turning up the atmosphere after dark.

And there’s one combination in particular that the brand reckons has become something of a calling card: axe throwing and cocktails.

What could possibly go wrong?

The Leicester opening follows the arrival of Rocket Room at Market Place Food Hall in Leicester Square in April 2026. That venue has capacity for 120 people and proved the testing ground for the concept before the company began looking further afield.

Founder Mike Pearson said Highcross would be the first of several Midlands locations the company is targeting.

“Leicester Square has been a fantastic introduction for Rocket Room. It has built us a strong following and given us the systems and processes we need to grow.

“Highcross is the right second location and the first of a number of Midlands sites we have targeted for the coming year.”

For Highcross, meanwhile, the arrival adds another leisure venue to St Peter’s Square as shopping centres increasingly look beyond shops to food, drink and things people can actually do.

Highcross centre director Michelle Menezes said the venue would bring “a new level of fun, energy and interactivity” to the area in time for Christmas.

She added: “After the success of its Leicester Square opening earlier this year, it feels only right that they should head to Leicester to open their first standalone venue.”

Rocket Room certainly isn’t planning on stopping in Leicester. The privately funded business says it intends to grow to 15 venues over the next two years, with further openings planned for 2027.

For now, though, Leicester gets first dibs.

Rocket Room will open at Highcross Leicester in December 2026. An exact opening date and launch offers are expected to be announced shortly.