A BARROW couple is bringing a new type of party experience to the area.

Ryan Slater and partner Shannon Leith, who both work full-time at BAE, have launched R1R2 Gaming using their wedding fund to get the gaming business on the road.

The company's gaming van is fully equipped with eight monitors, four Xbox series X's, four Playstation 5's, black leather, upholstered seats, LED lighting and a Bluetooth audio system. 

The van holds 16 children or eight adults for custom parties or other events, including corporate, team building days.

"We're a local, family-run business hoping to bring something unique to the town", said Ryan. "We bought a van last year and converted it.

"We went live over the weekend and it's been crazy. May is now more or less fully booked already.

"We're looking forward to the future."

The name comes from the couple's two children three-year-old River, who was born in lockdown, and Rauri, who turns one in May.

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Ryan added: "It's a different type of party to your normal type of children's party or wedding. There are not many places locally offering a unique party system.

"It's also a mess-free type of party, where parents don't have to worry so much.

"It's a different type of vibe, rather than kids sitting in the house, it keeps them out of the house and hassle off parents.

"We bring the party to you and offer different packages."

Bronze, silver and gold packages, which include two hours of gaming, VIP passes and party bags, are being offered, as well as FIFA tournament events, where participants can go head-to-head in league games and player-to-player in competitions. Winners receive a custom R1R2 Gaming trophy 

To celebrate the launch, R1R2 Gaming, who will be at Fudstock Festival in Barrow and WoodFest23 in Milnthorpe this July, is giving away a free, two-hour gaming party on its Facebook page. The winner will be announced on May 1.

At the festivals, the company will be running competitions, where gamers can win prizes.

This year marks the return of Fudstock two years after the event was marred by a serious fairground incident.