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Owner – and lead madman of The Gaming Hub – Paul Pearson tells Emily Moore how an impulse purchase led to a new career with a dual focus on fun and building and supporting communities
IT started out as an ordinary day in May 2021. Paul Pearson got up, turned his attention to work and then took a break in the afternoon, during which he started scrolling through his Facebook feed.
And that was when the hitherto unremarkable day took a somewhat unexpected turn, and saw Paul transform from a self-employed architectural technician to owner of an e-sports company.
“It was a mad decision,” admitted the owner – and self-described lead madman – of The Gaming Hub. “I saw the post on Facebook and decided there and then to buy it.”
While no stranger to impulsive decisions, Paul acknowledges that he should, perhaps, have thought that one through a little further.
“It went completely against my professional life but gaming speaks to me in a way that nothing else does,” he said. “Having said that, when I realised how outdated the business was, and how its business model had collapsed during Covid, I instantly regretted my impulsiveness.”
But as his entrepreneurial spirit combined with his childhood love of gaming, Paul was determined not to give up.
“Realising that a change in direction was necessary, I refocused the business on the entertainment space, starting to host children’s parties and holding workshops,” he explained. “That was successful enough to persuade me the following year to invest a significant amount of money in expanding the business.”
That investment proved to be a sound one, with the business going “from strength to strength” until, around 18 months later, a “massive leak” forced Paul to close the company’s doors for a number of weeks.
And it was during that closure that the former Bambola shop at the Parade became available, taking Paul a step closer to fulfilling a long-cherished dream.
“I have always wanted to have a centre where everyone can come together, socialise, have fun and meet like-minded people,” he said, “and that is why The Gaming Hub, as it stands today, was born.”
In many ways, that dream stems from one of Paul’s “fondest memories”.
“I started playing video games when I was 12 years old, and I’ve always had a passion for gaming,” he reflected. “I love getting lost in this fantasy environment, and in the pre-internet era, I used to love going to arcades and playing everything from Mario to shooting games. But it wasn’t just computer games which I loved. I was also a massive reader and I loved chess and jigsaw puzzles. I was just a massive fan of the whole gaming spectrum.
“One of my fondest memories comes from when I was in my late teens, when I worked in the IT department of a pharmaceutical company. Once a month, my friends and I would hire a hall, take our computers and big screens and spend a whole day playing games against each other.
“People tend to think of gaming as being something you do on your own, sitting in front of a screen but, for me, there was always a massive social side to it. I love the strategy and the challenges the games present but talking to people about the games, interacting with them and competing against them is so important, and that’s what I want to capture with The Gaming Hub.”
And while he may not quite yet have recreated – in gaming form – the “internet cafés of years ago”, he has captured much of his dream.
“The Gaming Hub offers somewhere for people to come together, be sociable and have access to computers, consoles and games that they may not have at home,” he said.
“While the emphasis is very much on fun, the experiences we offer go beyond that, helping to support and build various communities.”
Indeed, Paul and his team host events every day, working with individuals, charities and schools including Autism Jersey, Les Amis and Mont á l’Abbé School, with the latter holding enrichment sessions at the hub every week.
“Historically, people have looked at digital gaming as a waste of time, but what is often overlooked is the way that this activity can break down barriers, particularly among people on the ADHD or autism spectrum or who have other neurodiverse needs,” he said.
Demonstrating the value this can bring to people, Paul is clearly touched by the example of one such young boy whose life has been “transformed” by his experience at The Gaming Hub.
“This young lad was incredibly shy and had no friends. In fact, he was bullied relentlessly at school,” Paul recalled. “His mum was beside herself, as she didn’t know how to help him. The first time he came into the hub, he sat down by himself, played games but didn’t say a word. But he came back and, after a few visits, a very chatty young lad sat down next to him and started talking to him.
“From that point on, they were inseparable, and this shy lad came out of his shell and became a completely different child. As he gained in confidence, the bullying stopped and he started making more friends. For his 14th birthday, he had his first-ever birthday party, held at the hub, and it was incredibly emotional to see him, surrounded by friends, happier than he had ever been, and it was his experience at the hub which kickstarted that change in his life.”
And that lad is by no means the only visitor who Paul has supported.
“Most of my staff have neurodiverse requirements, as do a lot of our clients, so it is really important to me that we create an environment where they feel accepted and comfortable,” he said.
Adding to that focus on inclusivity, the hub offers a wide range of activities from digital gaming to board games and card games, with the centre hosting trading nights for collectors of football or Pokémon cards.
“We also host birthday parties, we have Dungeon Masters who deliver Dungeons and Dragons experiences for children or adults, and we have recently added Nerf balls and guns to our collection, which are ideal for children’s parties,” he said. “In those instances, we go to a community hall or garden and set up a battle arena in which we run a series of games for about 90 minutes, giving the children as much fun as possible while enabling the parents to relax.”
People don’t want to sit in front of the television or go to the pub all the time. They want to have experiences with their friends, and we create that opportunity for them to spend time with existing friends, meet other likeminded people and pick up a new hobby in a really relaxed environment
The Gaming Hub also runs a membership scheme for adults, and welcomes beginners to come in and learn how to play certain games.
“I’m really keen to help lead people into a new hobby because I think adults – or big kids – need a way to relax and have some fun after a day of work,” said Paul.
“People don’t want to sit in front of the television or go to the pub all the time. They want to have experiences with their friends, and we create that opportunity for them to spend time with existing friends, meet other like-minded people and pick up a new hobby in a really relaxed environment.
“And that’s what I would stress about gaming. It’s not just about being in front of a screen. It is very sociable. It invites conversation and encourages people to interact with one another in a non-work setting where they can make friends and be part of a community.”
That community aspect is, Paul adds, fundamental to The Gaming Hub.
“I am a workaholic, but I love the quiet moments we have when people talk to me and tell me their life stories,” he said. “We are here to listen to them if they are going through a difficult time. It’s often easier for them to come and say ‘have you got time for a game?’, during which they will then chat about whatever is on their mind than it is for them to go somewhere more formal, and I am really proud of the fact that we have created that support network.”
It is a support network which Paul is determined to continue, as The Gaming
Hub looks for new premises for next year.
“This property is going to be redeveloped, so as we look for a new home, I am hoping to find somewhere which will enable me to expand the business a little bit, offering food in addition to the games and perhaps growing our offer to include virtual reality experiences.
“While not everything will happen overnight, I am still committed to building that place where people will come, socialise, have fun and form a massive community where the emphasis is on interacting and enjoying yourself,” he said.
“We all work hard, so we should have fun when we can, and I want to create that place where fun can flourish and communities can grow.”
