Get ready Glasgow, your favourite playground is officially 20 years old and it is throwing the ultimate noughties house party this Valentine’s weekend.
From Friday 14 to Sunday 16 February 2026, GRID Braehead will transform into a full-on 2000s time machine with free live DJs blasting classic anthems, Nokia ringtone races for prizes, retro gaming zones and surprise giveaways running from midday until 6pm each day.
Two Decades of Pure Fun Under One Roof
What started life as Xscape Braehead back in March 2006 has grown into Scotland’s biggest indoor entertainment destination.
Today GRID Braehead packs in Climbzone, Paradise Island Adventure Golf, Gravity Active trampoline park, Laser Station, an Odeon cinema, ten-pin bowling, arcade zones and a stack of bars and restaurants, all in one giant building beside the shopping centre and arena.
Over 20 million visitors have passed through the doors in those two decades, making it a proper West End institution for families, teens and date nights.
What’s Happening This Weekend
The birthday weekend is completely free to enter and everyone is invited.
Here’s the lineup that has already got Glasgow buzzing:
- Live DJ spinning nothing but 2000s bangers from Britney to Busted, OutKast to Oasis
- The legendary Nokia ringtone challenge, when you hear that classic tone blast out, sprint to the DJ booth and the first person there wins instant vouchers for food or activities
- Retro gaming stations with Dance Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero and old-school PlayStation setups
- Free face painting and balloon modelling for kids
- Pop-up photo booths with flip phones, Tamagotchis and low-rise jeans props
- Random prize drops throughout the weekend including free climbing sessions, golf rounds and cinema tickets
Centre manager Lynne Glover told us: “We wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone who has made the last 20 years so special. The noughties was when we opened, so bringing back that music, those games and that pure carefree vibe feels exactly right.”
Why Locals Love GRID Braehead All Year Round
Ask any Glasgow family where they go when the weather turns and nine times out of ten the answer is Braehead.
Rain, hail or snow, you can spend a full day here without stepping outside once.
Parents love that kids can burn energy on trampolines or climbing walls while they grab a coffee or jump in next door for some retail therapy at the shopping centre.
Teenagers treat it like their second home on weekends, meeting up for laser tag, mini golf showdowns or just hanging out in the food court.
And couples still pick the Odeon or a meal at Five Guys or Tony Macaroni for easy date nights that never get old.
One mum from Paisley said: “My eldest learned to climb here when he was six. Now he brings his own kids. That’s three generations on the same walls. Where else does that happen?”
The Numbers Behind 20 Epic Years
- 20 million+ visitors since opening
- Over 500,000 people through the doors every single month
- Home to Scotland’s only indoor real-snow slope (now Ryze Glasgow)
- Hosts more than 300 birthday parties every single month
- Employs over 600 local staff across all attractions
Those stats show why the place still feels as fresh on a random Tuesday in February as it did on opening weekend back in 2006.
Two decades on and GRID Braehead remains the one spot that genuinely has something for every single age group, every mood and every budget.
So dust off your best 2000s playlist, charge up your imagination and head down this weekend.
Because when that Nokia tune drops and the whole place erupts, you will remember exactly why this big friendly giant of a building has been putting smiles on Glasgow faces for 20 straight years.
See you on the dancefloor.
What are your favourite GRID Braehead memories from the last 20 years? Drop them in the comments below and let’s keep the party going.
