Offers of Paintball Leeds

Taking a look at the UK’s collection of historical weapons and armour at the Royal Armories Museum is a must during any visit to Leeds. Unfortunately, or perhaps wisely, you can’t get your hands on these historic artefacts or find out what it was like to be there on the battlefields when they were used. So to anyone leaving the museum with an itchy trigger finger, we recommend paintball - the most exhilarating combat simulation sport around.

Unlike the muskets, revolvers and other antiquated arms in the museum collection, a paintball gun, known as a marker, doesn’t fire lethal rounds. Instead you’ll stock up on gelatin balls full of brightly coloured dye before taking to the arena to try to cover your enemies from head to toe in paint. Getting hit has no risk of serious injury, but it hurts enough to encourage you to think about your strategy! Not far from Leeds you’ll find several paintball centres in woodland settings that will give you the thrill you’re looking for at a price which might surprise you. This is the perfect way to change up your routine, escape from the stresses of daily life and live out your fantasies.

Where are the best paintball fields in Leeds?

• Branham Park: Near the site of Leeds music festival, you’ll find the perfect place for a paintballing adventure. The centre was founded in 1986 so they’ve got decade’s worth of experience providing reliable, entertaining and innovative paintball mayhem. You’ll use top of the range rapid fire guns and take part in game modes as diverse as a tank assault and recreation of the US Civil War Battle of Gettysburg. They’re also equipped to let youngsters join in with special, low power paintball markers. If you spend a day here, you’re bound to be back before long.

• Brighouse: This is site in the Huddersfield area which is easily reached from Leeds. The action takes place in the hybrid natural/man-made environment of trees, bushes, bunkers and forts. Exploiting your surroundings will be as important as being the bravest in the arena if you’re going to come out on top. You can up the ante by getting your hands on a couple of smoke grenades to blind your enemies or hide your movements, before making a Jackson Pollock of them with a volley of paint.

• Wakefield: Whenever you travel South from the city centre, you probably pass a fantastic paintball centre without even noticing. Perhaps that’s not surprising given that it’s in a woodland setting, but once you discover this hidden gem you won’t be able to keep it a secret from your friends and family. There are 12 different games to enjoy, enough to go back again and again without repeating anything, and the venue is so well designed, the highlight being an 80 foot Soviet Missile, that you’ll completely forget about the worries and stresses of normal life and focus on the carnage!

Options for organising an experience

- The paintball games around leads are run by experienced marshals who are passionate about the sport and want everyone to have a good time. The best way to do this is to keep things dynamic. An individual game is typically about 20 - 30 minutes long, and your booking will be a full or half day session which includes up to 14 games. This means that you constantly have to rethink your tactics, adapt to new surroundings and team up with different players. It also means no team will ever dominate the field, or be dominated for too long. The breaks in between games are a good chance to swap stories about the previous mission, have some refreshments, and restock on ammo.

- So what kinds of games are you going to play in Leeds? Well, it could be any of the following or more: Alpha Base, Fuel Dump, Tomb Raider, a Trench Too Far, Pilot Down, or Inferno. If you want to find out what they involve, you’ll have to start planning your visit. They all take place in specially designed zones where the mission is fused with the environment to create an immersive experience that you won’t want to end.

Requirements to do this activity

We’ve mentioned that getting hit by a paintball can hurt, but there are safety practices in place to make sure that no one is put off playing. The marshals will kit you out with a camouflage overall to make you harder to hit in the first place, as well as a mask with eye protection and some gloves. All this is enough to allow teens and adults to have a good time without worrying about impacts. In order for children to take part, there are special low-impact paintball markers available which kids can use in a separate game - called Mini Paintball or Splatmaster - away from the full size guns. This is suitable for ballers as young as 7 or 8 years old.

There’s nothing like enjoying this activity with a group of people who are important to you. Whether you’re working together to triumph over adversity, or trying to blast each other to kingdom come, it’s more fun to be with people you know than strangers. It has been a favourite for stag parties for years because you can have a great time with your mates away from the stresses of wedding plans - and you can make it even more fun by dressing the groom up as a stag! But it’s also a lot of fun for hen parties, and here there’s the option to organise a session marshalled by women only, so that everyone can focus on having a good time.

What do you need to bring the day of the activity?

The first thing to get right is your attitude. This isn’t going to be a fashionable day out for uploading to your Instagram story - one of these days will leave you tired, muddy, but most of all, smiling from ear to ear! To keep you going throughout the day bring plenty of water and snacks, as well as some cash to buy stuff onsite. You’ll probably want to buy some more paintballs as well so be prepared for that. It’s also important to think about the weather and the terrain, and choose some good footwear - and maybe a spare pair of shoes if it’s wet and muddy. The rest of the equipment will be provided, so just wear some comfortable, sporty clothes and you’re ready to go!

Who knew paint could be so fun? Enjoy it to the max here by booking - now.