I had the incredible opportunity to review Bridge Command, and honestly, it was a sci-fi fan’s dream come true! As soon as you step aboard, you’re transported right into the loading area of a space station, the UCS Warspite, and then into the crew mess before your mission briefing, where you can get a drink in some very cool aluminium bottles.
Once you’ve had your briefing, you step onto your starship – in my case, the UCS Havoc. The set is amazing – everything is fully interactive and immersive. The attention to detail blew me away, and it genuinely felt like being on the Enterprise! I got to be acting captain for our mission, which was both thrilling and challenging in the best possible way.
First off, the inclusivity was something I really appreciated. They cater to everyone, with jumpsuits available in sizes up to 6XL or, if you prefer, jackets. This really shows their effort to make sure anyone can jump in and enjoy the experience fully, without feeling left out.
My mission? To manage a crew of nine, made up of other visitors, and guide us through a military operation. The stakes were high, and as acting captain, I had to make sure everything ran smoothly. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t as easy as it looks! You have to keep track of everything, from navigation and weapons to comms and damage control. At one point, with enemies on our tail, we had to quickly plan a route through a minefield. My helm officer, a fellow visitor who had never done anything like this before, expertly piloted us to safety – it was an absolute thrill.
The interactive element of the set was beyond anything I’ve experienced. Every station has its own touch-screen console tailored to the officer’s role. My crew handled everything from weapons management and power balancing to radar tracking and subsystem repairs. The excitement of watching my damage control team swap out power cores, with sparks flying and smoke pouring out of the consoles, was intense – they were under so much pressure but handled it like pros.
Being able to switch my console as the captain and see what each crew member was doing was such a cool feature. Whether we were in yellow or red alert (yes, the ship’s lights change to reflect that), I could monitor the entire operation. We had moments where the engineering team had to repair systems mid-mission, with sparks flying and smoke pouring out – it added a level of immersion I wasn’t expecting.
One highlight was the drones and shuttle that can be called upon as backup. We needed them to assist with a critical part of the mission, which added a tactical layer to our strategy. It wasn’t just about shooting down enemies; we had to be smart, plan our moves, and coordinate every step of the way.
The Roles in Bridge Command
- Helm: Pilots the ship, navigating asteroids and jumping to warp. My helm officer handled it brilliantly under pressure.
- Weapons: Manages railguns, torpedoes, and shields. My weapons officer kept our defences up while launching devastating attacks on enemy ships.
- Radar: Tracks enemies and scans for tactical advantages. Radar was crucial in helping us spot threats before they could fire on us.
- Comms: Handles communication and negotiations. Our comms officer did a great job relaying vital information and negotiating when needed.
- Navigation: Plots courses and escape routes. My navigator saved us a couple of times by planning swift escapes!
- Damage Control: Repairs systems and puts out fires (literally!). When things got heated, they kept us operational with quick repairs.
- Power Management: Balances power across all ship systems. They had to make tough choices about where to divert energy – shields or weapons?
- Captain: That was me! Managing the whole crew, making critical decisions, and keeping everyone calm under pressure.
As the acting captain, leading this team through a high-stakes mission was such a thrill. The pressure of managing everything at once made it feel so real, and I couldn’t have done it without my incredible crew – all of them first-timers who were visitors just like me. Despite none of us being professionals, we worked together like a well-oiled machine, and by the end, we’d completed the mission with zero casualties. I was incredibly proud of that, and the shared experience made the whole event even more enjoyable.
The promotion system is a brilliant touch as well. I was promoted to sub-lieutenant during the mission, and what’s amazing is that this rank sticks with you. So, when I go back (and trust me, I will), I’ll return with my newly earned rank and continue my career as an officer. It’s a feature that really adds a sense of progression and makes you want to come back for more. It’s not just a one-off experience – it’s something you can build on with each visit.
Overall, Bridge Command is a must-do for any Star Trek fan, but it’s not just for Trekkies. Anyone who loves sci-fi or immersive experiences will have an absolute blast. The set, the interactive technology, the incredible crew, and the attention to detail all come together to create an unforgettable adventure.
If you’ve ever dreamed of being on the bridge of a starship, commanding a crew through dangerous space missions, this is the place for you. I couldn’t recommend it more. Five stars – and I’m already planning my next visit to continue my journey as sub-lieutenant!
Tickets start from £50 per person. Private bookings are also available.