Gameshow All-Stars Sheffield: We tried the new bar where you can take on friends at your favourite TV shows

Do you find yourself shouting at contestants on your favourite TV game show, or love taking your partner on at the Countdown conundrum?

If so, the latest new bar at Orchard Square in Sheffield city centre could be just the place to put your money where your mouth is and prove you have what it takes when the pressure's really on.

Gameshow All-Stars lets you experience the buzz of being a contestant at some of the nation's most popular television game shows, from Who Wants to be a Millionaire? to Play Your Cards Right.

The names may be slightly different, for copyright reasons - so Countdown becomes Word Race, Play Your Cards Right is simply Higher or Lower, and Wheel of Fortune is Winners Wheel - but it all looks and feels very similar to the real thing.

The 'activity' bar is part of the new trend of so-called 'competitive socialising', where games are as much a part of a night out as the drinks and conversation, from ping pong to axe throwing.

While not being averse to the odd game of pool or darts at the pub, I've never felt the need for much more than good friends, good drinks and good conversation. But this felt a bit different so I thought I'd give it a go.

It's a simple set-up, with about half a dozen games, testing all your skills, from general knowledge to word skills and reaction times - with a fair sprinkling of luck added.

Fastest Contestant First is a very thinly disguised take on the opening round of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, with a life-size cut-out of Chris Tarrant (sorry, Jeremy Clarkson) to keep you company.

Even without the glare of the studio lights and the pressure of millions of eyes upon you, it still feels a step up from playing from the comfort of your sofa, but it's a whole lot more fun - despite there being no chance of walking away with a million pounds.

The games have been given a slight twist - so for Countdown, or Word Race, there's a 'danger conundrum', meaning if you come up with the wrong word you risk losing all your points. It's a nice touch which adds a welcome element of jeopardy and is a bit of a leveller.

Groups of two to 30 are welcome, and with the introductory offer it's just £10 to play all the games, which in these days of soaring costs feels like a real bargain.

When The Star visited, there was a group of council staff on a work night out and a wedding party celebrating in unique style after the happy couple tied the knot earlier that day.

The biggest cheers were for Buzzer Beater, where you compete to hit the coloured lights on a 5X5 grid as fast as possible.

Richard Adams and Kirsty Barker were among those cheering on their colleagues. They said: "We just wanted something a bit different and this is great. Our favourites so far are Fastest Contestant First and Word Race. You are under a bit of pressure with everyone watching but it's great fun and I'd definitely recommend it."

Newlyweds Kelly and Isa Scargill were having a ball playing Plink Plonk - the bar's take on Plinko, from The Price is Right, where you take it in turns to drop counters and try to score as much as possible without wiping yourself out by landing on the skull and crossbones.

"We were looking for something really fun to do with out friends after our wedding meal and when this popped up on Instagram it looked perfect," said Kelly.

"I used to be a big gameshow fan when I was younger and this is brilliant. You can sabotage people in this game but we're too nice. We're so glad we decided to come here."

Gameshow All-Stars, the entrance to which is on Leopold Street, comes from the team behind the popular Sheffield escape room, The Great Escape Game, which has been running since 2015.

Owner Hannah Duraid said the reactions so far have been great, with visitors ranging from singletons on a first date (no, they didn't fall out after playing the games and had arranged a second date by the end of the evening) to large work groups doing some team bonding.

"Some people are really competitive, others less so. It's very different from The Great Escape Game, which is quite insular in a way because you stay in your team," said Hannah.

"With this, everyone's playing together and rooting for one another when they're not playing, so it's easy to meet people and get talking."

The themed cocktails are a great idea, with drinks including the Taskmaster, made with apple brandy, peach, lemon and egg white, or Deal or No Deal, consisting of vodka, mint, lime and prosecco. There's a box to open with the Deal or No Deal cocktail, while the Taskmaster tipple comes with a task, from 'do the splits' to 'go up to a stranger and play paper, scissors, stone'.

There's a deal too with the recently opened Proove Pizza downstairs at Orchard Square so people can order food to be delivered to the bar and eat while they play.

Everyone gets a programme card on which to record their scores, but it's not about the points really, though Hannah says they are compiling the scores and plan to include the top score for each game for people to try to beat.

Even if, like me, you're a bit dubious about the idea of 'competitive socialising', this is definitely worth a go.

You may not walk away with a million pounds but you're almost certain to leave with a big grin on your face and you might even make some new friends along the way.

Visit: www.gameshowallstars.co.uk.