A family have opened an entertainment centre that transports visitors to the increasingly popular world of virtual reality after being inspired by TikTok videos.

Reporter Alex Langridge headed to Orb Virtual Reality, in Gravesend, to strap on a headset.

It used to be a tanning salon but the lamps are long gone.

The retail unit, nestled between the Wheatsheaf pub and a barbers off the one-way system, in Darnley Road, has been given an overhaul by manager Humaira Farooq and her family.

Where tans were once topped up now stands state-of-the-art gaming technology that makes this one of the first venues of its kind in Kent.

I opt to try out one of its exclusive games – a 360 VR chair.

It involves putting on a VR headset and getting strapped into a seat similar to a rollercoaster.

And just like a rollercoaster, it can spin and turn you upside down.

Options include either a 360 or 180 degree ride or a number of games. I tried one of the more popular games where you are transported into space and have to shoot down enemy ships while being flung left, right and sideways.

Humaira warned that it was one of their more intense games but being a lover of rollercoasters I thought I would be fine. I was wrong.

It lasted for six minutes but that was enough to have me feeling sick all evening. That said, it was incredibly fun while I was on it.

The graphics and game mode was impressive to the point you forget where you are and are immersed into the world you are playing.

And that's the whole point. Humaira said the entertainment hub was set up to offer a fully immersive VR experience.

As well as the 360 VR chair, the centre has escape rooms, an arcade, a "full-motion" racing simulator and a roam room, where visitors can wander about in a virtual environment playing games.

The family, who also live in the area, already had an interest in VR technology but were inspired to make it into a business after it seeing videos on TikTok of people trying it out.

Humaira said: "The technology is so expensive, it is not accessible to everyday people. We wanted to create a safe space for people to use it.

"We had this idea just before Covid hit and had the space to do it. We thought if we do not do it now it will be irrelevant because the industry changes so much.

"At so many points we were asking ourselves if we should do it but it is something we have wanted to try as a family and we knew there was not anything like this here."

Humaira, who manages the business along with her older brother Ali Farooq, 25, said the family had played VR experiences in London and wanted to bring that to their home town.

"We have grown up in Gravesend so we wanted to bring something to the town rather than anywhere else," Humaira added.

"Everyone says there is nothing like this here so we wanted to bring this investment to the town and give people another reason to visit."

Humaira said the venue is one of the first fully-immersive VR centres in the county, offering a completely different experience to what is already out there.

The 22-year-old added: "It has been popular and the responses from people have been really good.

"Everyone finishes the games, takes the headset off and cannot believe they are still in Gravesend.

"I think people are curious of what VR is as opposed to being scared of it. We have had so many people come in and around 90% have not done it before.

"We have had a lot of customers come in to just ask what is going on after walking past and seeing what is inside."

Some of the games are commercial and will be well-known by customers but others have been developed by technology companies with input from the family so it is tailored to their customers.

"The possibilities are endless with VR. It is constantly changing so every time people come back it will be different," Humaira added. "We are hoping to get some more technology.

"Our long-term goal is to open up more locations across Kent but for now we are focussing on establishing ourselves here and expand this site first."

Orb Virtual Reality is open on weekdays, excluding Tuesdays, from 2pm to 9pm and until 10pm on Friday and weekends from 11am to 9pm.