15/03/2026
Blackstone CQB NEWS!
Greetings to all!
Wow! How time whips by! Blackstone CQB opened in November 2024 and here we are in 2026!
We have been working very hard behind the scenes to upgrade the layout, decoration, SFX and include extra themes (ZOMBIES!) for you all to enjoy!
The addition of our £20 Wednesday and Friday EVENING Games have proven very popular and we will continue to run those, along with other Themed Evening Games such as “Fright Night” and the soon to be announced “Cops & Robbers” Games!
Many of you are aware that the Site is “reset” every week in regards to maintenance, cleaning, sweeping and repairing. We are DEDICATED to ensuring we deliver a Fun, Friendly, Immersive, value for money experience!
Your support is greatly appreciated and really helps keep the Site running – thank you all very much.
So…let’s mention some great news!
Week commencing the 23rd of March we will be undertaking the biggest build to the Game area since we opened! We are building an “extension” above the chicane near the long stairs and post office. If you know the Site, imagine you are upstairs looking out from the MG Nest Window toward the Long Stairs: that is where we are building a whole new double room with multiple doors and windows. At the moment it is “dead space” – so with this addition it will certainly add more space for you to use!
NOTE: for this reason, there will be NO Wednesday Evening Game on the 25th of March – sorry.
We are planning to run Friday 27th of March Evening Game if all goes to plan!
With over a Year of feedback, we have adapted and changed things to improve the Gameplay and overall experience at Blackstone CQB and we promise to continue to do just that.
The Site layout is 98% as we want it, but always has room for improvement!
The Video Safety Brief will be updated sometime soon to reflect additions to the Site and streamline it a lot more and we plan to have different Marshals record the Briefing, so you never know who you are going to get! 😊
As many of you know, RIFT Airsoft is a huge advocate of “all things Airsoft” – our policy is to Welcome everyone to come and play, have fun, be nice and be a part of the great Airsoft Community!
Feedback from players and Marshals is paramount and we will always listen and see if we can make changes to balance and Gameplay. Over a long period of time, we have been gathering feedback regarding the use of Auto Shotguns, HPA setups, rate of fire and general trigger discipline!
The Marshal Team does a great Job with regards to “issues” that are reported, however it is very hard to be in the right place at the right time when an issue is raised.
One change we are making from the 1st of April on a “TRIAL” basis is to lower the HPA Limit, starting at 0.84J, and then up to 1 Joule. We will check results and go from there. To be clear - this is NOT an attack on HPA users - we just need a "tweak" at Blackstone CQB 😊
HPA Systems are AMAZING and deliver a consistent “on the limit” performance that is not always as easily matched by AEG or GBB Rifs (that’s why HPA is so popular now!)
As many of you know, Blackstone CQB is VERY, VERY close indeed (average engagement is point blank to less than 12 Meters!)
So, as mentioned, we will TRIAL different limits and LISTEN / OBSERVE & gather feedback, then lock in the result. (we will always listen and adapt to genuine feedback) 👍
Blackstone CQB is YOUR SITE – you play it and we want everyone to have a great time!
Soon, we are also looking to launch a NEW Website, along with a Digital Sign-In System when you arrive at Blackstone!!
It’s all in the early stages now but we are working hard in the background.
Summer is approaching (sooner than later, we hope!) and we are looking to get the Game Area Airconditioned, so, even when it is baking outside, you can run around in a cooler environment!
Fingers crossed we can get a good quote!
Slightly “Off Topic”
Our BIG EVENT “Shift Your Rifts 2026” in Abingdon on the 23rd & 24th of May will sadly mean we have to CLOSE Blackstone for our usual Games -BUT- we can be available for Private Booking, so this is a great time to rent Blackstone at the Weekend if you have 20+ players!
Please email: [email protected]
So, just to wrap things up – THANK YOU for your support and we look forward to seeing you all real soon! 😊
Best wishes to all,
Tony @ RIFT~HQ.
