Video game booths introduced at mall to keep men occupied while women shop

A shopping mall in China has installed video game booths in order to keep men occupied whilst their wives or girlfriends are shopping.

Global Harbour, the largest mall in Shanghai, launched “husband hatches” where people can play games whilst their other halves browse the shops.

The hatches are encased in glass boxes – so as not to disturb other shoppers – and have enough space for one person to sit and play.

They have been installed as part of a month-long trial and have received mixed responses from shoppers.

One man told Chinese news site Thepaper.cn that the idea was “the best of both worlds”.

“The girlfriend can take her time shopping while I have some fun without disturbing others,” he added.

But one frustrated woman said it was “impossible to stop a man playing games”, adding: “I may now have to wait for him when I finish shopping.”