Hollywood Bowl sits inside The Rock, so a game of bowling can be bolted on to a trip into Bury for shoes or the market. There are 24 lanes. For small children the centre says bumpers go up on any lane, lighter balls are on the rack, and there are ramps so a three-year-old can roll the ball down without help. Under-16s pay junior prices. An arcade and pool tables sit alongside for the inevitable wait between turns.
The cheapest way in on the offers page is eat, drink and bowl from £8.50: one game, a burger or hot dog with fries and a squash for juniors. Three games start at £10 each. The 2 games and 2 drinks deal does not run in school holidays. Allow about 45 minutes a game for a group of up to six. Outside food is not allowed, the diner serves to the lane, and the centre says halal options are available here.
Weekend mornings open at 9am, which is the time to go with young children. Friday and Saturday nights, wet weekends and the school holidays are when it fills up, and the centre says lanes can go hours ahead, so book online if the day matters. Walk-ins get a lane only if one is free. The arcade is the hidden cost: set a budget before anyone sees the claw machines.
What it costs: Three games from £10 a person and eat, drink and bowl (one game, a burger or hot dog with fries and a drink) from £8.50. Junior pricing for under-16s. The 2 games and 2 drinks deal (from £15.50) is not available in school holidays. Open Mon to Thu 11am to 10pm, Fri 11am to midnight, Sat 9am to midnight, Sun 9am to 11pm; hours change in school holidays.
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