Bowl Central to open 7-lane bowling alley in Reading town centre

Bournemouth-based bowling alley firm Bowl Central are branching out into the Thames Valley. Plans have just been announced for them to open their third site, just a couple of minutes' walk from Reading train station.

The 'Pins & Prizes' venue will, subject to licensing and planning, open up in the large unit recently vacated by music shop Dawson's on Caversham Road.

If the plan goes ahead, it will see Reading gain seven lanes of bowling, as well as a venue boasting shuffleboard, electronic darts and a range of fun paper token-based games.

A licensed bar is also planned, as is food. The idea being that the venue will effectively be dual purpose, with it serving as a family-friendly site during the day and a destination for fun-loving adults at night.

Bowl Central looks to be part of a minor bowling and family entertainment revolution in Reading. Although there's been no public update on the agreement since the announcement some time ago, Hollywood Bowl still appear to be taking over part of the site of the old House of Fraser in The Oracle. So too do an adventure golf company. Although there is some doubt over the deal, with rumours suggesting The Oracle may now be keeping House of Fraser and switching their leisure focus to the empty former Debenhams site.

In summer of last year, 2-lane bowling alley, crazy golf and darts venue and cocktail bar Spinners opened at the Broad Street Mall with some success.

Timescales for the new Bowl Central in Reading are vague at the moment, but it seems as if a 2023 opening date is likely.

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