Staff took away my drink in front of my because I left it on the side, then got me kicked out because I told him it was my drink. Am example of how rude and ignorant most of the staff where read more

I love the lanes, it has everything; bowling, karaoke, pizza, music, a great selection of booze, a vintage clothes boutique, a great club night ! On every Saturday night (apart from one a month, can't remember if it's the first or the last -soz) they have a club night called "department s" run by Bristol legend Jon The Mod and his lovely other half Jamie (Jamie runs the gimme shelter vintage boutique in the foyer of the venue) Jon has been playing in various bristol venues for donkey's years (ever since I can remember) he specialises in 60s Garage Beats, Northern Soul, 60's GROOVES, Rock and Roll, Two Tone, Tamla, Alt 80's, MOD and INDIE Anthems - ( I stole that bit from his website ) It's guaranteed to be a good night and quite often there will be a band playing, last week was the gimme Hendrix experience, a fantastic Jimi Hendrix tribute band, there is also a large courtyard for smokers but it's also a nice place to sit if you need to cool down a bit from all the dancing ! read more

The Lanes - Bowling Near Me - Bristol, BST

It still surprises me that before The Lanes came along a couple of years ago, there are no bowling alleys in the heart of Bristol, the nearest being a drive away in St Phillips or Cribbs Causeway. The premise of a retro bowling lane sounds like a fantastic idea but I was a little surprised the first time I cam here because the interior is quite dull and plain, though I guess this is because there are so many different events here throughout the week. Along with a full bar there is a restaurant at the back which serves great 50s diner classics such as burgers, pizzas and deli style sandwiches - all served with fries of course! If you don't fancy an alcoholic drink then I would suggest sampling one of the delicious milkshakes - if you're eating a burger then you might as well really go the whole hog and indulge! Hiring a bowling lane is quite pricey but when split between six of you (the maximum per lane I think) then it's not too costly. There are also great vintage fairs here every month which are worth a visit if you want to look the part next time you bowl. read more

The Lanes - Bowling Near Me - Bristol, BST

Picture the scene, it's a weekday night and you fancy doing something a little different, or you've been watching the Big Lebowski and it's bought out the bowler in you. Well look no further, than here. Set in a 1950s style, the lanes may be short, but are a fun place to hangout. It's £5.50 each a game if you walk in, or you can pre-book and pay £30 for an hour (good value if there's 6 of you, but a bit pricey if it's just 2). As you walk through the door s of what used to be an old job centre, there's a vintage shop to your right, make sure you pop in there when it's open as there are some great bargains to be had. Carry on down a few steps, and you're in the main bar, to your right is the shoe swap, and to your right the bar. You can book your bowling here. There's a good selection of beers and ales on draft, as well as bottles, and food is available, diner style. If you're a walk in, they'll tell you when your lane is free, and you can chill out before hand. It does get busy in here, and as well as bowling, this place is multi-functional, hosting club nights like Department S on a Saturday with John The Mod taking the decks, and playing psychedelic funk, soul and rock n roll. Many fun nights, dancing, drinking and bowling have been had here. read more

I went here Friday for the first time and it was fun :) We had one hour at £30 (between 4 of us was about £7.50) My bowling was horrid coming last both times, damn! The bowling shoes were vile and very tacky/old from the smallest shoe caddy ever which is pretty cute. Drinks are mid range with prices a £16 for 3 ciders and a mixer The bowling ally itself is nice with 5 lanes resembling something of the 50's decorated with various motif's. Not much choice for sizes of bowl's though. All in all i thought it was nice, i won't be rushing back there any time soon but if someone asked me if i wanted to go i would. read more

This is without a doubt, one of my favourite late night destinations in Bristol. It's so much more than a bowling alley. The alley itself is a modern take on an old school 50s American bowling alley. You can pay by the hour (I think it's about £30) and you can squeeze in as many people or games as you want. It's got a real Big Lebowski feel about it and of course you can get your obligatory White Russian cocktail form the bar. The bar is really well stocked and there's a great cocktail menu, though it doesn't come cheap - at least a fiver a cocktail. They usually have bands and DJs there at the weekend and there is even a karaoke room available for hire, a comedy club and accommodation upstairs. There is also a sometimes awkwardly placed pool table and a small beer garden, which sometimes hosts BBQs. read more

The Lanes - Bowling Near Me - Bristol, BST

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This is the kind of ambitious, cool, classy place people should be opening in Bristol! I love The Lanes because it would have been so easy for them to rely on the gimmick of being a bowling alley and turn into some tacky, average to poor, venue that knew it would get business as it is the only place to go bowling within walking distance of the city centre. But they are so much more than this, they have some great live music nights and the whole place is styled so well, with its understated 50s diner decor, it deserves to be a very popular, funky place to hang out. It does get busy at the weekends so you should book yourself a lane if you do want to bowl. They also use the space inside the building for other events, like exhibitions, fairs and beer festivals. But sitting with a beer, listening to a great band and bowling with a group of my friends is a pretty great way to spend a Friday night. read more

Fun venue in the city centre. Not massive so good atmosphere. Bar well stocked with different beers, so a good stop for a few dirnks. Private karaoke room looked interesting! Courtyard will be a winner in the summer read more

The Lanes - Bowling in Bristol - Bowling Near Me - Bristol, BST

I prepaid 40 pounds for an hour of bowling with myself and three friends. Staff were not busy, but appeared rude and non fussed. Everything was an effort - shoes, names on screen, drinks and even ordering an extra pizza. We were the only lane playing (out of 5) and were at the last few bowls, things were getting competitive and fun! The Lanes decided to book in the only other customers onto own lane, dead on 8pm (with 4 other lanes free). We asked if they may help us, seeing as there was no one around, and we had bought drinks each and pizza's. We were told - cold faced - 'Sorry, can't help you'. Not going back. read more

So we got 2 hours of Karaoke for free here. The bowling alley itself is bright and spacious with a beer garden and a diner type thing attached to it. The Karaoke room itself looked like it has seen better times and had building material in it. It sat 8 and would be a squeeze for 10- unless you are all very still and don't believe in bouncing around while you sing. Unfortunately there is no ventilation, so the beer garden was treated to some truly gifted renditions. Drinks were £5 for a double, and the bowling alley turns into a club in the evening. We stayed for a couple of drinks afters but I can't say I felt a proper vibe going and whiles playing "female singers only" music is an entertaining premise I think it is pretty limitating and not entirely sure what the promoters are trying to achieve here. As Karaoke/ Bowling Alleys goes, this is defo pretty average. Obviously a 5*+ if scored on our abilities to love our own voices. read more

I went to the opening night here and, perhaps appropriately for a bowling alley, found it to be a bit hit and miss. The club night itself was good, with a music policy that didn't extend beyond the mid-60s and the dancefloor was rammed all night. On the other hand, they'd run out of lager when I arrived (surely unforgivable on a launch night!) and the karaoke booth's amp kept cutting out (though they did refund us for this). On subsequent visits I've found the food in the diner to be pretty good, and I'd rather bowl here than at an out of town chav hole, though the overall impression is that they've overstretched themselves a touch, making them a jack of all trades but a master of none. read more

The Lanes is a bar, music venue, American-style diner and bowling alley all rolled into one. There's even a karaoke room out the back, available for private hire. The bowling is reasonably priced and if you go in during the day there is often no wait for a lane. In case you do have to wait, there are plenty of other things to keep you occupied, including pool tables, a foosball table and an old two-player arcade machine. There are plenty of events going on at the weekends and there's a small stage to the side of the bowling lanes used for gigs. The sound isn't great, but it's more about the vibe of this place. There's also a vintage fair held occasionally on Sundays, with a permanent vintage shop open during the week. Check it out. read more

The Lanes - The Lanes - Bowling Near Me - Bristol, BST

The Lanes hasn't been open long but it's already punching well above its weight on the Bristol nightlife scene. With a trendy 50s American rock n roll theme, The Lanes is wholesome fun by day, debauched drinking and dancing by night. There's a regular rotation of DJ nights to accompany the bowling alley, normally veering towards a crowd-friendly medley of funk, hip-hop, jazz, ska and soul. After a certain hour, the seating area morphs into a dance floor and it doesn't take long before earnest impressions of rock n roll dance are getting everyone up and jiving. Live bands also make an occasional appearance. The bar is well-stocked and drinks aren't as expensive as they could be for a novelty venue in the city centre. Simple diner-style meals are on offer as well to match the theme. The Lanes is a great spot for parties, with an infectious spirit of retro-fun. It's especially fitting if a lot of people who don't know each other are going to be involved, it would seem nothing says bonding quite like being part of a bowling team! read more

I was pretty excited when I went to the lanes, because I was expecting some kind of nightclub with a bowling alley - what a cool idea! However, I wasn't overly impressed to be honest. The impression I got was of a pub that was kind of half between pub and bar, with a few tacky bowling lanes - the place could definitely do with a revamp as it's a bit dated in style! Saying this, I did have a pretty fun evening here - and drunk bowling is actually pretty good fun! They charge around £25 for the hire of one lane, which sounds a lot, but if you have a few players then it's not much divided between you - and I'm pretty sure that shoe hire is included in this price. Drinks weren't too expensive either, they were fairly standard and some of the beers were cheap! I'd probably say that the lanes is a good place to go before a night out if you fancy something a bit different, but I wouldn't spend the whole evening here - I'd suggest moving onto another bar or club afterwards and making a good night of it! read more

If you're an American, 50s style lover, this is the place for you! Well, this is also the place for you if you like bowling, live music, and American burgers and shakes. Or, if you simply like a good night out. The whole theme of it carries through, right from the front door to the back rooms. You do feel like you've entered a completely different era, with most of the people that hang out here dressing like they're out of Grease. I like. The bowling lanes are £30 per lane per hour, but ask them for afternoon rates before 5pm, and you could get it cheaper! There is a karaoke room at the back too, which you can hire out for a fun night of belting out tunes. Bowling is quite a forgotten past time, and this definitely a fun way to bring it back! read more

A fun place. Very nice! So different from bowling in other countries. The atmosphere is just very relaxing. Classic! read more

The Lanes - Bowling Near Me - Bristol, BST

Bowling, bar, diner, karaoke and nightclub. Fun, fun, fun, fun and fun you might think depending on your personal persuasions, but put them all together in close proximity to each other and some activities make for strange bedfellows. Don't get me wrong though, I enjoyed a great evening at the Lanes as there are good times to be had by all. As you first walk in what strikes you is the charm and retro authenticity of the 5 bowling alleys. This was a high point for me. If you've grown tired of the screaming kids or irritating, adolescent high jinks, prevalent in certain "larger" bowling alleys, the more grown up, mature feel of this place is a welcome change. Added to this was the adherence to old-school rockabilly music and subtle nods to the cult bowling film "The Big Lebowski"; which helped create an enjoyable, alternative bowling experience. As you moved away from the bowling alleys however, other areas of "The Lanes" seemed a little ill-conceived. Firstly the seating area in front of the bar and adjacent to the alleys, turns into a dance floor around 10 o'clock. Whilst I was still bowling this was somewhat annoying, as the volume of the music was then turned up to the obligatory nightclub level. All of the basic social aspects of the bowling experience, such as talking, were then curtailed as I couldn't hear anybody around me. On the plus side though, the music was great and would be highly recommended for people looking for that old American 50's, 60's and 70's night out. Moving up a set of stairs away from the dance floor you enter the diner area. This looked impressive with it's bright red leather booths and black and white tiled flooring, but it seemed a shame that on a Saturday night it was virtually empty. The food on the menu was as you'd expect, burgers mostly, and the one I had was quite agreeable. I did notice a "The Big Lebowski Hot Dog" on the menu, but my instincts told me that wouldn't be great; and I was right. It was certainly big, but if you had told me the "The Dude" himself had made it, I would probably have believed you. It was half-arsed and nothing more than a large hot dog bun, with a large hot dog in it. At the end of the diner is where you'll find the karaoke bar. I sampled its extensive songs list and enjoyed belting out a few tunes, but I couldn't help but think if I was sat right next to the karaoke room eating my half arsed "Big Lebowski hot dog", the experience wouldn't have been as pleasurable. A relatively new establishment with some teething problems, but overall as a bowling experience for adults, its second to none in Bristol. read more

Really bad from start to finish. We ordered 7 pizzas and it took over an hour for all pizzas to come out. First two pizzas arrived and were unceremoniously dropped on the end of the table without a word from the 'waiter' or even eye-contact. The rest arrived at staggered times over the time-span if an hour. When the orders were placed, less than a minute apart, we were the only customers in the place. One pizza didn't ever materialise and our friend, fed up of watching everyone else finish their food, asked for a refund. Matters were made worse by our view of a bar man happily munching his pizza behind the bar whilst we sat hungrily waiting for our food. I wonder if he'd had to wait an hour or whether they keep such experiences for their paying customers. . A complete shambles and a ruined birthday party. read more

Whether it's a night of raucous drinking, some edgy music, hardcore bowling or even some full-on karaoke you are after, The Lanes has it all. I'm so glad it seems to have weathered the recession as when it opened I feared it would have to morph to become more mainstream. Thankfully it hasn't and people do seem to cherish it as it is still open and attracting high profile music acts like Foals who are doing a DJ set there this weekend. Its vibe is 1950s rock and roll, which is backed up by the decor and often the soundtrack. But it's like bowling without all the idiots. And it's so relaxed it makes whiling away the afternoon bowling and guzzling cocktails an acceptable pastime. We came here for a hen do I organised dressed as pirates from the 1980s and the staff couldn't have been nicer. Yes we did the usual stupid stuff, like bowling two balls at once and not one but three of us, stepping over the line, slipping on the treacherous grease and ending up in a convulsed pile, but they take it all with good humour. There are pool tables and also a back room where you can do karaoke- manna from heaven for a group of 14 drunk women. The food they serve is also really good quality- with nachos, paninis and wraps on offer. And it's not badly priced, with a great cocktail selection, so if you are a Big Lebowski fan you can actually bowl while enjoying a white Russian or six. If only every bowling alley was like this! read more

The Lanes - Bowling Near Me - Bristol, BST

I went to a couple of comedy nights here and would recommend the experience to anyone. I would advise not sitting to close to the stage unless you want to get extremely destroyed for your hair/face/accent/sexual orientation/income/lack of friends...the comedians were all as sharp as knives, taking on everyone and everything in their immediate view. I was lucky not to get picked on! The drinks are pub priced. I'd suggest getting at least a couple to be brave enough to come back a witty retort! I didn't bowl but I would agree with the other reviewers who say it all looks a bit dated. Comedy 5/5, interior 3/5...and lets be honest, you don't look at the walls when you've just wet yourself laughing. read more

Great bowling on the 6 lanes ideal for groups or parties. some no standard beers (bitterberg) and great home made burgers/pizza. its good bowling experience with no groups of chavy teenagers a la holywood bowl. read more

Great night! played great music! Jo the bouncer is the best!! Always have fun in this place. The drinks are reasonably priced, got a free shot on entry. The DJ played some great tunes and loads of my own requests! Definitely gonna go back. A credit to Bristol nightlife. read more

Love this place - as well as being a really fun place for bowling, the pizzas here are incredible, and I really like the American diner type vibe. The staff are very nice, but they could benefit from a bigger cocktail menu. read more

Promised a 'Big Lebowski' theme bar, I was understandable disappointed when I first visited the Lanes. Not only were there no White Russians on the menu, I would have felt distinctly out of place had I gone with my initial idea and turned up in a dressing gown, possibly with a ruined rug somewhere about my person. While I had little choice but to conclude that my informant was either a little drunk, a little too enthusiastic or, most likely, both, I had to admit after half an hour that The Lanes has a charm all of its own. Friendly, relaxed and refreshingly non-corporate, The Lanes is just about the only place in Bristol where you could take someone on a bowling date and still get away with being passably cool. Turning the mass-produced, McBowling feel of modern alleys on its head, The Lanes gets back to basics and reminds us that bowling, beer and music are truly a match made in heaven. They offer a decent slice of each, too, with bowling deals including hourly lane hire, a good range of ales and ciders and regular music nights featuring suitably quirky DJS and live acts. All in all, despite its lack of cream and Kahlua-based cocktails, I can't think of a better place to bowl, and I can think of far worse places to have a drink. read more

One star is being way too generous, but there is no option for 0. Four of us, £40 for 1 hour, 8-9pm. Got there 5 mins early, getting shoes, ordering pizza and drinks, and setting up the lane setup took the staff some time. Shortly after we got off, the lane was broken, an engineer took 5 mins to fix, eventually we managed to start by 8.10pm and 5 mins later the lane broke down again. That took them some time to fix it, and when it broke down again they seemed unpleased they had to fix it again. Eventually by 8.30pm we got things going, and it we were having some good fun up to 8.59pm, when we were forced out due to arrival of one and only 9pm booking. This would have been understandable in some way. Perhaps if they were kind enough to allow us finish our game in any of the nearby free lanes, all of which were free of booking. Or, if they were even kinder to let us finish the game that wouldnt take us more that 5 minutes, by allocating the other guys to any other of the free lanes next to us. Or if their response to us losing about 20 gameplay mins due to their technical problems. Or, if they had something better to say other than "sorry, there's nothing more we can do". If you wish to experience "real" bowling and not flimsy nightclub style bowling, do visit one of the "real" bowling places outside the city centre. Once we did that it was instantly clear that lanes is nothing more than an expensive city centre bowl trap. read more

The former Job Centre on Nelson Street has been renovated & turned into a quaint 5-lane bowling hall & lounge bar complete with small stage and dancefloor for weekend live bands and dancing. The boutique theme seems to be around 50's inspired americana & former bowling lane wood has been used to build many of the fixtures & fittings. They serve cocktails and some fine import lagers & ciders on tap and by the bottle, although if you prefer the usual 'brewed in UK' swill that generic pubs & clubs stock you may be disappointed as there are no native lagers to be found. The crowd seems to be made up of bohemian types & older hipsters/indie kids despite the central location which makes a pleasant change although this may have been due to the night I was attending (Friday night live band evening). There is a large outdoor smoking area/garden, although when I went there were few undercover areas & no outdoor heaters so take a coat. I didn't get a chance to bowl there but I will definitely be going back next time I'm out in town as it holds a lot of charm. read more

Firstly, what a horrible cheap conversion of quite a nice old building. Someone, somewhere should be thoroughly ashamed. Secondly, why could we only book half an hour of bowling when on a Wednesday evening the place was as busy as a wake? Madness! Thirdly, to the guy with beard and superhero baseball cap behind the bar; " a smile goes a long way"; you are in customer service for f's sake an you are just damn rude and unfriendly! Fourth, why on earth does it take an hour to get a pizza on a quiet night? The pizza was worth waiting for ......shame we'd lost our appetite... read more

Their barmaid refused to sell me half pint of beer as I didn't have ID. I'm 24 but fair enough. I asked for water and went to sit down and chat with my friends. After 5 minutes another staff member asked me to leave the pub. On a rather quiet Monday night, for sitting down with a glass of water. Have you guys ever heard of something called customer service ? Cause you have none of it. read more