2024 in Bowling

As 2025 fast approaches *checks notes* urm, tomorrow, then I guess it’s time for all my usual end of year round up posts- which I’m sure you’re looking forward to! As the title suggests, this one is about all my favourite bowling alleys I’ve visited this year, so without further ado, let's get into it!

I have been to a whopping 34 different (and all new to me) bowling alleys this year, which is my highest in a while. Unfortunately it did taper off towards the end of the year, the last one I visited being mid November (King Pins Manchester Arndale for anyone wondering). The best month was February, where I visited 6, closely followed by both September and March where I visited 5 in each month. My total is now up to 188- pushing towards the big 200! Though the more I do, the harder it gets to find new ones locally, which is why on holidays/ days away we tend to hammer it pretty hard. And contrary to how it sounds on here, I do actually really enjoy bowling as a sport/ activity in itself and I don’t just play in order to add it to my spreadsheet. I do get a load of enjoyment out of it, which is why I started attempting to go around them all in the first place. I absolutely love walking in to a new place to bowl and taking in the decor, characters, quality of the lanes and so on. I must admit the chain bowling centres such as your Hollywood’s and Tenpin’s sometimes do feel like a chore as they’re all quite similar, but I still find visiting each of those somewhat a unique experience, because there’s usually something of note between each one, such as the exterior/ architecture, the carpet, the staff and so on.

My bowling this year in terms of scores have been on the whole very good, though I did manage to get a couple under 100, which I am ashamed to admit out loud! My highest was a 203 (which I actually achieved twice), plus several scores in the 190-somethings. Which ain’t bad for an amateur! Hopefully I can continue this going into 2025 and look to improve further, though this will mean going more regularly…

Here’s my top 5 visited this year:

Hive Bowling (Concordia Leisure Centre), Cramlington 18/02/24

Freedom Bowl, Hailsham 20/03/24

Richardson’s Family Entertainment Centre, Lowestoft 25/09/24

JR’s American Diner + Bowl, North Walsham 04/10/24

Strikes Bowl, Dereham 07/10/24

Though it’s always hard to pick a top 5- there were wayyy more I could have chosen! Below are some pictures from this years bowling escapades- just a random selection, some from the bowling alleys mentioned above, though some just because I liked the image! See you at the lanes for a game, yes?!