I’m not someone who takes the time to go bowling all that regularly but last Wednesday, myself and a group of friends decided to do something a little different and an evening throwing balls at a bunch of pins just about fitted the bill!

After negotiating the traffic with constant shouting at the driver for choice of route and much complaining on my behalf about needing a wee, we finally reached our destination: Bristol’s Hollywood Bowl in Avonmeads. Now as I have previously stated, I don’t bowl all that often. It’s usually something I associate with children’s birthday parties along with trips to Lazar Quest and those funny warehouses filled with ball pools, cushioned walls and Death Slides, but I think that Hollywood Bowl is one of Bristol’s most fun looking venues. Adorned with cowboy paraphernalia and some massive glow-in-the-dark bowling pins separating each lane, I was suitably amused. It was one of those wonderfully British American imitation situations which rather cheesily looked the part but wasn’t quite whole-heartedly committed; like the staff were all wearing funny straw cowboy hats and although they were very helpful in setting up our lane and the score-board, there’s nothing quite like a cowboy with a thick Westcountry twang. It’s not quite the Wild West but it’s a sterling effort!

As is natural for a group of twenty-somethings, our first port of call once we were inside was the bar (directly after finding the toilet, of course). Our travel anguish repaired with some very reasonably priced cider, we made our way over to the nice people in charge of those famous shoes. Footwear exchanged so we all were all looking suitably ridiculous, time was allocated for the inevitable silly night out photos before we all headed for our lane and got our game faces on.

A key component (apparently) is choosing the right ball to bowl. They say a comfortable weight is the most important thing but I think just as important is selecting a lucky colour! I quickly re-discovered why I hadn’t bothered to take up bowling professionally however: Despite an initial spree of beginner’s luck, it all rather quickly went downhill. Worse was my friend who embarrassingly had to ask for the barriers to be put up half way through the first game. While some of the boys got a tad too competitive, the rest of us focused on exploring bizarre bowling techniques with particular favourites being the backwards bowl, the double header and the eye’s closed  lob. Much merriment ensued and it turned out to be a rather fun event.

All in all, our trip to the Hollywood Bowl was a wonderful way to get everyone together for a spot of good, clean, cider-fuelled fun! Next time you’re at a loose end, perhaps round up the gang, flex your bowling arm and get ready to strike it lucky! YEEEEHAAAAAWWWW!

www.hollywoodbowl.co.uk/avonmeads

Lisa Bartlett
Illustration by Laurie Stansfield