Hollywood Bowl Belfast
BEST FOR
Ages 0-15
ENTRY
from £6.30
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Belfast
What it’s like
Ten-pin bowling with bumpers for the small ones, plus arcade games and pool while you wait your turn.
Lanes with bumpers mean even a wobbly six-year-old can send a ball down without it landing in the gutter every time, and there are ramps if little arms need the help. Games are timed at 10 minutes per person, so two of you playing two games works out at around 40 minutes, which is handy for planning round nap times or dinner. Once the bowling's done there's an arcade with play-for-prizes machines, pool, and interactive darts if anyone in your group is 12 or over.
Food comes from the Hollywood Diner, ordered by QR code at your table or from the bar, and you can't bring your own in from outside. That's a fair enough house rule but it does mean no smuggling in snacks for a fussy toddler, and there's no hot water on site for warming bottles either, so bring feeds already made up. If you've got teenagers hanging about after 8pm they'll need a responsible adult with them, and under-18s are out of the bar entirely after 9pm.
Parking is the one bit that stings a little: it's a shared car park with 1500 spaces and 60 disabled bays, but it's charged by how long you stay rather than free. There are shuttle buses running every 15 minutes and a free park and ride from Northside, which is worth using if you'd rather not pay for parking on top of the games. Wheelchair access is properly thought through, with ramps onto the lanes, lightweight balls and disabled toilets, and there's a concession rate knocking around half off for disabled guests, carers and over-65s on weekdays before 6pm.
Birthday parties get their own packages with bowling, arcade access and food bundled in, booked by phone rather than online. Booking ahead generally gets you a better price than turning up on the day, and they only hold your lane for five minutes if you're running late, so it pays to get there with fifteen minutes spare.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 4 to 12, with darts and pool keeping teens busy too
- Booking
- Book in advance for best prices
- Parking
- The O2 Park charges fees depending on length of stay
- Food
- Hollywood Diner with hot dogs, burgers, mains, sides, snacks and sharers
- Wheelchairs
- Ramps onto lanes, ball ramps and lane bumpers for wheelchair use
- Getting there by bus or train
- Bus shuttles every 15 mins (07:45-20:15)
- Parties
- Birthday party packages available with bowling, arcade access, food options
- Games are timed per person, not per lane, so factor that into how many rounds you book
- No hot water for bottle warming, bring feeds already made up
- Concession rates of around 50% off run weekdays before 6pm for disabled guests, carers and over-65s
- Free shuttle buses and park and ride run nearby if you want to dodge the car park charge
- Parties are booked by phone rather than online
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
It starts from £6.30. Booking in advance tends to get you the better price rather than paying on the day.
Do we need to book ahead?
It isn't compulsory, but booking ahead usually means a better price, and you should arrive fifteen minutes early since they only hold your lane for five minutes if you're late.
How long does a game take?
Ten minutes per person per game, so two people playing two games each takes around 40 minutes.
Is it any good for a toddler?
Lane bumpers and ball ramps make it manageable for little ones, though there's no hot water on site for warming bottles, so bring feeds ready made.
Can we bring our own food?
No outside food or drink is allowed. Everything comes from the Hollywood Diner, ordered by QR code at the table or from the bar.
Is there parking?
There's a shared car park with 1500 spaces, but it's charged by length of stay rather than free. Shuttle buses and a free park and ride are also running nearby if you'd rather skip the car park fee.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Ramps onto the lanes, lightweight balls, disabled toilets and 60 disabled parking bays are all in place. There's also a concession rate for disabled guests and carers on weekdays before 6pm.
Do you do birthday parties?
Packages bundle bowling, arcade access and food, booked over the phone rather than online.
Is there anything for older kids and teenagers?
Interactive darts is open from age 12, and there's pool and arcade games alongside the bowling. Under-18s need a responsible adult with them after 8pm and can't be in the bar after 9pm.
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