Hollywood Bowl Derby
ENTRY
from £8.50
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Derby
What it’s like
Ten-pin bowling on 18 lanes at Derbion, with an American diner, arcade prizes and VIP lanes if you fancy a treat.
Bowling's the whole point here: 18 lanes, up to 8 to a lane, and they work on 10 minutes a person per game, so two of you playing one game gets a 20 minute slot. Bump that up to a few games with a bigger group and you're looking at a proper chunk of the afternoon. There are VIP lanes too if you want to make more of it, and the arcade runs on a cashless Tigapo system with play-for-prizes machines that'll happily eat whatever's left of your patience.
Food comes from the American diner and bar, burgers, hot dogs, nuggets, pizza, that sort of thing, ordered by QR code at the table or from the bar itself. It's card only across the centre, so leave the cash at home, though there is a cash machine on site if you get caught out. Watching without playing costs nothing, handy if one of you would rather sit with a milkshake than pick up a size 5 ball.
It's on the leisure complex at Derbion, so parking is paid, not free, and there's no free wifi from the venue itself, though intu Derby's guest wifi covers you if you're desperate. Derby train station is a 10 minute walk if you're coming in without a car. Booking online is recommended for the best prices and walk-ups are welcome if there's a lane free, but don't bank on that on a Saturday.
Birthday parties start from 6 guests and can go up to somewhere between 18 and 24 depending on which lanes are free that day. You get an hour of bowling, food either during or after the game, and a Play 4 Prize ticket for the arcade. They ask for a day's notice at the very least, but a week gives you a much better shot at the slot and time you actually want.
Facilities
Need to know
- Booking
- Online booking recommended for best prices
- Parking
- Charges apply at the Derby leisure complex
- How long to allow
- Varies by number of games. 1 game for 2 people is approximately 20 minutes
- Food
- American-themed diner and bar with burgers, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, pizzas, cocktails, soft drinks, and milkshakes
- Wheelchairs
- Ramps onto lanes where required, ball ramps, lane bumpers for use with/without wheelchairs, lightweight balls, disabled toilets
- Dogs
- Assistance dogs only, must be well-behaved at all times
- Getting there by bus or train
- Derby train station is a 10 minute walk away
- Parties
- Birthday parties from 6 guests (max 18-24 depending on centre)
- Worth knowing
- Birthday party guests receive Play 4 Prize redemption ticket for arcade prizes
- Max 8 players per lane, so split bigger groups across two
- There's a concession rate of around 50% for disabled guests, carers and seniors on weekdays before 6pm
- Escalator maintenance runs 7 September to 30 October, but lifts are working throughout
- A change machine is on hand for the arcade if you need coins
Plan your visit
How long does a game take?
They allow 10 minutes per person per game, so two people playing one game get a 20 minute slot. Add more games or more players and the slot stretches accordingly.
Do we need to book?
Booking online gets you the best prices and a guaranteed slot. Walk-ups are fine too if there's a lane spare, which is more likely midweek than at the weekend.
What's parking like?
It's the Derby leisure complex car park, so you're paying, not parking free.
Can we eat while we bowl?
You order through a QR code at your table or from the bar, and it's burgers, hot dogs, pizza and the like. Pre-ordering when you book is meant to be quicker than sorting it once you're there.
How do parties work?
You need at least 6 guests, and depending on the centre that can stretch up to somewhere around 18 to 24. It buys an hour of bowling, food during or after the game, and a prize ticket for the arcade, and they'd rather have a week's notice than a day's.
Is it card only?
Card only across the centre, though there's a cash machine in the building if you need one.
What about wheelchair access?
There are slopes onto the lanes and the centre's set up for wheelchair users, with adapted equipment available if you need it.
Is there wifi?
Not from Hollywood Bowl itself, but intu Derby's free guest wifi reaches the centre.
Can you just watch without paying?
That's free. You only pay to actually play a lane.
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