Roxy Lanes Cardiff The Friary
BEST FOR
Ages 0-18
ENTRY
from £8
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
Cardiff
What it’s like
Eight bowling lanes plus duck pin, curling, shuffleboard and karaoke rooms, all priced by the activity.
Ten pin's the obvious one, eight lanes of it, but the duck pin bowling is worth a go too if the kids have never tried it, the ball's smaller and it plays differently. Beyond that there's American pool on five tables, ice-free curling, tech darts, a batting cage and shuffleboard, so a couple of hours can turn into an afternoon without anyone getting bored of one game.
The pricing is per activity rather than one ticket for everything, which takes a bit of getting your head round. Ten pin bowling is £10 off-peak for an adult, £12 at peak times, and duck pin's a bit cheaper. If you fancy mixing it up there's a deal for two or three activities, £18 or £24 a head, which works out better than paying for each one separately if you're going to be there a while anyway.
Under-18s are allowed in with an adult, but only until 7pm on weekdays and 5pm on Saturdays, so this isn't an evening venue for families. Book the gaming tables online if you can, they say it's highly recommended, though drinking tables are more first come first serve. Bring proper flat shoes for bowling, no flip-flops or heels, and leave the football shirts at home, there's a dress code. There's a restaurant on site doing burgers and pizzas, and it's all card only, so don't turn up expecting to pay cash at the bar.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- School-age kids and up, given the shoe rules and evening cutoffs
- Booking
- Gaming tables highly recommended to book online
- Food
- On-site restaurant and bar with American-style pizzas, burgers, chicken wings, sides
- Parties
- Birthday and group party packages available with private spaces, drinks vouchers and dedicated host/bartender for groups up to 35 people
- Lanes 7 to 10 are only reachable via steps, worth knowing if anyone's got mobility needs
- The shuffleboard powder has a walnut shell blend in it, so flag that if there's a nut allergy in your group
- Opening hours shift around school holidays and bank holidays
- Card only across the whole venue, so leave the cash at home
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
It's priced per activity rather than a flat entry fee. Ten pin bowling is £10 off-peak or £12 peak for an adult, and duck pin's a little less. If you're doing more than one thing, the mix and match deals at £18 or £24 work out cheaper.
Do we need to book?
Booking's highly recommended for the gaming tables like bowling and shuffleboard. Drinking tables are more first come first serve, and walk-ins get in if there's space.
Can kids come in the evening?
Under-18s need a supervising adult and have to leave by 7pm on weekdays, 5pm on Saturdays. After that it's an adults-only crowd.
What's there to eat?
There's a restaurant on site with pizzas, burgers and wings. Everything's card only, no cash accepted anywhere.
Is there a dress code?
No sportswear, football shirts or jogging bottoms. Fancy dress is fine as long as it's tasteful.
What shoes do we need for bowling?
Flat-soled, non-marking shoes only, so no heels or flip-flops. They've got bowling shoes at the desk if you haven't brought your own.
Do they do birthday parties?
There are party packages with a private space, drinks vouchers and a host, for groups up to 35.
Is it good for a toddler?
Ages start from nought on the books, but with the evening cutoffs and a dress code this feels more suited to older kids who can actually hold a bowling ball.
Featured in 1 Huddlepin list
See all Bowling in Cardiff · Things to do in Cardiff
MAKE A DAY OF IT
