Hollywood Bowl Stevenage Reviews Summary

Arcade Games

Pros:

• "Had an absolutely amazing time in the arcades tonight!"
• "The atmosphere is always buzzing, with plenty to do after the bowling too, such as pool tables, bar, and the usual arcade style games, etc."
• "Great amusements and bowling system easy to use."
• "There are loads of arcades of all sorts, racing games, 10p and 2p machines plus motor bike games plus loads more arcades plus snooker tables and a bar where you can sit and have a drink."
• "They also have a large arcade area with lots of different games to play, and the children can earn tickets to exchange for a treat."
• "Arcade machines also for fun before or after the bowling which is perfect for young ones, and pool tables too."
• "10 pin bowling plus food, drink and a large variety of games machines."

Cons:

• "I took my daughter to have a go on the arcade games, the 2p machine was working but the 2p change machine was out of order."
• "The only minor disappointment was many machines were out of order, like some of the VR rides."
• "I went bowling and to the arcade, the arcade change machines give you the new pound coins however not many of the machines accept them and the selection of games are not great."
• "The arcade but it isn't anything special."
• "Nice place, shame things are not fixed or maintained enough. Most of the games in the arcade we wanted to play were broken."
• "The arcade is looking a bit tired now with quite a few of the machines not working."
• "The arcade is a nightmare to get children away from and the cheapest thing is 10pence a go - soon emptying your purse."

Bowling Experience

Pros:

• "He was so friendly and helpful even checking halfway through that my son was ok."
• "I went bowling with 3 friends on a friday afternoon. Hollywood Bowl had kindly given us a lane which had a slope for easy access as I had expressed I was disabled at the time of booking."
• "Pre-booking was swift and efficient and booking smooth on arrival with no wait."
• "Good place for family bowling, nice and clean with plenty of ramps for kids."
• "Lane console and seating was cleaned prior to use."
• "Bowling lanes are fine, balls were in good condition."
• "The lanes are good, comfortable sofas also on the lanes while you wait for your shot."

Cons:

• "Shame that Stevenage has the monopoly for local bowling, but that's not an excuse for a very dirty, tired and generally run down feel."
• "Review Update: I've reduced Hollywood Bowl down to 2 stars as since my previous review they've decided they no longer wish to be a real bowling alley and are now a toy one with the pins on strings which has a negative effect on the way the pins fall."
• "Son and friends who were out celebrating his 16th birthday were not allowed into the arcade as he didn't have a booking for bowling."
• "Had to wait thirty minutes beyond our booked time."
• "Went here last night party of 7 for 2 games they came halfway through the second game and said we were taking too long."
• "Even though the lane was booked, we still had to be allocated our lane after queueing for over 10 minutes."
• "All the lanes have been changed to have Pins on strings!"

Staff and Service

Pros:

• "Friendly staff and fast service if you need anything."
• "The staff (Jackson, Freya, and Charlie) were absolutely outstanding, they were extremely kind, caring and supportive."
• "The staff were very friendly and helpful!"
• "Clean, friendly staff, quick drinks to lane service."
• "Charlie, the person on the main desk, was very proficient under what seemed a very stressful amount of pressure dealing with all of the people who came in."
• "Staff very pleasant and helpful."
• "Friendly staff and had fun on the arcade's."

Cons:

• "Had our Christmas party there 4/12/2021, had cocktails which all tasted the same and served in warm glasses, spirits were watered down also served in warm glasses."
• "Unfortunately a family member of mine was taken advantage of at Hollywood bowl Stevenage."
• "Not at all happy with their service. Booked slot for 12pm on phone for 20 kids when we arrived at 11.45 we been told as there other people on our lane so it will take long and need to wait for around 30 mins."
• "Terrible customer service, and no refund policy regardless of how far you book in advance."
• "Rude Staff Seriously there was no need for that."
• "The experience was awful... staff members were rude, unhelpful and did not solve our problems."
• "Probably the worst receptionists I have ever come across."

Facilities and Accessibility

Pros:

• "It would have been perfect but the doors don't stay open and when you are pushing a wheelchair it is very difficult to get in and out the building."
• "It is also easily accessible via train and the station is towards the back of the car park."
• "Discounts for over 65s and disabled."
• "Easy and nearby free parking."
• "Hollywood bowls For disabled people For all chairs and mobility scooters."
• "This is the cleanest, best maintained bowling alley we've found."
• "The place was spotlessly clean."

Cons:

• "There is no room inside unit There's too many things too many things In a small area Hollywood bowls should be in a bigger unit for disabled people children parents."
• "The big slope at the entrance makes it hard to push wheelchairs up to the reception desk which could result in injury."
• "Awful! We went last week as a group of 8 (including 4 younger children)."
• "Everything just seemed so close together in general."
• "Just extremely crowded and noisy and could do without the arcade games."
• "A little claustrophobic in your seating area when bowling."
• "The seated area in each are nice but had not been cleaned between games."

Food and Beverages

Pros:

• "The food was excellent with superb table service."
• "Food is good and very reasonably priced."
• "Food was better than expected."
• "The food and drinks here are good."
• "The food is really good. Not 'good for a bowling alley'. Good. Best hot dog I've had in a long time."
• "Great place for kids and adults alike... The food is really good also and great value."
• "Good burger and chips at a very reasonable price."

Cons:

• "Coffee was awful. Cold and tasteless."
• "Had to wait thirty minutes beyond our booked time."
• "The toilets were dirty and the food overcooked."
• "The bowling was no problem, but as regards the food, slow service, fries cold & hotdog no so good."
• "Their dinner was horrible. At first, they forgot to put salad on some hamburgers and when we told them about it they gave us the salad so that we had to assemble the hamburger ourselves."
• "Order's chicken wings that were so dry."
• "But what we got was dry and horrible."