Questions and Answers
Click here for a list of
bowling alleys in and
around London.
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How Much Will Bowling Cost?
A rough guide would be £10.00 per person for two games including shoes. Prices vary so call the bowling alley you are thinking of going to and ask them. Some of the venue pages on this website give a price, but check with the bowling alley in case we are out of date.
I'm planning my own bowling trip, how many players can play in one lane, how many lanes will I need?
This will vary from place to place and might be as much as 8 per lane. However, this will be very slow and could be boring . If you have more than six people I would recommend using two lanes - four of five would be the optimum number per lane to keep things moving and interesting.
How long does it take?
How long a session takes depends on how many bowlers are in each lane. A rough guide is 10 minutes per person per game. So a group of 5 playing two games would be very roughly 100 minutes = 1 hour 40 mins.
Do you take it seriously?
Yes and no. We don't take it too seriously, we have complete beginners as well as those who have been bowling for a while. Bowling Bears is not competitive. The main objective is to have fun playing.
Will I enjoy it?
Bowling has a very wide appeal and is enjoyed by all sorts of people, of all ages, of all ranges of ability. You owe it to yourself to give it a try. If you don't enjoy it you will have only invested a couple of hours to find out for sure. If you do enjoy it then you will get many hours of enjoyment for years to come. Anyway it won't eat into your valuable drinking time because you can drink and bowl at the same time (actually we recommend you put the glass or bottle down while you actually throw the ball). Bowling with Bowling Bears will also give you the chance to meet other bears and perhaps make new friends.
Will I need my own ball?
No, you won't - bowling alleys provide a range of 'house balls' so you are unlikely to need your own.
Why might I want my own ball?
You might bowl happily for a long time without wanting to have your own ball. However, if you buy your own ball the finger holes will be drilled to exactly suit your hand and fingers. If your hands are not 'off the peg' hands - perhaps you have broad fingers - you might find your own ball more comfortable. Having your own ball can improve your enjoyment and your game because you are bowling with a ball that fits your hand exactly. Of course, there is a wide range of fancy patterns and pictures available and prices start at around £50.00.
How heavy are the balls?
There is a range of weights available either as house balls or to buy. An adult man would probably be happy with 12 or 14 pounds.
Where can I buy my own ball?
There is a shop at Airport Bowl that sells balls, shoes, etc. Some other bowling alleys have shops too. Airport bowl is easy to get to by road because it is so close to Heathrow. They also have parking on site.
Why are so many of the bowling alleys in the suburbs?
I don't know and it makes it difficult to find one that is well located for everyone. My hunch is that bowling alleys take up a lot of space and space is at a premium in the centre of town.
This is fun why haven't I been before?
You've got us with that one.
What is a bear?
Everyone has their own definition, but my definition is that a bear is someone who is gay, but does not conform to the gay stereotype. There are many more bears like this out there than people realise and our mission is to bring them together in a friendly sociable setting.