Following successful launches in Fareham and Bournemouth, Bowl Central Reading opened its doors in June 2025, just in time for the summer holidays.
Offering guests a deluxe bowling experience, the large Bowl Central Reading venue is home to cutting-edge Brunswick bowling equipment, AR darts, American Pool and an extensive arcade. Their exciting social gaming offering is paired with a quality food and drinks menu, boasting a creative range of cocktails and very tasty pizzas, making it the new go-to destination in Reading.
Located on Caversham Road, Bowl Central is perfectly located near to Reading railway station with a direct route from Central London. Bowl Central invites guests to enjoy its premium activity offering, beautifully elevated by the luxurious, urban aesthetic which permeates the venue. All activities and decor have been carefully curated to appeal to the large student population, whilst also enticing families, birthday parties and local businesses. The site also benefits from a large parking area enabling the venue to offer guests free on-site parking.
Premium Bowling Offering
The Brunswick bowling equipment forms the centre piece of Bowl Central Reading. Seven striking Anvilane ColorFull lanes in a moody Gunstock Savoy, highlighted by white/UV pindeck lighting. To further enhance the immersive experience Bowl Central opted for Big Ball Surface Returns, so bowlers can enjoy watching the rhythmic motion of the ball as it travels down the lane but also on its return to the awaiting hands of the guest.
Not only do the lanes look stunning but the StringPin pinsetters deliver the robust performance required for a high-use venue. Whilst the utilisation of the Sync Scoring and Management System delivers a seamless user experience. The tech-driven Sync system is designed with customers in mind – easy to use whilst also offering engaging additional games and features.
The combination of beauty, power and ingenuity set Brunswick bowling products apart and allow venues like Bowl Central in Reading to deliver a memorable experience time and time again.
Premium Activities Offering
Alongside bowling, guests to Bowl Central can enjoy AR darts, three 8ft American Pool tables and an extensive arcade.
AR darts is perfect for group gaming, delivering a reinvented version of classic darts. Guests are still throwing darts at a board but with AR darts the interactive board sits within a large screen showcasing dazzling gaming graphics. The tech offers a broad range of games to choose from, highlights which segments the player is aiming for, tracks the darts and keeps score for you. This impressive gaming system makes darts fun for everyone. No need to know the rules or work out the scoring, the fast-paced game-led activities ensure the broad appeal of AR darts.
The Prizes Arcade gives players of all ages access to a good range of different gaming formats. To make the experience more manageable Bowl Central operates a game card system which you can load with credits and also use to store winning tickets.
To ensure the venue can cater for the specific needs of their guests by having separate entrances to the arcade and bowling areas. Furthermore, to facilitate guests who would like exclusive use of the bowling lanes for their event or party the bowling area can be closed off from the arcade. This flexibility allows private hire guests uninterrupted use of the atmospheric bowling area whilst members of the public can still enjoy the arcade.
Responding to a Diverse Audience
Bowl Central Reading has the privilege of being located in an area which is home to families whilst also accommodating a vibrant student community and thriving businesses. The team at Bowl Central have worked hard to ensure that the venue meets the needs of all their potential customers through their careful management of lighting and sound. The daytime is lighter with softer music whilst the evening maximises the neon party vibes with a darker ambience and increased tempo.
However, the game changer for managing and responding to the different requirements of the broad range of guests has been a specific focus on tailored customer service. The staff are trained to communicate both socially and in terms of upselling in a way which is relevant and welcoming depending on the demographic of the guest. This has proved very successful as the bowl is fully booked for kids parties in the coming months, as well as increasingly being full at peak times.
Premium Refreshments Offering
Memorable and exceptional experiences is what Bowl Central is all about. They carefully curate every aspect of their venues to deliver on both. That includes their food and drink offering.
Guests are treated to quality pizzas, the ideal accompaniment to an evening of gaming and competitive fun. Furthermore, they have a well-stocked cocktail bar serving tipples to meet the needs of all their guests as well as delivering a creative range of cocktails to explore.
A Standout Addition to Reading’s Social Scene
Bowl Central Reading combines cutting-edge technologies, carefully curated interiors and a premium food and drink menu to deliver a standout social gaming experience. With Brunswick’s world-class bowling equipment at its core, it’s a venue designed for memorable moments, whether you’re competing with friends, challenging colleagues, celebrating with family or just looking for a great night out.
If you’re planning a brand-new venue or considering adding the dynamic appeal of bowling to an existing one, we’re always delighted to share our extensive experience. We’ve partnered with operators across the UK, Ireland and across the world to create venues that are both commercially successful and operationally sound; with Brunswick equipment consistently providing the rock-solid foundation for success.
