Glengormley has welcomed an exciting transformation to its local entertainment scene. StrikeYard Glengormley, formerly known as Glengormley Sportsbowl, is now open under new ownership, ready to redefine social gaming in Northern Ireland.
Nestled in Glenwell Road Industrial Area, this reinvented venue has been meticulously crafted with one thrilling goal in mind: creating a standout destination for social gaming and family fun that truly captivates. We at Bowling Vision are delighted to have been a key partner in this project, supplying and installing the cutting-edge bowling equipment that forms the dynamic centrepiece of the space.
The StrikeYard team already operated a successful mini-golf venue in the neighbouring unit, so when the opportunity arose to take ownership of the bowling lanes next door it was too good an opportunity to pass up.
A Contemporary Take on Bowling and Group Gaming
StrikeYard isn’t attempting to recreate a classic bowling experience; instead, it’s striving forward. The new owners set out to create something that perfectly fits today’s market, where vibrant atmosphere and cultivating memories matters just as much as the games themselves.
The layout is welcoming, the neon lighting creates a sense of escapism and the decor sets an energised tone the moment you step inside. It boasts a clear, confident identity, with sleek industrial finishes, striking cultural murals and an undeniable sense of fun.
While there’s an impressive array of activities on offer, the 16 full-size bowling lanes steal the show. Bowling is the central part of the offer and is designed to feel open, social and inviting. It feels like a place where everyone wants to play.
Built for Today's Customer
From a bowling perspective, this is exactly the kind of venue Brunswick equipment is designed for, delivering exceptional, reliable performance for the fun-seeking guest. We installed Brunswick’s revolutionary Boost ST pinsetters and intuitive Sync scoring. This powerful combination gives StrikeYard a flexible, incredibly easy-to-manage setup that looks absolutely fantastic and delivers a seamlessly smooth experience for every customer.
Sync scoring offers simple touchscreen controls for players, making gameplay a breeze and empowers the venue to effortlessly run everything from scoring and customer profiles to exciting special games and promotions, all from one powerful system. It’s absolutely ideal for a venue like this, where staff need intuitive tools and customers expect a modern, engaging interface that adds to the fun.
The overall feel of the bowling set-up is fast, dependable and modern. It’s all backed up by reliable, heavy-duty machinery built to effortlessly keep pace with a bustling, high-energy venue. To top it all off, the seating areas have also received significant upgrades, elevating the overall customer experience and ensuring all 16 lanes are suitable for guests using wheelchairs.
The implementation of online booking has been transformative for the business both in terms of customer expectation and business planning. Offering a facility for customers to plan ahead and get their booking in the diary has proved important to their guests and is a welcome addition to the improvements.
More Than Just Bowling
While bowling is undoubtedly the core part of the offer, it’s far from the only thing going on. StrikeYard has curated an impressive, diverse line-up of activities. Alongside the lanes you’ll discover their creative mini golf, a broad range of arcade machines as well as cutting edge sports simulators.
The 21-hole mini golf (why only have 18?) was their original business. Offering guests large scale, themed holes with humour and references to popular culture. To further their determination to create a venue to be enjoyed by all, most of the holes are accessible for wheelchair users.
The wall between the bowling and the golf areas has been opened up, making one, large and impressive emporium of play. In addition, the improvements to the road and paths outside the venue, being made by the local council, further elevate the offering.
StrikeYard is a powerful, well-executed take on the social gaming format, providing people with abundant options, encouraging longer, more enjoyable visits and building an experience that appeals to every kind of group.
A Brilliant Addition to Glengormley
It’s truly fantastic to witness a venue like this so brilliantly reinvigorated in Glengormley. The area has been eagerly anticipating something new and exciting and StrikeYard delivers with impressive confidence and imagination. Even though the venue hasn’t yet undertaken it’s launch campaign, guests are already commenting on the outstanding transformation. The PinPix game is a firm favourite, as kids and adults are enjoying seeing their selfies up on the screens. The ease and autonomy offered by the Sync Scoring, the access to new balls, the reduction in lane down time and the radical modernisation of equipment and the interior have impressed. Guests appreciate the significant effort and investment that has been made for the benefit of the local community.
It’s been designed with clear purpose and vision and the new ownership unequivocally understands what today’s discerning customers are looking for: whether that’s an unforgettable night out with friends, a joyous birthday celebration, a dynamic work social, or a fun-filled family weekend.
Bowling remains a huge, evergreen part of the mix. It’s familiar, universally accessible, and always delivers boundless enjoyment, especially when backed by robust, top-tier equipment and a truly magnificent environment. We have absolutely no doubt the lanes will see an abundance of use in the months and years ahead!
The Benefits of Brunswick
Even though the new equipment has only been in for a few months the team are already experiencing the huge benefits of installing Brunswick Bowling equipment. The significant reduction in issues with the machinery and ease of use has freed up staff time and enabled the business to utilise their team across the business, rather than being siloed into one function.
Many of the technical team have been in the business for decades and have enjoyed learning the new equipment. The smaller and lighter machines have created more room for the team to work in and even recovered previously unusable space and storage rooms. Having equipment which is safer for both staff and customers is an invaluable strength of the modern Brunswick equipment. The new lane machine is a huge hit with the techs who have commented on how easy, effective and time saving the Brunswick LT4 is.
The owners are also looking forward to seeing reduced energy bills, thanks to the Brunswick pinsetters being considerably more energy efficient than the original freefall pinsetters.
A Project We’re Immensely Proud Of
From the earliest planning stages right through to the meticulous installation, it’s been an absolute pleasure collaborating with the dedicated StrikeYard team. Their unwavering attention to detail and steadfast commitment to getting everything just right shone through at every single stage.
The owners of StrikeYard were completely new to the bowling industry therefore working with a bowling equipment supplier who understood the needs of the business, had expertise in bowling operations and offered a team with time and experience to support a fledgling business was essential. Henry Crowe, Owner Operator of StrikeYard, said, “Even though we were completely new to bowling the BV team took us seriously from the off. From our very first conversations they understood our vision and our need for partnership. Terry visited us countless times to help us work out exactly what we needed. He never tried to oversell us products, which was greatly appreciated. We spoke to other centres BV had worked with and only heard good things. Obviously, Brunswick equipment has an impressive reputation and having robust equipment which is going to keep our business going for the next 30 to 40 years was important to us. As with all projects like this there were issues and obstacles to overcome but BV were quick to respond, find solutions and keep pressing on. They have been so friendly and a pleasure to work with. Terry moved mountains to keep our project on schedule. The customer support has been brilliant and the communication is top tier. We enjoyed having the BV team on site and there was good craic. We look forward to many years of this adventure together.”
At Bowling Vision, we’ve had the privilege of working on a vast range of installations. Everything from traditional bowling centres to chic boutique lanes and innovative social gaming concepts. StrikeYard stands comfortably among the most exciting and rewarding projects we’ve had the pleasure of delivering in recent years.
The impeccable equipment choice, the visionary design of the space and the passionate energy of the venue all work together in perfect harmony. Whilst our primary focus was on the bowling, it’s always incredibly rewarding to see someone’s dream become a reality.
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.
