1000 Things to do in London

108. 300/1000 Bowl

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:15:10 +0200

On a very wet Tuesday evening Chris and I went to the All Star Bowling Lanes in Holborn. I love having to walk down a stair case into the unknown - you never know what you're going to find, but we were both pleasantly surprised. We were early for our game so sat in a really nice bar - one that I would visit bowling or not - and bought 5 beers for £15 which were very cold and refreshing. The bar tender was really miserable and rude, so I wanted to take a photo of him - he cheered up a bit after that so we changed our minds about him. We then went to get our bowling shoes which seemed to have got much cooler since I last went bowling (about 10 years ago) and we even decided that we would wear them as everyday trainers. In fact, I thought about just leaving my boots behind the counter and walking out with them. But I didn't as I'm too old to do things like that.
We had one game of bowling (we paid £25 for a game of bowling and a two course meal in their restaurant) which I was terrible at.I think it was because I was so excited about the imminent cheeseburger and I couldn't concentrate very well. Chris beat me - we were both surprised about that - I needed those inflatable sausages down the sides of the alley but was too embarrassed to ask.

The nice thing about this place is that there are only about 4 or 5 lanes. There isn't a awful racket of bowls being thrown and stupid screaming people. It was all very dignified.

SO after being beaten we went for our meal. The restaurant is an american diner and very tastefully done out. We sat in a booth which always pleases me immensely. There was a special set menu for the '2 for £25' people which was a small choice but satisfactory. I had delicious chicken quesadillas to start and chris had some soup. We then both had a cheeseburger and shared a pecan pie for dessert. All courses were exellent. Not huge but we definitely weren't hungry afterwards. We also got a cocktail with the deal and the lovely waitress (see photo above - note fantastic uniform) recommended a brazilian drink which was nice and strong.

My only complaint was that when we got the bill we were charged service which is fine, but the bill included the bowling. So we were paying waitress service on bowling which was a bit dodgy I thought.

On the way out we went the wrong way and discovered a private bowling room and bar - it was empty but would be a very cool to have a party.

This place is worth a visit - not only for the bowling but for food and drink too.

1000 Things to do in London

108. 300/1000 Bowl

107. 553/1000 Do the British Museum in your lunchbreak

106. 284/1000 Sit in the Great Court at the British Museum

105. 954/1000 Enjoy soup and a sandwich at Paul Rothe & Son

104. 261/1000 Eat ice-cream at Gelateria Danieli

103. 854/1000 Have dinner at the dogs

102. 815/1000 Learn the secrets of Westminster Bridge Road

101. 44/1000 Shop for vintage phones at Radio Days

100. 30/1000 Get to know London's city farms

99. 452/1000 Take a wander down Regent's Canal

98. 852/1000 Take in a cowbell show over dinner at the Tiroler Hut

97. 231/1000 Eat your way around Selfridges

96. 970/1000 Shop at Dover Street Market

95. 961/1000 Munch a macaroon at Laduree

94. 646/1000 Drool over the food halls in Harrods

93. 622/1000 Wander through Highgate Cemetery.....

92. 146/1000 Check out the Christmas Show at Chickenshed

91. 322/1000 Tour the BBC

90. 48/1000 Get back in to the Young Vic Theatre

89. 481/1000 Trafalgar Square

88. 517/1000 Get a decent meal in a museum cafe....honestly

87. 870/1000 Choose Juice at Ranoush

86. 411/1000 Fill up on the cheap at the legendary Stockpot

85. 773/1000 Pop a coin in the capital's best jukeboxes

84. 351/1000 Try a posh scotch egg

83. 76/1000 Drive dodgems on the South Bank

82. 342/1000 Take in a pint and a performance at a theatre pub

81. 11/1000 Climb London walls

80. 550/1000 Visit a capital windmill

79. 568/1000 Get Stuffed (and enjoy London taxidermy)