Independent boutique bowling operator, Lane7, has unveiled plans to open another five sites before the end of 2020. The expansion programme is spearheaded by the launch of its biggest site yet as it redevelops the former Leicester Central railway station as part of a £47m Great Central Square regeneration scheme.
The 22,000sq ft site in Leicester will be created around the dramatic transformation of the old railway station building, which closed in the late 1960s. Lane7’s plans will feature a double-height shipping container-style entertainment ‘village’ featuring differing food and drink offerings, as well as tenpin bowling and other gaming attractions that have become synonymous with Lane7 . The unique make-up of the site will also allow for some of the Midlands’ most popular street food trucks to take up temporary residencies within Lane7.
Lane7 says Leicester should be operational in early 2020 and has revealed its site in Sheffield city centre will also be open ‘within months’ and has also confirmed that it has secured new sites in Bristol and Cardiff with initial plans to have the doors open on both before the end of 2020.
And in a departure from its usual format, the owners of Lane7 are also planning to relaunch the Star Bowl site in North Tyneside, which closed in February. It will be their first foray into the family-friendly tenpin bowling market on the site that sits opposite a retail park. Until now, Lane7’s expansion has concentrated on appealing to the a late-night, city centre crowd.
Operations director, Rachel Lee, said: “We’re so excited about our future plans. Leicester is an enormous project for us. Frankly, we’re bored if we’re not pushing the boundaries. Putting boutique bowling at the centre of a container-style village is something that’s never been attempted in the UK before.”
Of its expansion into family friendly venues, she added: “North Tyneside was too good an opportunity to turn down, so we’re looking forward to bringing Star Bowl back to life as a family-friendly venue. We know this area brilliantly and this is going to be a fantastic and much-needed family attraction to a thriving part of suburban Newcastle. The feel and appearance of the site will be in keeping with the very best of Lane7’s brand values.”
Lane7 launched its first site in central Newcastle in late 2013 and has since gone on to open additional sites in Aberdeen, Middlesbrough, Birmingham and Liverpool. While all of its sites are centred on tenpin bowling and contemporary late-night drinks, it has won fans across the UK with surprise additions, including pool, private karaoke booths, mini golf, darts, retro arcades and shuffle board.
