The opening date for Cardiff's stylish new bowling alley and gaming venue has been revealed. Roxy Lanes is taking over the former DW Sports unit in Queen Street in the city centre and promises to "bring the playground to the bar" with a host of games and activities.
The chain currently has seven sites across the UK – in Leeds, Bristol, Manchester, Nottingham, Birmingham, Liverpool, and Sheffield – but the new Cardiff branch will be its first in Wales. Permission for the site at The Friary was granted in December, nearly 18 months after DW Sports collapsed into administration and left the unit vacant.
As well as 10-pin bowling a range of activities will be on offer at Roxy Lanes with pool, shuffleboard, beer pong, basketball, air hockey, and ice-free curling all under one roof as well a batting cage, live sport, and karaoke. There's not long to go until visitors can try out the games for themselves with the venue set to open its door for the first time on April 14 with bookings already being taken. While opening times are yet to be confirmed the bowling alley is expected to remain open from 10am to 1.30am between Sunday and Wednesday and from 10am to 3.30am from Thursday to Saturday.
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In addition to all the activities guests at Roxy Lanes can expect a cocktail menu offering classics including Long Island ice teas and pina coladas as well as signature cocktails. These include the Roxy Spritz, made up of Amaretto, prosecco, lemon, and grenadine, and the Perfect Game, which includes Beefeater pink gin, limoncello, and fresh strawberries. Their food menu features hand-rolled Italian pizzas and 'Roxy dogs' which are served with fries and BBQ seasoning.
It's not just for adults either. Unlike its sister bar, Roxy Ball Room, Roxy Lanes allows under-18s to join in with the fun until 5pm as long as they are supervised by an adult.
While the opening is set to be welcomed by games fans in Cardiff, however, the new venue has previously been criticised with local councillors expressing concern over the prospect of a licensed premises being set up in the busy shopping district. Cardiff council ward member for Cathays, Norma Mackie, claimed that the city is "at risk of losing many visitors and shoppers" if it continues to allow more shops to become licensed premises with fears that "another St Mary Street" could be created.
After a licensing application for the bowling alley was submitted to the council she added: "Shoppers are likely to be exposed to more intoxicated people with the anti-social behaviour that brings, putting off more people and especially families from coming to Queen Street and creating more work for the police and other services.
"Cardiff now has sufficient licensed activity outlets with a number of new venues being allowed to open over the last two years. This should stop and time should be given to try and encourage more shopping outlets to take over premises that are closing. We do not want to create another St Mary Street with all the antisocial behaviour it brings."
The first Roxy Lanes bowling alley opened in Leeds in 2014 with the business soon expanding across the UK. It opened new venues in Sheffield and Bristol in 2022 while it also has plans to open its first Scottish alley in Edinburgh.
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