Banbury's newest entertainment venue is now open

Banbury Bowl, next to Matalan on George Street opened its doors this afternoon unveiling a new bar area, painted and replaced decor, arcade games and pool tables and 20 bowling alleys.

New owners, Disco Bowl, took over the former MFA Bowling Alley in October after MFA went into administration earlier this year, leaving the future of the venue in doubt.

Banbury Bowl acting manager, Becky Arnold, said: "We've done all new lighting, given it a lick of paint, removed all the old bowling chair furniture and put the booths in, so it has been quite an interesting process because every time you walk in the building something new was here or something had changed."

The owners have made another important improvement, one that everyone commented on as they entered the venue and the one that any former visitor to the alley was instantly aware of.

Becky said: "We lifted all the flooring and changed all that old carpet, that was nice."

The aforementioned sticky carpet, which became so bad it acted as a sort of human fly paper, has made way for a neutral grey non sticky replacement that leads up the stairs into the largely unchanged entertainment space.

There are still 20 lanes of bowling, a new modern looking bar and the addition of an updated food kitchen and menu.

"Our pizzeria is opening this evening so everyone can come and try the new tasty pizzas," added Becky.

The venue is also running a family special which, for £25, allows a family to bowl for one hour. There are regular week day specials too.

Opening hours are between 11am to late, weekdays and 10am til late, weekends.

For more information visit the Banbury Bowl website.