Last year plans were announced for a Union Street gym to take on an entirely new lease of life. Roxy Lanes, a gaming venue with locations nationwide, set out to take to Bristol.
It promised to be the "new all day and night destination in Bristol" with capacity of 350. The new Bristol venue joined others in Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham, Liverpool and Leeds.
The venue merges drinking with "competitive gaming," with activities like ice-free curling, shuffleboard, basketball and 'batting cages' available to book. Ten-pin bowling starts at £8 each, while karaoke rooms are priced from £24 for up to 20 people for an hour.
READ MORE: First look at Roxy Lanes in Bristol
The opening has certainly created a buzz across Bristol, so I took a visit to give it a try. Despite not being the biggest bowling fan, all of the other elements on offer piqued my interest.
The first activity I tried out was the 'batting cages'. I wasn't sure what to expect but was greeted by quite literally a cage where balls are launched at you; I promise it was more fun that it sounds.
You enter you details, choosing whether you want to play with a baseball bat or a tennis racket - as well as your difficulty level. I initially chose the hardest level, on the staff member's recommendation, but didn't last a single round.
I then admitted defat and changed to an easier level, where I actually managed to hit the ball. Hitting different sections in the cage meant a different number of points and it was certainly the perfect game of competitive fun.
The staff were so helpful and attentive and whilst playing we were brought two of their 'ping-star martinis' which were absolutely delicious and good fuel for the fun we were having.
Next on our agenda was the 'ice-free curling', another game I had never tried out but am now convinced I could play at Olympic level. The aim is to slide your puck on the target with the winner being whoever gets closer to the centre - and after adjusting my technique, I became quite the star player!
The bowling alleys are the star of the show at Roxy Lanes and it must be said that I am not a lover of the sport, mainly because I'm absolutely rubbish at it. But, it was decent fun nevertheless - despite the fact I managed to accumulate a total of 11 points by the end of the ten rounds; something I blame on my long gel manicure hindering my skills.
Our visit was during the day and there were groups of families and friends all enjoying the various activities. Roxy Lanes doubles as a day and night time venue, meaning that whilst it's a great spot for family fun, later on in the day it's perfect for an evening with friends and drinks.
After finishing our activities, we ordered two pizzas to enjoy, the meat feast and the spicy meatball. And whilst it wasn't the best pizza I've had in my life, it did the job, and Roxy Lanes pitches itself as an activity venue and not a restaurant after all.
I think Roxy Lanes is a great addition to Bristol and they've done well to make it fun for an all-adult evening out as well as a family-friendly spot.
