IT’S BEEN an office supplies shop, then a music store. Now it could be converted into a boutique bowling alley – the third such site for the Ding after years without.
The former Dawsons shop on Caversham Road is the planned destination for Bowl Central’s third entertainment centre.
There will be seven bowling lanes, three interactive dart boards, and other gaming areas.
Tracy Standish, Bowl Central’s director, said: “I call it pins and prizes.
“The pins side will be the bowling, darts and shuffleboards, which will be primarily for adults, teens and corporate events.
“Then the prizes section will be more family-orientated. Children can play games to collect tickets, which can then be redeemed for prizes.
“There will be two distinct areas in one location, with a cocktail bar and lounge anchoring the whole thing together.”
Mr Standish added that the plan is to sell food, such as pizzas, paninis and salads.
The interactive darts involves having a dartboard with sensors on it.
Each of three boards are equipped with cameras that capture people’s reactions when they play.
Mr Standish has ‘lifelong experience’ in the bowling and entertainment industry, and is looking forward to bringing Bowl Central to Reading.
He said: “I set up Bowlplex, which became a nationwide company.
“Bowl Central is more boutique and focused on town centre locations, whereas Bowlplex was usually located ‘out of town’.”
Mr Standish ended up selling Bowlplex.
The first Bowl Central was opened in Bournemouth, with a second location due to open in Fareham, near Portsmouth.
The Bowl Central in Reading will be the first with the interactive dartboards and shuffleboards.
Ahead of taking over the old Dawsons unit, Bowl Central’s owning company KTO Ltd has submitted a licensing application for the bar that will be located inside of it.
It has applied to sell alcohol on site from 10am to midnight from Sunday to Thursday, and 10am to 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, sell food until midnight from Sunday to Thursday, and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
It has also applied to play music from 10am to midnight from Sunday to Thursday, and 10am to 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Reading used to have a bowling alley at Calcot, on the site that is now IKEA. Last year, Spinners opened in Broad St Mall, and plans to convert House of Fraser in The Oracle into another alley were approved in March 2020, but work has yet to begin.
