Bowling alley closes after 55 years

A POPULAR bowling alley in Newcastle has closed its doors to the shock of customers, many of whom were given just hours to collect their belongings.

MFA Bowl Newcastle, on Westgate Road, closed for business yesterday, marking the end of the bowling alley’s 55-year history.

Regular bowlers were informed of the site’s closure via a Facebook message sent by the site’s manager, who said: “To all league bowlers at Newcastle Bowl, unfortunately with immediate effect the centre is now closed. We are trying to arrange to get people’s equipment out but as of 2pm today I will not be able to get back into the centre at any time.

“My apologies for the short notice... Currently, as I message you all, we are organising a transit van to empty all the lockers into so your equipment is not locked on site. We have until 2pm today to do this.”

A video has also been posted online at the centre turning off the lights at the bowling alley as the business closed. A voice on the video says: “The end of a chapter, the current closure of Newcastle Bowl. Hopefully we will see you very soon.”

It is unknown whether the bowling alley has closed for good or whether it will reopen under new ownership.

MFA Bowl Newcastle can trace its history back to 1911 when the premises originally opened as the Brighton Electric Theatre. The 767-seat theatre was converted into a cinema 1947 and then a 10-pin bowling alley in 1963.

A notice has been placed outside the bowling alley informing customers that the site has closed. It added that those with enquiries should contact Doncaster-based Absolute Recovery Limited.

A representative from Absolute declined to comment on the closure, and refused to say whether the closure was part of wider proceedings taking place across its parent company MFA Bowl.