Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
STRIKING BACK
CITY BOWLING ALLEY AND CRAZY GOLF TO RELAUNCH
A little-known leisure centre offering 10-pin bowling, crazy golf and laser tag is to relaunch this weekend under new management.
The entertainment facility, which is tucked away on the Wincheap Industrial Estate outside Canterbury, was previously known as Play Islands and was forced to shut at the start of the pandemic.
But it has now been rebranded as Canterbury Leisure and will open again to visitors on Sunday.
Those taking over the running of the Simmonds Road site are trying to build the public profile of the business.
The bowling alley boasts four lanes, while the indoor golf course is glow-in-the-dark and has nine holes.
Project developer Catherina Casey says interest has been strong in recent weeks.
“People weren’t very aware of the centre and what was here before, so we’re trying to properly promote it,” she said.
“Not a lot was previously made of it being here so we’re trying to change that.
“We’ve had a huge amount of calls with people interested, so that’s good.”
Adult prices for bowling start at £6.50, while golf costs £5.50 and laser tag £5.99. There is also a cafe and bar.
Earlier this month, the Gazette revealed how the city council has been encouraged by planning experts to tap into the student market to increase the leisure offering in the city centre - particularly with additional bowling alleys.
Canterbury did have a 10-pin bowling alley until 2011, when Bugsy’s Ice ‘n’ Bowl in St George’s Place shut down, leaving the MFA Bowl in Whitstable as the most popular centre in the district.
Ms Casey added: “There are lots of pubs and clubs for people to go to in Canterbury but students probably don’t want to go to nightclubs every night.
“We offer a different style of social entertainment. It’s somewhere you can have fun with friends and have some food and a drink.”