Inside how Hollywood Bowl will look when it reopens with plastic gloves, no bowling shoes and fewer lanes

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BOWLING shoes will be a thing if of the past when Hollywood Bowl reopens next month.

Customers will be encouraged to wear their own footwear, with heels and open-toed shoes banned.

Hollywood Bowl is preparing to welcome back customers after almost three months

HOAR had exclusive access to Hollywood Bowl as it prepares to reopen with new social distancing rules, including fewer lanes and gloves to wear while you bowl or play in the arcade.

The entertainment chain’s 61 venues across the UK have been shut since March 20 after the government ordered all “non-essential” stores and services to close.

It now plans on reopening 54 sites in England on July 4, with branches in Scotland and Wales expected to follow later that month, as long as government guidance allows it.

As you enter a Hollywood Bowl venue, you’ll be greeted by the familiar bright lights of the lanes, as well as the noise of bowling balls crashing into pins.

The atmosphere at the site I visited in Lakeside in Essex made me eager to pick up a ball and start playing – after all, it’s been a long time since any of us have had a night out.

Every other lane will be sectioned off when Hollywood Bowl reopens

Staff will have increased cleaning regimes to keep lanes health and safety friendly

Bowling balls will be cleaned by staff after every game, as seen above

Before you get inside, a member of staff will be at the entrance to check if you’ve pre-booked online.

You’ll still be able to turn up without a booking during the week – although you may have to queue while you wait for a free lane. At weekends you won’t be able to bowl unless you’ve booked.

If you haven’t already paid for your lane, you’ll still be able to do this at till points, which have now been fitted with perspex screens.

Like most retailers, Hollywood Bowl is encouraging guests to use contactless and card payments although it will still accept cash.

Once inside, you’ll notice one-way directional markers on the floor and hand sanitiser stations dotted around the venue.

One-way directional markers have been installed to show you which way to walk

Hand sanitiser stations have been placed around venues

Perspex screens have been fitted at till points to help protect staff

Disposable plastic gloves will also be provided for customers who wish to use them, although this won’t be compulsory.

I decided to use these when having a practice bowl and thankfully it didn’t seem to hamper my grip – although, I still failed to get a strike.

Aside from being able to wear your own shoes, the biggest change you’ll notice is that every other lane has been sectioned off.

I was surprised by how spacious this made your bowling area but I’m a little bit worried about how hard it will be to book, especially at weekends.

Balls will be cleaned after each game along with the touch screens, seats and tables.

Gloves will be provided, as seen on reporter Levi Winchester, although customers don’t have to wear them

There will be bins to dispose of your gloves once you’ve finished your game

To get to the bowling lanes, we had to walk through the venue’s arcade area which was eerily quiet due to all the machines being switched off.

But when venues reopen, every other machine will be switched back on to enable customers to maintain a safe distance.

Hollywood Bowl will also still be serving food, with cutlery and sauces provided to guests at their table.

HOAR’s Levi Winchester in action on the bowling lane

Darryl Lewis, operations director at Hollywood Bowl, was on hand to talk about the new chanegs

Darryl Lewis, operations director at Hollywood Bowl, told HOAR he can’t wait to inject a bit of fun back into the lives of customers next month.

He said: “This has been 12 weeks in the making and I cannot wait for the first customers to get booked in and through the door.”

Overall, the changes at Hollywood Bowl aren’t too in-your-face and certainly won’t interrupt your game of bowling.

I think for most Brits, fun is definitely needed after a long time in lockdown and I’m excited for venues to start opening again. Hopefully this time I’ll get a strike!

Hollywood Bowl is now accepting bookings for games via its website, with slots available from July 4.

For more behind the scenes stories, we’ve looked at how Greene King pubs will look when they reopen next month.

Plus, here’s all the changes you can expect when you visit an Intu shopping centre now “non-essential” stores are open.

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