Bowling for Everyone
Your Game. Your Pace. Your Place.
At Stroud Bowl, we want children, young people and adults with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), their families, carers and support workers to feel welcome. Whether you are bowling for the first time or planning a group activity, our team can discuss equipment, sensory adjustments and practical requirements before you visit.
SEND-Friendly Daytime Bowling
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays | 9:00am–3:00pm | During school term time and throughout the summer holidays.
These SEND-friendly daytime bowling (term time and summer holidays; not other school holidays) periods are offered on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9am–3pm, during school term time and throughout the summer holidays. They do not run during other school holidays (including half-term, Easter and Christmas holidays).
There is no glow bowling during these hours and background music is kept at a reduced volume. Bowling machinery, pins, arcade activity and other visitors may still make noise, so the venue is not silent or sensory-free. Wednesday is a particular focus for home-education families, but all three days are available.
Staff can explain the game and demonstrate equipment. Bowling ramps are available, and individual automatic bumpers are fitted on 12 of our 16 lanes. Customers or accompanying carers currently position bowling ramps.
SEND-friendly daytime sessions are part of ordinary centre operations and do not guarantee low attendance or exclusive use. Please contact us if this may be a barrier, or to check availability and discuss your requirements.
Home Education Bowling
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9:00am–3:00pm, during school term time and throughout summer holidays | £5.50 per game per person. No sessions during other school holidays.
Home-educated children and families are welcome to enjoy bowling, exercise, social time and a fun activity together. Wednesday is our primary focus for home education, with Tuesday and Thursday daytime sessions also available. Please check lane availability before travelling.
Nine Is Fine - Inclusive Bowling League
Every Tuesday | 4:30pm–6:30pm | £10 per person for two games.
Nine Is Fine is a friendly league for beginners and experienced bowlers of different abilities. We use 9-pin no-tap scoring: knock down nine or more pins with the first ball and it counts as a strike. There is no need to register in advance; simply turn up, subject to lane capacity. We welcome individuals, families, carers, supported-living groups and community organisations.
Tiny Pins - Under-5s
Under-fives bowl free with a full-paying adult during eligible Tiny Pins sessions. The accompanying adult must be bowling and paying the applicable full adult price. Please contact us to confirm session times, availability and any other conditions before visiting.
Schools, SEND Groups and Supported Visits
We welcome enquiries from schools, SEND groups, supported-living organisations and community partners. Our team can discuss group sizes, booking arrangements, accessibility, bowling equipment and sensory preferences in advance.
Sensory Information
Bowling centres can be noisy and visually stimulating. We want families to know what to expect.
- Background music can normally be reduced or switched off independently in the bowling area,
including on the day. - There is no glow bowling during the scheduled SEND-friendly daytime periods (Tuesday–Thursday
9am–3pm in term time and throughout the summer holidays); these sessions do not operate in other school holidays. - Additional effect-lighting changes outside the standard daytime setup need a specially arranged
session. - Some other noise sources can be reduced where operationally possible, but machinery and other
customers remain audible. - Our team can suggest generally quieter periods, without guaranteeing a quiet centre.
- If someone becomes overwhelmed, staff can help pause bowling and discuss leaving the bowling
area. There is currently no suitable dedicated quiet room or separate quiet break area.
Accessibility & Getting Here
Entrance and lift
The entrance route includes steps. A passenger lift provides an alternative route to Stroud Bowl, and the route from the lift to reception is step-free. Lift doorway dimensions and capacity still need verification; please contact us before visiting if you use a large wheelchair or mobility aid.
Lanes, ramps and seating
Permanent built-in ramps lead to the bowling areas. Wheelchair users can sit alongside their groups at most lanes and seating areas. Bowling ramps are available, and bumpers can be set for individual players on 12 of 16 lanes. Please request suitable equipment and lanes in advance if required.
Accessible toilet
A wheelchair-accessible toilet is on the same level as reception and bowling. It has reported wheelchair turning and transfer space and a tested, working emergency assistance alarm. Detailed fitting measurements remain to be recorded.
Parking
Designated disabled parking bays are available in the building or associated car park, but parking charges apply. The assessed route from these bays to the passenger lift has unavoidable steps; an alternative step-free route from parking has not been confirmed. Please contact the team before travelling if you need step-free access from your vehicle.
Emergency evacuation
Emergency exits involve full staircases, and the ordinary passenger lift is not available for emergency evacuation. There is no evacuation chair or designated refuge currently identified. Our preliminary disabled-person evacuation assessment has been approved by our fire risk assessor, but individual practical arrangements and outstanding actions must still be checked. If you cannot use stairs independently, please speak to the duty manager BEFORE your visit so that an appropriate evacuation arrangement can be confirmed. Do not assume that the passenger lift can be used in a fire.
Bowling shoes and additional support
Bowling shoes are ordinarily required. If disability or medical needs make these unsuitable, contact the team in advance to discuss the current exemption procedure and reasonable adjustments. Staff can explain rules, demonstrate equipment and help people start bowling, but dedicated continuous one-to-one personal support is not a standard service; please discuss any such needs before visiting.
Prices & Concessions
| Nine Is Fine | £10 per person / two games, Tuesdays 4:30–6:30pm |
| SEND-friendly daytime bowling (term time and summer holidays; not other school holidays) | Eligible concession rate £5.50 per game; £5 on Tuesdays |
| Home Education Bowling | £5.50 per game per person |
| Tiny Pins under-fives | Free with full-paying bowling adult, eligible session conditions apply |
| Non-bowling accompanying carer/support worker | Free admission |
| Bowling accompanying carer | Concessionary rate: £5.50 per game, or £5 on Tuesdays |
Concessionary prices apply only to specified eligible customer categories. Please contact reception for eligibility details; these categories are still to be finalised for website publication.
Plan Your Visit
We are creating a photographic visit guide, also available as a printable PDF, to help families see the entrance, lift, reception, bowling equipment, lane areas and accessible toilet before they come. This resource is in preparation and will be linked here once real venue photographs are added.
- Before you arrive: check availability and tell us any adjustments you would like to discuss.
- At reception: our team can direct you to the lanes and explain the booking.
- Getting ready: collect suitable bowling shoes or discuss an exemption; choose your bowling
equipment. - During your game: staff can explain the scoring and equipment; let us know if you need a pause.
- At the end: return borrowed shoes and ask us about future inclusive bowling opportunities.
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Do I need experience?
No. Beginners are welcome and staff can explain the game.
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Are SEND-friendly sessions quiet?
Music is reduced and glow bowling is off; bowling machinery and other customers are still audible.
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When do SEND-friendly session run?
They run Tuesday–Thursday, 9am–3pm, in school term time and throughout the summer holidays, but not during other school holidays.
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Can music be turned down?
Yes, normally on the day in the bowling area.
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Can lighting be changed?
There is no glow bowling during the scheduled Tuesday–Thursday daytime SEND-friendly periods (term time and summer holidays only). Other effect-lighting changes need a specially arranged session.
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Can I bring a carer?
Yes. A carer or support worker attending to provide support but not bowling pays no admission charge. A carer or support worker who bowls pays the concessionary bowling price: £5.50 per game, or £5 on Tuesdays. Free attendance does not include free bowling.
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Can I just come to Nine Is Fine?
Yes, subject to lane availability, Tuesdays 4:30–6:30pm.
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Is the building wheelchair accessible?
There is a lift, internal ramps and an accessible toilet, but parking-to-lift access has steps and emergency evacuation arrangements must be discussed individually. Please contact us first if those barriers affect you.
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Is there a quiet room?
No suitable separate quiet space is currently available.
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Can staff provide one-to-one care?
Dedicated continuous personal support is not a standard service; please discuss support needs before visiting.
Gabriel MercerI’ve started bowling with a few of my friends and I have to say going to Stroud bowling is not just a day out but a full on experience, where the staff are more than happy to have a great chat, teach you some moves, and give you an all round excellent experience.
