Hollywood Bowl Poole Tower Park — Attraction in England

Visited today, on a rainy day during the summer holidays. The whole of the Tower Park complex was packed (20 minutes to find a parking space) and when we arrived we were told there were no bowling lanes available for several hours - which was to be expected.

So I decided, now we're finally parked (!) to order milkshakes and coffee from the diner in the bowling alley. I was told that only large milkshakes were available because 'that's just how we make them' and after I argued the point, was charged the medium price that I wanted to spend in the first place. Took 35 minutes for 3 milkshakes and 1 coffee to be made, at a time when no more than 10 customers were served between me ordering and me having to go back up to the counter to question where they were.

Lady at the counter pushed them my way and said 'there you go' (no apology for the wait etc)

After booking a 16.30 time slot for bowling, was told at 16.20 that there was a 45-60 minute wait to bowl. After speaking to a different member of staff, a lane became free at 16.40 and my children and I bowled!?!

Shame, as the facilities are great and modern, with a much easier to use navigation touch screen to set up the bowling and add/remove the buffers per person throughout the time bowling, making the experience much more self sufficient rather than having to rely and call upon staff every time.

Sadly my family and I won't return during anything that resembles a busy period as the lack of staff, and general customer service skills/politeness of those working, is the reason for the low score and sour taste...

A decent bowling alley with half a dozen American pool tables that are pay per play. It has a bar and a small diner section.

The last few times i have been i have had issues with incorrect scoring (points being given for no reason or missing points) and pins not being set up properly (missing pins).

I don't mind if it happens the once but seems to be every time I go at the moment. And looking at the reviews here I am not the only person it has happened to.

It can be frustrating and ruin a game that would otherwise be competitive If you regularly bowl with mates.

It used to be a very good alley. But I feel like it is in the early stages of becoming run down.

As well as the the bowling issues, the arcade machines regularly eat my money, bar service is often slow, and I don't expect bowling alley toilets to be of a high standard but they were particularly grotty last time I went.

It is a shame as at night with the lights on it can have a really good atmosphere and I used to think it was a great alley.

But quite honestly, if another alley opens up in Bournemouth or Poole I am likely go there instead.

Luckily for Hollywood Bowl, it is the only bowling alley around.

Despite my moans, there are enough lanes that you don't usually have to wait. And if kept to the standard it was at when it opened, it would be a great...

• V.I.P GARBAGE PIT *

Turned up to Hollywood a few weeks ago with a group of five. We turned up at a busy time but there where no lanes available unless we paid extra for V.I.P. As a group we decided it was a good idea after being assured we would have a better experience. Well on arrival of lane 13 we entered a garbage pit. Obviously a party hand been in there and it hadn’t been cleaned. Sweets, wrappers, drinks, popped balloons and even a handbag left behind! For paying extra for this lane it is not what you expect when your purchasing anything let alone V.I.P! It took them twenty five minutes before someone turned up to clean it! We also ordered drinks from the bar which took right up to the end of our first game before they arrived. The staff said that they were understaffed and they didn’t know it was a public holiday?!

After our experience I attempted to get hold of Hollywood bowl to sort out the issue at the disappointing Experience and even then the customer service is poor. My first email was “misplaced” and my second was asking for information we were never given, then when I replied with what we did know my email gets ignored for a second time.

If you want bad customer service and rubbish while bowl this is the...