Is The Marina Bowlplex the worst run establishment in Brighton?

[Goring-by-Seagull]

Avoid the Bowlplex like the plague. I went there once when it first opened to check it out (with me being a bowler and all) and it's just a money-making nightclub with a poorly run bowling alley whacked inside.

The King Alfred was britain's oldest bowling centre.. I think that title now goes to Yarmouth. I'm a bit young to remember it that well. The guys who used to run it are now in The Rose and Crown down montague street.

 

[Superphil]

Have you visited the 1901 Club?

This!

 

[Canonman]

See also Black Rock and the area between the Marina and the Volks Railway. Proper eyesore - any ideas what to put there??

I thought there were plans for an Ice Arena at one point, could have brought The Tigers back.

 

[symyjym]

the one at the king alfred is still like 'there' apparently...pins are still up and everything

really want someone to break in and take photos

Here is a photo of the King Alfred bowling lane:

 

[Paris]

Anyone remember the bowlplex they had down North Street? Think it was called Jumping Jacks.

Yeah, it had tiny lanes with glow in the dark pins. Strange place.

*Laser warriors was in Western Road wasn't it? I think the one down the King Alfred was called Megazone.

 

[Mellotron]

I love a bit of ten pin but it is INSANELY expensive for the "consumer experience" that you get.

 

[Shoreham Gull]

Here is a photo of the King Alfred bowling lane:

View attachment 46829

Yep still looks same as before pins all up and all that,,

Better then the bowlplex mind you haha,
what ever happened to the pool tables at the bowl plex marina only good reason for going there?

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I thought there were plans for an Ice Arena at one point, could have brought The Tigers back.

That would be tremendous, having a local ice hockey team to support as well as the Albion. Come to think of it, is there no way the Albion could put in some kind of surface so they could hold ice hockey at the Amex as well as football? Not beyond the wit of man, shirley, and would generate some much needed income.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

Here is a photo of the King Alfred bowling lane:

View attachment 46829

The sad thing is, that was a year or so BEFORE closure.

... and still a better experience than Bowlplex!

 

[Colossal Squid]

That would be tremendous, having a local ice hockey team to support as well as the Albion. Come to think of it, is there no way the Albion could put in some kind of surface so they could hold ice hockey at the Amex as well as football? Not beyond the wit of man, shirley, and would generate some much needed income.

Whilst putting in a temporary ice rink surface would be doable, installing a roof might be the stumbling block

 

[Colossal Squid]

I've never really "got" bowling. Seems to be one of those things thats been created just to provide entertainment to kids who aren't old enough to get served in pubs yet.

They also clean up for office nights out because it's a relatively cheap evening's entertainment that doesn't revolve around drinking. But it just makes me feel like a teenager, angst ridden and grumpy, surrounded by other poxy kids, most of whom are considerably better than me at bowling.

Bowlplex NO THANKS

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Whilst putting in a temporary ice rink surface would be doable, installing a roof might be the stumbling block

Good point, well made.

 

[MissGull]

Yep king Alfred was megazone and Lazer Warriors was Western Road where the auction rooms used to be.

 

[GingerBeerMan]

That would be tremendous, having a local ice hockey team to support as well as the Albion. Come to think of it, is there no way the Albion could put in some kind of surface so they could hold ice hockey at the Amex as well as football? Not beyond the wit of man, shirley, and would generate some much needed income.

Probably a bit out of the way to generate enough income to make it worthwhile

 

[symyjym]

That would be tremendous, having a local ice hockey team to support as well as the Albion. Come to think of it, is there no way the Albion could put in some kind of surface so they could hold ice hockey at the Amex as well as football? Not beyond the wit of man, shirley, and would generate some much needed income.

It would be possible to erect an ice rink above the King Alfred old ten pin bowling site, and yes we should resurrect the Brighton Tigers.

 

[Publius Ovidius]

No that will be the virgin club at falmer....yet again the outside pool closed due to " chlorine issues" FFS. ...and the gym aircon was crap over the summer, the brand new machines have no fans and they have stopped Pilates on Thursday night.

It's bloody expensive and they don't give a toss about the paying members.

 

[The Wizard]

Never any issues there apart from a couple of pins falling down randomly but they always send someone down within about 5 minutes or so to sort it out. Been there loads never had an issue but perhaps I'm just lucky.

 

[Colossal Squid]

No that will be the virgin club at falmer....yet again the outside pool closed due to " chlorine issues" FFS. ...and the gym aircon was crap over the summer, the brand new machines have no fans and they have stopped Pilates on Thursday night.

It's bloody expensive and they don't give a toss about the paying members.

Actually that's a bloody good shout. I've just cancelled my membership there as they really macked me off with their f ups over membership fees (they overcharged me one month and it took me TWO MONTHS to resolve). The air con was a complete joke over the Summer and what's more if you use the gym at peak times, e.g. after work weekdays, there is next to ZERO chance of getting into a class. In fact you have to sit up at your computer at MIDNIGHT a week in advance just so you can be among the first to book yourself in. I complained about this several times and they just told me to do the midnight thing. Well frankly I like go GO TO SLEEP before midnight on weekdays so I don't see why I should have to stay up late just to book myself into a fitness class that I'M ALREADY PAYING FOR. Why not get MORE instructors in and put on MORE classes to cope with the demand? Oh no, that would cost money.

I've now signed up at The Gym down on the seafront and am saving myself £50 a month by doing so. OK it doesn't have a pool or any exercise classes but given I didn't get to use either at Virgin anyway, it makes little difference.

The gym actually has BETTER equipment and MORE machines so even at peak times you can get on the gear you want to use. Plus I can walk there, which saves me having to deal with the nightmarish traffic getting off the A27 at Falmer which was ALWAYS congested.

Frankly for the premium they charge you'd expect a premium service, and you just don't get anything near it.

I'd be interested to know what equivalent clubs in Brighton charge, by comparison. i.e. David Lloyd, LA Fitness and Fitness First.

 

[MICK PATCHAM]

No .Go frequently ...its fine ...staff disinterested as any other sulky min wage kids .

 

[The Wizard]

@Collosal Squid - I pay 50 a month for David Lloyds as they do an 18-20 deal where you get 33% off so it's 72 normally for adults but its a fantastic gym I've been to plenty of gym across Brighton and I believe they have the highest quality equipment, good selection of free weights, at least 15 of each cardio equipment so plenty of options and great selection of all free classes as of course swimming pool/jacuzzi/sauna which is always nice after a work out. Generally if you pay more you get your money's worth but obviously I guess 70 odd is quite steep but IMO worth it if you are going to use it a lot.