Strike

Bowling alleys.

They’re one of the only places where the employees are encouraged to strike.

And now Southwest London’s just scored its first “boutique bowling alley”, which you’ll find in Wandsworth’s fancy new Ram’s Quarter development (near to spots like London Stock, and Backyard Cinema) – and it’s basically an all-in-one activity bar.

The two storey space is housed in a beautiful Grade-II listed building, which they’ve fitted out in a laid-back industrial style, complete with cast iron furnishings, copper fittings, and bare brick walls, all bathed in the orange glow of carbon filament bulbs. Upstairs, the place is crowned by its quartet of plush, polished Brunswick bowling lanes chaperoned by their own cocktails bar. Head down the stairs (which are wrapped around the huge fresh beer tanks, filled direct by Meantime’s unpasteurised lager) and you’ll come to the main bar, a small seating area, and the other games.

Other games? Why yes, this bowling alley also has three Flight Club-style electronic-assisted darts boards, two Electric Shuffle-style high tech shuffleboard lanes, and three duckpin bowling lanes. Just in case you’re not from 19th century Baltimore, we’ll just give a quick rundown of what that entails – it’s an old variation on Bowling from East coast America, in which you hurl a grapefruit sized ball down a half-length alley at pins that are dangled from strings. It makes for a much quicker, simpler game, and it’s immense fun.

Both bars are shaking house original cocktails, ranging from the light (the Pickford Punch brightens up its rum with maraschino, grenadine, and pineapple), to the intense (the Cocktail With No Name is kind of like a mint julep, only it involves habanero chilli infused bourbon), to the eyebrow-cocking (the Russian Float brings vodka, lime, ginger beer, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream to the party). Of course, there’s that tank-fresh beer too, plus taps from Sambrooks Brewery which is literally next door. In fact, all the beer comes from South London breweries.

The food is an ode to souped-up diner classics, with raclette burgers, stone baked pizzas, truffle Mac & cheese, buttermilk pancakes, and you can top it all off with an ice cream sundae, which perhaps ironically…

…doesn’t come in a bowl.

NOTE: Strike is open daily, 10am-midnight (1am Fri/Sat). Games start at £9.95 per person – you can find out more, and book ahead, HERE.

Strike | 74 Wandsworth High Street, The Ram Quarter, London SW18 4LB

Like ruthlessly crushing your friends in a little light-hearted competition? Check out London’s best activity bars.