MFA Bowl ILKESTON

I have been bowling here now for over thirty years in three leagues with a low handicap, but I have never seen such fowl lane conditions as today. The owners of the bowl need to put money into the premises instead of just taking money off punters and league bowlers alike, it's daylight robbery. If you were wanting to bowl here on a night out, don't bother the centre as become awful. There are lots and lots of slot machines again positioned to take your money. Drinks are pricey, compared to the town centre, and food that's a joke just look around to see how many people are eating, or not. Many of the staff are very friendly but some are only there to pick up a pay cheque at the end of the month. The biggest problem is that it is run down and needs lots of refurbishment to make it fit for purpose. For a seasoned bowler the lane conditions are so erratic it is difficult to enhance your game. Get real owners or the financial rewards of this bowl will go down hill rapidly

We have been going here for years, but not for a while, so we thought that we would go again.
Tried booking on-line, but no confirmation arrived before the time that we had to leave. An hour after booking, still no confirmation.
Arrived to an almost empty bowling alley with the two women at the check in desk just chatting.
This place is so run down, inside and out. It needs a really good spruce up and a better atmosphere.
Loads of tacky slot machines as you walk through the door.
Our grandson had a go on the win a toy crane, but the controls were faulty and he stood no chance of picking anything up (£1 wasted).
You can now wear your own shoes (a retrograde step) and you no longer get a print out of your scores - much to our Grandson's disappointment.
I know people who now travel further, to get a better, and more professional, bowling experience. These are casual bowlers!
Sadly, I don't expect 'Ilkeston Bowl' to be around much longer, which would be a great shame.

Unfortunately the bowling alley is now very run down. Looks derelict from the outside and on the inside it hasn’t been updated for at least 2 decades possibly more. The pinsetter machinery is old and in need of serious maintenance or replacement, the tv screens for the scoring are ancient CRT tv’s that are well beyond it and the bowling ball return system is temperamental. During our 3 games, the pinsetter packed up 4 times and the maintenance tech that was on duty looked like he was ready to rage quit his job and it took him an age to get it running again each time. There were 2 front of house staff on and they were rushed off their feet and not able to provide any sort of customer service at all. Such a shame as in the early noughties it was a really good place. It’s time for the owners to invest and come up to the modern standard.

Wouldn't go here again if you paid me. Very run down inside and outside and dirty!! Rubbish all over the floor which would have been from previous day as we was there when it opened at 12. The toilets are vile!! The smell of wee that hits you in the face about made me sick. Very damp smell in the main area to. Wouldn't recommend to no one. Avoid at all cost . We didn't enjoy it we left half way through the game and let someone else play whos game had finished

Not a bad place to be fair, you just have to pop in and have a game or few with a few beers kids love it......

We visited here on Boxing Day with the family. Where do I start!!
* The toilets smelt of urine
* It was that cold that people were bowling in coats and woolly hats
* A chemical bottle and cleaning cloths were left on low level machines (so a child could have easily picked it up)
* We moved lanes as the one we were originally on kept breaking, but the one they moved us to still kept breaking.
Even before I had aired my concerns with the assistant manager she offered me a free return visit.
I declined the offer as we will definitely not be returning. I have emailed the head office and the reply I received was… the toilets are cleaned every night and morning. With regards to the cold venue… it’s a big building so takes along time to heat up!!!
Nothing about the chemicals being left out or about the malfunctioning equipment.
As for the toilets, they clearly aren’t being cleaned correctly and with the building being so big to heat, why not switch it on a bit earlier so it warms through!!!!
Sorry but not a place I would recommend to an Eskimo or someone who works in the sewer industry 😂

Been here a few times yonks ago and for the first time this year, and really please to say very relax atmosphere and great place to do practice bowling if your into competitive teams going against others,also a fun night out with your love ones, with other amusing things from darts , pool table and arcade sections, a lovely little bar and cafe, this place seem to be going back to the good old days wheres there's not so much shove into your face.

First time here, staff were great, food was spot on. Great value.