Roxy Ball Room’s first London outpost, tucked underground opposite the Gherkin, has built a rave following since opening last year. Now the competitive socialising chain is doubling down with a second site on Old Street, and bookings are open ahead of the 16 July launch.
Roxy Ball Room’s coming to Old Street with a bang next month. The format will be familiar if you’ve been to any of Roxy’s other UK venues: a sprawling, 13,500 sq ft space built around duck pin bowling, American pool, tech darts, tech shuffle, karaoke and basketball, all under one roof with a rock and indie soundtrack running through it. If you haven’t encountered duck pin bowling before, it’s worth knowing what you’re in for: shorter lanes, lighter balls, three rolls per frame instead of two, and a knack that rewards finesse over brute force far more than you’d expect.
What sets Roxy apart from London’s increasingly crowded competitive socialising scene is the sheer range under one roof rather than betting everything on a single gimmick. The St Mary Axe site has built a reputation for being genuinely good for big groups, with the variety of games being one of the strongest draws, alongside a food menu of American-style bites that punches well above what you’d expect from a venue built primarily around bowling and beer pong.
Old Street is a great choice for site number two. It’s an over-18s venue, open late into the week, and sits squarely in the after-work-drinks and weekend-celebration territory we all love. For bigger groups, there’s a dedicated events team for bookings over 30, which makes it a reasonable shout for work socials as well as birthdays and stag and hen do detours.
The London x London Take: Shoreditch already has Boom Battle Bar and a handful of other competitive socialising venues within easy reach, so Roxy will need to earn its place. The duck pin bowling and the sheer range of games on offer give it a genuine point of difference. Worth booking for a group rather than going solo.
Need to Know
- Where: 241 Old Street, London EC1V 9EY
- Opens: Thursday 16 July 2026
- Age restriction: 18+
- Activities: Duck pin bowling, American pool, tech darts, tech shuffle, karaoke, basketball
