Croc Bowling Alley
LONDON
COMPLETED 2014
The Croc Bowling Alley is set within the basement of the Ham Yard Hotel. This subterranean escape sits directly underneath a cobbled courtyard, and exudes the charm of a 1950’s bowling alley, within the luxury of a 5 star hotel.
OUR ROLE
Greenway Associates were commissioned by Firmdale to provide cost planning, construction management and procurement for the Croc Bowling Alley, found within the Ham Yard Hotel development. James Denby and Daniel Reid worked on this project together.
THE PROJECT
The Croc Bowling Alley is set in a huge subterranean space which houses an original 1950's bowling alley, stylish lounge, bar and dance floor. Imported from Texas and manufactured by the iconic Brunswick company, the monochrome bowling ball returns include original features such as hand warmers and visible return runs. The solid maple bowling lanes were specially commissioned, making it one of only a few of its kind in the UK.
The space is beautifully decorated with back-lit bowling balls, vintage bowling shoes, bowling pin lamps and large scale artworks such as crocodiles made entirely of driftwood. Bowlers bowl into a suspended brick wall with flickering candle lights and can choose to have UV pins and shoelaces.
PROJECT CHALLENGES & ACHIEVEMENTS
There were a number of challenges associated with this installation including health and safety features relating to the above ground ball return but the most memorable was working out how to install a brick wall with feature lit niches after the machines and lanes had been installed without hindering other trades which were in the finishing stages.
With limited programme and the risk of finishes being damaged we enlisted the help of our museum and exhibition contractors to create a realistic feature wall which could be completed with a couple of days on site without hindering other trades within the area. The final hand painted product is an amazing feature which is a one of a kind.
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THE LINE UP
Client: Firmdale Hotels
Designer: Kit Kemp
QS: Greenway Associates
Completed: 2015