By Tenpin Bowling Proprietors Association President John Ashbridge
Top Rank Bowl Lee Circle Leicester
The purpose-built Top Rank Bowl in Lee Circle, Leicester opened on 18th April 1963 and was equipped with 36 AMF lanes and pinspotters. The centre became Top Rank’s, and the UK’s, second largest bowling centre with all lanes located on one floor. In addition to being the largest single floor centre, the other claim to fame is that the centre also became the largest single floor centre in Europe.
As was the situation in the early 1960’s when new centres opened, the Leicester centre enjoyed some earlier success. However, towards the late 1960’s interest in tenpin bowling began to fade and the centre closed on 20th February 1970.
It is believed that the building is still intact although has stood empty since it’s use as various Nightclubs following the closure of the bowling centre.
