By John Ashbridge, Tenpin Bowling Proprietors Association President
The 30-lane Universal Bowl in Queens Road, Sheffield, the third bowling centre to open in the City and the fourth in the Universal chain. The AMF equipped centre opened on 11th November 1965 when a bowler’s ‘Gala Evening’ was held. During the previous five days invited parties had enjoyed the use of the full facilities of the bowl together with free instructional classes. The centre was developed as part of Sheffield’s newest entertainment centre and included a snack bar, licensed club lounge and a children’s playroom.
The centre operated under the Universal banner for between 18 months and two years before, it is believed, becoming part of the Mecca Organisation by January 1968. No further information of the centre is available but it is thought that the centre closed sometime during 1971..
Total number of Centres and lanes in the UK at end of 1965
| ABC Bowling | 13 | 294 | 24 |
| AMF International | 1 | 20 | 0 |
| Ambassador Bowling | 8 | 218 | 0 |
| Brunswick Bowling | 4 | 0 | 112 |
| Excel Bowling | 21 | 541 | 0 |
| Fairlanes Bowling | 11 | 225 | 70 |
| Granada Bowling | 1 | 32 | 0 |
| Lee-West Lanes | 2 | 0 | 40 |
| Magnet Bowling | 4 | 124 | 0 |
| Top Rank Bowling | 24 | 204 | 447 |
| Trans-World Bowling | 3 | 50 | 0 |
| Universal Bowling | 5 | 120 | 0 |
| Independents | 25 | 172 | 190 |
| Total | 122 | 2000 | 883 |
Note: No figures for the number of lanes installed at Dunstable or East Kilbride are included in the above table. It is known that Olympia Bowl East Kilbride existed, but it is unclear if Dunstable ever opened.
