All Star Lanes opened its fifth venue in Manchester’s Deansgate in March 2013, marking the brand’s first foray out of London.
The ever-growing brand’s other venues are situated throughout the capital in Holborn, Bayswater, Brick Lane and Westfield Stratford City.
Located in The Great Northern Warehouse in Deansgate, the firm’s most recent venture saw the creation of the North’s first All Star Lanes. The project, which began in October 2012, involved the removal of the ground floor shell unit within the building, which was quite a task as the property is a Grade II Listed warehouse. The project also included a complete renovation of the space, transforming it into a bowling alley, complete with restaurant, bar and private bowling facilities.
Main contractors Interior Service Limited worked alongside the client, and architects Evans Lundin, during the six month renovation scheme. Premier Construction caught up with Steve Peters, Managing Director at Interior Service Limited, to find out more about the firm’s involvement. Steve told us:
“We have been working alongside All Star Lanes from their inception and act as the main contractor, project managing and fitting out, all their venues. We are fit out contractors and shop fitters undertaking an array of projects spanning numerous industries. In this particular project we were on site for 24 weeks and managed to work around the challenges that came with the Great Northern Warehouse’s listed status.
“From a fit out perspective, the extensive mechanical and electrical installation that was required for this venue, combined with the fact the drainage had to take into account the Manchester & Salford Junction canal which runs beneath the property, created some additional challenges for the Management team.”
Steve said it was great for his company to be involved in the Manchester All Star Lanes project as it is a flagship building. The project allowed the firm to illustrate their quality products and the quality service. The company has been operating for over 25 years now (ten years under the current trading name) and have worked for a plethora of high profile clients including Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, Pravins Jewellers and Foyles Bookshops.
The £2.4 million venue spans 18,000 sq ft and covers the ground floor of the warehouse. Evans Lundin were instrumental in the design of the venue and are always keen for their work to encourage great experiences for staff and guests of any space. The design firm have extensive experience in delivering unique and high quality built solutions within the retail and leisure sectors. Evans Lundin also assists clients with branding and developing concepts from inception through to the completion of a project.
The design agency have worked on a number of projects including The Clubhouse; London’s leading business club, lounge and meeting space, The Lonsdale cocktail bar, Drop bar, as well as undertaking an extensive interior design project for the new Waldorf Astoria Collection Hotel at Syon Park.
All Star Lanes is the ideal venue to throw a party, with a range of options to suit all bowling budgets. All Star Lanes caters for small groups looking for a lively way to spend their night all the way through to parties of 600, where guests will be given exclusive hire of the entire venue as part of a fabulous VIP experience.
For families and children the venue’s Private Room is available for hire and includes two private bowling lanes and a private bar, whilst those wanting to hire the venue for conferences will have access to ten lanes, two cocktail bars and the PA system. The Manchester-based bowling alley is also ideal for corporate events, where specially organised bowling tournaments complete with karaoke, canapés and cocktails can be enjoyed for up to 100 guests.
All Star Lanes Manchester boasts an array of menus to suit the requirements of every guest, including a Restaurant Menu for those wanting a more formal meal, as well as a Bar Menu, Dessert Menu, Canapé Menu and Kid’s Menu. Guests can choose from a variety of delicious dishes including asparagus & leek tart with black truffle, potato & mint salad, pan fried cod & wilted green with olive oil & lemon, as well as buttermilk fried chicken & jerk gravy with sweet potato fries.
For those wanting something less filling the Bar Menu is available to peruse and is jam packed with delightful snack dishes such as popcorn squid with garlic mayo, smoked mac & cheese croquettes with roast onion & balsamic dip, quesadilla and chicken or roast veg with a delightful serving of cheese, avocado & salsa with sour cream.
The Canapé Menu also comprises an array of snacks for those fancying a light nibble pre-or-post bowl. Choose from sweet and savoury snacks alike including chargrilled halloumi & falafel skewers, Southern fried chicken skewer with BBQ sauce, mini corn dogs, as well as mini chocolate brownie pieces and mini pecan pies.
Bowlers in search of something sweet are able to browse the mouth-watering Dessert Menu boasting sumptuous puddings such as oatmeal & peanut butter fudge cakes with peanut brittle, chocolate sauce & cream and blueberry cheesecake jar with Oreo cookie crumble. Other delightful sugary sins include Hot Fudge Sundae to share with brownie chunks, vanilla ice cream & toasted macadamia nuts, pecan pie with maple syrup & vanilla cream, as well as the saliva inducing rum & raisin brownie with sticky toffee sauce.
Such is the success of the venue that it was nominated in this year’s Restaurant & Bar Design Awards. Despite not reaching the shortlist stage the whole team were glad to be recognised.
All Star Lanes Manchester is open seven days a week: Monday and Tuesday 4pm until 11pm, Wednesday and Thursday 4pm until 12am, Friday 12pm until 1am, Saturday 11am until 2am and Sunday 11am until 12am. Games are priced per person, per game and range from £5 (student) to £8.95 at peak times.
For more information about All Star Lanes, please visit: www.allstarlanes.co.uk.
