Hollywood Bowl Group plc Centre reopening update (2455W)

TIDMBOWL

RNS Number : 2455W

Hollywood Bowl Group plc

14 August 2020

Hollywood Bowl Group plc

("Hollywood Bowl" or the "Group")

Reopening of bowling centres in England and opening of new Puttstars centres

Hollywood Bowl Group plc ("Hollywood Bowl" or the "Group"), the UK's market leading ten-pin bowling operator, is delighted to announce that following the Government's announcement on 13 August 2020, it will reopen 49 of its 55 English bowling centres on 15 August 2020.

The Group is confident that it has implemented the necessary measures to provide a safe and enjoyable leisure experience for its team and customers, including comprehensive COVID-secure operating bowling protocols, social distancing guidelines and enhanced safety and cleaning measures.

Hollywood Bowl will reopen 49 of its English bowling centres on 15 August 2020, in addition to its two previously opened centres in Wales on 3 August 2020 and its previously opened Puttstars mini golf centre in Leeds. The Group's bowling centres in Bradford, Manchester, Wigan, Bolton and Bury and four centres in Scotland are ready to reopen once the local restrictions in these areas are lifted.

The Group will now un-furlough team members, all of whom have received training in the new COVID-secure operating procedures. More information on these can be seen on Hollywood Bowl's website www.hollywoodbowl.co.uk/have-fun-play-safe .

Puttstars

The Group is pleased to announce that it has opened its second Puttstars mini golf centre in Rochdale today. It expects to also open its new Hollywood Bowl centre and new Puttstars centre in York on Monday 17 August, taking the total Group portfolio to 64 centres. When including these new centres, the Group will have 86% of its total centres open.

Stephen Burns, Chief Executive, commented:

"We are delighted to be able to reopen most of our English centres on Saturday 15(th) August. Our spacious centres are well-equipped for social distancing and our team members are trained in our new extensive COVID-secure measures. We look forward to welcoming back our team members and customers, who will be able to enjoy our unique leisure experience once again, while feeling reassured that we have taken every possible precaution for their safety and wellbeing."

Enquiries:

 
 Hollywood Bowl Group                         via Tulchan Communications 
  Steve Burns, Chief Executive 
  Laurence Keen, Chief Financial Officer 
  Mat Hart, Chief Marketing and Technology 
  Officer 
 
 Tulchan Communications 
  James Macey White 
  Elizabeth Snow 
  Amber Ahluwalia                             [phone] 
 

Notes to Editors:

The COVID-secure measures include but are not limited to:

   --    Reduced customer capacity at centres to maintain social distancing 
   --    Alternate lanes to provide extra space between each game taking place 
   --    Pre-booking only for peak periods 
   --    Bowlers asked to arrive slightly ahead of their booking time with measures to manage queues 
   --    Bowling groups restricted to a maximum of six people per lane 
   --    Food and drink can be pre-ordered from the in-centre diners and bars 
   --    Amusement machines, as well as bar and diner seating, appropriately spaced out 

-- A new visual guidance campaign "Have Fun - Play Safe" throughout venues to remind customers to maintain a safe distance from others

   --    Customers will be asked to wear their own footwear 
   --    Customers will be given the option of wearing disposable gloves 

-- Enhanced cleaning will take place throughout the day, including the cleaning of bowling balls, lane seating and touch screens after every game

   --    All team members will undergo daily temperature checks 
   --    Safety shields at all tills to protect both team members and customers 

-- Upon entering the centre, customers will be expected to use hand sanitiser, which will be readily available from dispensers

More information on these can be seen on Hollywood Bowl's website: www.hollywoodbowl.co.uk/have-fun-play-safe

Hollywood Bowl Group is the UK's largest ten-pin bowling operator, with a high-quality portfolio of 64 centres operating across the UK under the Hollywood Bowl, AMF and Puttstars (mini golf) brands. The Group specialises in operating large, high quality bowling centres, predominantly located in out of town multi-use leisure parks (typically co-located with cinema and casual dining sites) and large retail parks. The centres are designed to offer a complete family entertainment experience with each centre offering bowling lanes, on-site dining, licensed bars, and state-of-the-art family games arcades.

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August 14, 2020 12:39 ET (16:39 GMT)