Brewpubs closed or no longer brewing
Hollywood Bowl Finchley, Leisure Way, High Road N12 0GL (Barnet)
First sold beer: 1996
Hollywood Bowl Surrey Quays, Surrey Quays Leisure Park, Surrey Quays Road SE16 7LW (Southwark)
First sold beer: 1998
Both ceased brewing: 2000
Both these breweries were the result of a short-lived US-inspired experiment by then-national brewer Bass (see Charrington) to install small 8 hl breweries in its chain of Hollywood Bowl bowling alleys, beginning with its Leicester venue in 1995.
The first London venue in the chain to start brewing was in Finchley the following year. By the time Bass opened a Hollywood Bowl complete with brewing facilities at the new Surrey Quays Leisure Park in 1998, 13 of its bowling alleys were similarly equipped. All the brewhouses were decomissioned in 2000 when Bass sold off its brewing arm to InBev (now AB InBev: see Stag and Whitbread).
The chain subsequently operated as part of Mitchells & Butlers, Bass’s successor managed pub company, until 2010 when it was sold to a new owner. It was sold again in 2015. The Finchley alley remains open, though the Surrey Quays site was closed for redevelopment in 2024.
All the venues brewed keg bitters and lagers to standard recipes.
Updated 21 October 2024.
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