Bowlero West End

Bowlero West End

Reviews Summary

Overall, reviews highlight a fun, family-friendly atmosphere with friendly staff and good bowling experiences. Many praise the clean facilities, reasonable prices, and variety of activities (arcade, pool, bar). Some note food is overpriced but decent, and service can be slow on busy nights. A few mention issues with lane quality, bathroom cleanliness, or billing confusion. Despite minor drawbacks, most recommend it for group outings and return visits.

About This Listing

Has Arcade Cabinets
Has Food
Good for kids
Has Pool Tables
Wheelchair Accessible

Who Can Play?

Most arcades welcome all ages (some may have age restrictions for certain games)
Minors may need parent/guardian supervision (policies vary by location)
No gaming experience required - games range from beginner to expert level
Comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes recommended for safety
Valid ID may be required for certain attractions or age verification
Groups and parties welcome (advance booking may be required)

*Note: Age restrictions and policies may vary by arcade. Check with your local facility for specifics.*

First-Time Visitors

First-time visitors may need to sign a waiver or register for a game card. Staff are typically available to help explain games and provide tutorials. Some arcades offer newcomer specials or free play sessions to help you get started.

Common Restrictions:

Age-Based Some games may have height or age requirements for safety reasons
Capacity Popular games may have wait times during peak hours

*Note: Policies vary by arcade. Confirm with your local facility.*

What to Bring

Cash or card for tokens/credits (some arcades are cashless)
Valid ID for age verification or membership signup
Phone to capture high scores and memories (check photo policies)

*Note: Payment methods and requirements may differ by arcade.*

Preparing for Your Visit

Check arcade hours and peak times online before visiting
Eat beforehand or check if the arcade has food options
Bring friends for multiplayer games and competitions
Wear comfortable clothes you can move freely in
Avoid bringing valuable items that could be lost or damaged
Check for special events, tournaments, or discount days
Set a budget for games and stick to it
Stay hydrated, especially during long gaming sessions

*Note: Tips may vary by arcade type and location.*

How to Get Started

Most arcades accept walk-ins, but call ahead during busy periods or for large groups. Check for membership deals!

Other Helpful Info

Most visits last 1-3 hours depending on games and group size
Popular games may have longer wait times during weekends and evenings
Many arcades offer unlimited play packages or time-based pricing
Some locations host tournaments and special events regularly
Prize redemption available at many arcades - save your tickets!

*Note: Policies, pricing, and features differ by arcade. Contact your local facility for details.*

What to Expect from Pool Tables in Arcades

Step up to a pool table and dive into a classic, hands-on game! Expect sturdy tables with smooth felt surfaces, cue sticks, and a set of numbered balls for games like 8-ball or 9-ball. You’ll chalk up, aim, and strike the cue ball to pocket balls with precision, mastering angles and spin. Tables are well-lit, often with vibrant designs, creating a lively atmosphere. Whether playing casually with friends or joining arcade tournaments, pool offers strategic, social fun that’s easy to pick up and endlessly engaging in 2025.

Features

Has Arcade Cabinets
Has Food
Good for kids
Has Pool Tables
Wheelchair Accessible

Contact Information

Address

8037 Shrader Rd

Richmond, Virginia 23294

Hours

Monday 11AM-12AM
Tuesday 11AM-12AM
Wednesday 11AM-12AM
Thursday 11AM-12AM
Friday 11AM-12AM
Saturday 11AM-12AM
Sunday 11AM-12AM

Customer Reviews

We went for an afternoon outing. The place was nice and very large. *Keep that in mind if you arrive and the parking lot looks full. We expected the place to be jammed with people when we saw all the vehicles, but there was plenty of elbow room. The staff person was very pleasant. The lanes, facility, scoring system were all good. We didn't have any food or beverages here.

Very fun time, we were placed where there wasn't too much kids considering it was just my partner and I so that was very appreciated! We had the alley sampler, which was very good! The marinara sauce tasted not like marinara sauce and the cheese was like too sweet, kinda artificial. The pretzels were good and soft! The cheesy dippers were also pretty good! Buffalo wings were the right amount of spicy and 10/10! Overall had a great experience for my unlimited bowling night! Wasn't terribly busy on a Sunday n

The lanes are a little oily, but the atmosphere is very nice. The workers are very friendly. Great service always ????

We had fun at this bowling place. Staff is very nice, polite and kind. Spacious and very well managed. They have little kids game area too, which is really nice and thoughtful. Though they are little behind in newer technology in my opinion but not a problem if you are just willing to have fun and play.

First time coming to this place. Friday night, arrived at about 6:15pm with a group of eight and booked two lanes. Stayed two hours and had a blast! Thank you Troy at the front check in/check out for being so helpful and welcoming and thank you to Abid at the bar for all the great drinks and service while our teenagers had fun bowling. Definitely will come again!!

Been coming here for a long time now and love it. Always clean and always a friendly Staff and great food!

CAUTION: Make sure to have access to your savings account before coming. I have been coming for years but now, $5.00 for a soft drink and some fries are $10+, if you want a meal, you're better off going to a full course dinner and it would still be cheaper. Did not like the way management treats employees, overheard a couple of smart comments that makes me believe they are not treated well. Very condescending management. Will not be coming back to this Bowlero had a better experience down the street, hope w

I do not recommend coming to this bowling alley, particularly during peak hours. The balls are overly coated in lubricant, weirdly slippery. Lanes are hit or miss, the light on ours flickered the entire night. Biggest issue was service. My group ordered 2 beer towers. It took an entire hour to receive one of them, after multiple trips to the bar to check on the status. Waitress was nice enough but not communicative. They did not have enough clean towers, glasses or staffing to properly accommodate the crowd

Had a fun time. Bathrooms were ok but could be much better. Since food and drinks are served here.

Favorite spot to bowl in RVA! Food is a little pricey, but everything tasted great. Wish they had more arcade games, but the pool hall looks brand NEW after renovations. Staff are always so friendly and the managers seem to really care if customers are having a good time or not.

Really fun and clean servers were quick and very attentive.

This place is a friendly family/kids everyday hang out, offering deep discounts on leagues and tournaments that are held on daily basis. Great staff that welcomes you and keeps the place nice and tidy. Don't forget to check out their recently renovated pool hall.

Tissues is a awesome bowling alley. Bowling, arcade, pool and a bar. Lots of fun!

I have always love to Bowl for Newport News Special Olympics Virginia, this year was my 2nd time being a gold medalist, I will like to have all of you to start from the beginning of the division list for the awards ceremony when I come back next year and win again

The billar price was very reasonable, free soda refills are always a plus, we had a great time

Very annoying that they won't accept reservations for Groupon holders because they are trying to force you to book through the bowling center so they can charge you an event fee. Other than that the experience was pretty good considering we had 15 people. We went on a Monday night and there were no servers so you go directly to the to the bar to order your food. Of course the food is overpriced at $20 for a 16" pepperoni pizza but food tastes decent. Bathrooms were clean.

Phenomenal bowling experience. The music videos playing in the background really set the mood

Staff is friendly and the establishment is clean. Sunday was 5.99 per game so we played and had a great time. ZZ

Had a bunch of fun here! We were able to get a lane on a busy league night! Has 40 lanes and is very clean inside and out. The staff were kind and helpful!

They had a phenomenal package for a group of 10! $300 and that included 2 hours of bowling unlimited food and soft drinks! Atmosphere was incredible! The manager Khiry and his staff were extremely accommodating and provided excellent service! Will be back highly recommend

Marvin provided great service and Wendell was such a nice host. Definitely visit on Wednesdays!?

We had our 13 yo?s birthday party here and they did an INCREDIBLE job! The table of food and drinks along with fantastic decorations (which included light up letters spelling her name) was very impressive and made her feel very special! Our service was excellent and we always had everything we needed. Their staff member, Pearl, was phenomenal in taking care of us. Thank you Bowlero West End for a great party!

Had a great time in this bowling alley. They lanes where not congested and the lanes and areas around where very clean. My only complaint is the manager/bartender after watching her take cash, hand out billiards and handle and touch everything under the sun I asked for a drink and what does she do??? She grabs a lime with her BARE HANDS what the? Really??? That's truly appalling to me. Wash your hands! Straws are out in the open were everyone can touch as many straws as they want as they grab for one ...no

It wasn't that busy compared to when I worked there and remembered how it would be on a Saturday. It was not as easy to get help (servers looked but didn't help, the bar was behind and didn't even say one moment I will be with you).. I was a bit disappointed but one girl who worked there actually stopped what she was doing to help me tonight (server with 2 buns). I appreciate her help that goes a long way to me I had to make sure she was tipped before leaving. Thank you to that server.

Staff, and their service were great. French fries were good. The lanes kept breaking down. First started out on lanes 27 and 28. The light kept going out. Then we were moved to lanes 33 and 34. Lane 33 froze up, even the scoring messed up. Each time something happens it takes anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes to resolve the issue. We had no less than 4 breakdowns plus changing lanes. That's too much!!

I decided to slip out of the house with my homegirl for a bit last night for bowling. It was so much fun. I enjoyed the comfortable spacing option and unlimited bowling for $14 with shoes it was about $20.24 so really not a bad deal at all. I would definitely go again.

Had a great fun time with friends. The special deals for games are great too

Great staff I have been coming here for months but I came in today to use my fall pass and I was told I couldn't use it to bowl because passes aren't accepted after 4pm on Saturdays; there was one other person on the 50 lanes this alley offers. This rule does not reflect the staff who are all very nice and reasonable people but this stipulation to the fall pass is objectively stupid and isn't benefiting the bowlers nor Bowlero

It's lit.. always a good time the staff here is beyond amazing!!

Great staff! Super friendly and helpful! Both at check-in and at the food area! Clean, fun atmosphere! Arcade open well lit and visible from lanes, which was a plus!

They have normal bowling on weekends from noon to 3. Disco drama starts later. Staff is nice and accommodating although sometimes understaffed and overwhelmed.

This place was so much fun. Like 15 of us. Only thing I would improve on is a daily print out of rotating new beers. Richmond is a national craft beer sanctuary.

Very nice atmosphere. My kids and I walked right in on a busy Saturday night straight to a lane. It wasn't chaotic in there at all. It was also very clean inside. I told my sons we will start coming to this location from now on.

Had a great time at Bowler with the whole family. Khiry the manager was incredibly kind, attentive, and accommodating. Couldn't have picked a better guy to manage our games!

Booked two lanes and a pool table for a bd party. We had the best time!!!!! Miss Pearl took care of every needs and waitress (I can't remember her name), she was awesome. THANK YOU!!!

Great experience! Three kids and myself. Staff was SUPER nice and attentive even with table service wh8xh I know can be difficult in a large place like a bowling alley. Accommodated the kids with fruity iced drinks! Plenty of room for them to be rambunctious without interfering with other players. All the patrons were super nice and a group of guys actually gave us some game cards for the arcade they weren't going to use. Highly recommend this place. ??

I come here for the social league with my co-workers. Staff very friendly only issue is the cleanliness of the ladies bathroom. I wish someone would go check and clean before the leagues come in. Other than that nice place to go bowling ??????????????

Good family environment. Our crew loves it. Reasonable prices and price cut after 6. Go check em out! the nachos will feed 2 adults easy. I warned you it's a cool place.

This place is a RIPOFF, do not come here unless you plan on cashing in your 401k. They charge $10 per game per person. They have no price guide to warn you. The can go *#@& themselves. No wonder the place is empty.

Really enjoy this place. They switched glow bowling, which would have been fine, but the arrows are not painted which made it hard to key in and get the ball where we wanted. Thats just a small suggestion. Folks there were kind.

Khiry at Bowlero is amazing! He treated my boys exceptionally well and went out of his way to make their experience memorable. When my son achieved two strikes in a row, Khiry generously awarded him a pin, which made his day. Thank you, Khairy, for your kindness and for making our visit so special.

Food is good. Very spacious. Good place for company events or private events.

Enjoy bowling in my league at this location. Really like that it still has a dedicated area to many pool tables. Food is good. Just wish they had a better arcade area and more games. Overall great place still.

They didn't except our Groupons after telling me they did on the phone the day before. I let them know what time we were coming and how many people. The food is CRAZY HIGH! And on top of that they tried to say some people didn't pay. I called everyone and told them to take a picture of their receipt and send it to me. It was their error and they cleared it. But we had a good time bowling. All 32 of us.

We have been going for a while getting the party deal. Things have really started to change. The manager helping us wasn't very friendly and made a couple mistakes with our party. When you deal with people's money you need to be on point. Especially a manager

We had to pay at the end which caused a lot of confusion with our group we bowled with. Some people had to pay extra because of how the lanes were set up for us. Extra slots were added to a couple lanes so some people bowled double. They ended up having to pay double. The lanes themselves and atmosphere were nice though. We had a great time until check out.

Unforantely I didn't have the best experience here on 12/27. My boyfriend and I came here to celebrate our anniversary together. For 3 games for two people and one shoe rental was $45 which is ridiculously expensive just to play 3 games. My boyfriend is an experienced bowler and he stated the lanes were dry, meaning there was no oil put down on the lanes. Making it harder to bowl and to hook a ball. Bowlero now owns most of the bowling alleys here in Richmond. They should take a step back and look at the qu

Fun place! Drink line was over 30 minutes! Wednesday night should not take that long to get a drink. Won't be returning until you can figure that out!

This is an absolute go to spot for 2 of my friends and I. Ashley B. is the best bartender, ever!! The food is great and the facility is always clean. Bowling, billiards, bar, who could ask for more? Always a blast!!!!

It's a very cool and affordable place but unfortunately the customer service wasn't all that good and took a long time to resolve issues .

My 1st tyme at Schrader lanes (??pool) was nice not crowed, good atmosphere ??, would lk to visit again ????

Great breakfast & attentive staff

Great local bowling spot, always has open lanes, $10 a game.

Good family fun. Pretty clean bathrooms, ample parking, nice employees at the food and the main counter. No attitudes from any staff. No issues with other lanes. Bowling lanes and equipment worked as designed. Balls in various sizes. I am not a major bowler, but all seemed well to me.

The bowling was great. The lanes were nice and the scoring system was new technology, and even the shoes were in excellent condition and very comfortable. Just make sure you eat before you go because the food and drink prices are astronomical. Four small chicken strips were nine dollars and drinks were very high priced as well.

Everything was good. My daughters had fun with their dad. The wings and fries were real good. A little pricey though. Overall it was great

Great family entertainment environment. Kinda of expensive for bowling.

had a lot of fun. friendly staff and reasonable prices. wish there were more veg and vegan options for the food, but overall had a great time. can't wait to come back the next time i?m in town

Great place to bowl and enjoy time with friends

Awesome staff!!!!Very friendly and accommodating!

Took my card on file with the T-Mobile free game. It was 2 people with the promotion so they charged us for one game. Also no Senior citizen discount

Nice clean place. We enjoyed ourselves. We booked as a party of 6 and our food was included. The staff was friendly (most of them anyway) As for the food they didn't do so good. They lady running the counter sucked. They didn't replenish the food like they were supposed to.The portions were supposed to feed six and it barely fed two. There was no dipping sauce like we were supposed to get(eventually got that tho after the food was gone). The wings were overcooked. When we asked for ketchup the lady respond

Went there on Father's Day, service was nice at desk, shoe were available for me and my daughter but my Hubs had to settle for a size up.. we bowled a few turns before we realized the floor was not actually level..(you could hear the bumps when the ball rolled) ..asked for bumpers so my 6 yr old wasn't totally discouraged and the staff was completely responsive... we finished with laughs and my kiddos was quite amused by the game. We wanted to try drinks and snack but nobody was at the bar for assistance..

From food to drinks to pool to bowling, this place has it all!!!

Kids had fun. We had a groupon. Saved money!

Think the prices could be better, our table wasn't clean. I got paper towels and the lady working at the cafe/bar gave me some wet ones vs. offering to clean it. Like the variety of music

The staff was so helpful to a group of people that didn't know what they were doing. Reset machines, Ran down stuck gutter balls and put up rails to make it more fun for the kids (and some of us bigger kids). Enjoyed the pizza and chicken tenders. Would recommend for groups.

My daughter and I went in at noon on Mother's Day. Everyone one we encountered on staff was very helpful and attentive. Nobody seemed disgruntled to be working on a Sunday AND Mother's Day. Everyone had smiles on their faces and seemed genuinely happy. The manager on duty was super helpful with getting is the appropriate equipment and setting up the lane. All in all a great experience and we will definitely be back.

Staff was nice and helpful. We had two lanes for 2 hrs and they gave us an extra 10 mins to wrap up our games. We had the pizza ands wings which everyone loved and staff was kind enough to ask and reheat our pizza. It was a good time overall and we'd definitely go back!

Renovated with fresh new feel. Food typical. Little too greasy. League play and special events. Late night and Sunday specials are great times for families, and teens. Television screens at lanes. Pool table. Nice seating area for those waiting on teens or such. Parking on front and side.

Great place, good deals on drinks and tacos on tuesday starting at 8. 2.22 game/long island/taco. shoes were just under 5 dollars. Place inside is nice, nothing fancy like uptown, but still clean and friendly staff. lots of pool tables too, but have not tried them yet. will be going back for sure.

The people and the lanes are nice. The lanes here are well kept and oiled just right most of the time. Of course you have to make small adjustments, but lane conditions are pretty good. Good food and fun atmosphere. The all you can bowl option seems to be the best way to go.

A+ service! Shoutout to Bo for making my 22nd birthday party a blast! The food is really good here as well, and group reservations are reasonably priced for what you get.

I have to say, Bowler West End on Shrader Rd is awesome! I had my son's 6th birthday party here, and I was so Happy. Denise and Smitty were awesome to work with, I didn't have to do or bring much, but just enjoy the kids having fun. They all enjoyed themselves bowling and playing video games. I was also happy with the fact that they were so accommodating because I had half the people I actually paid for but that was taken care of with no problem. Thank yall so much for the most stress free birthday party

Bowling was fun but the place was dirty. The food was mediocre at best and horribly overpriced. Service was slow and after being there over an hour, we hadn't received some of the food we ordered, and asked for a refund. Probably will not visit here again.

Really just shoot pool here, so can't speak on the lane quality or bowling experience. Pool tables aren't cleaned regularly, but are in decent shape. Generally have a good time at this location. Service times can drag on busier nights, but that is only real downfall in my eyes.

My son and i love it, but the only problem was that they won't take the Groupon the same day you purchase it and they was slow getting your food. But the overall experience was great. Will definitely go back.

The drinks were great and not too expensive but the food was not only high as hell with no real combos but everything sold separately but it wasn't that great and very small portions.....next time I'll eat before I go

This place has turned into a dump. I used to come here a couple times a month roughly 5 years ago. It was always great. Went during the last few days every time we threw a ball down the lane it took roughly 2 minutes to finally make its way back. Eventually every one had to get 2 balls each just so we could bowl twice in an efficient amount of time. The extra ball would knock the first ball into the return machine. We went to get refreshments and no one was at the counter even after waiting for a couple min

Really enjoyed this place when I get a chance. Recently just went and I think it needs a little touch up. Overall it was a good family experience. Plenty of goes on the bowl and pools. Wish arcade was a little bigger but was great.

Nice renovations going on getting better great staff

What I like about this location is they have specials on multiple days of the week. You can pay as little as $2/game which is great when you visit with a large family. We enjoyed ourselves the night of our visit. There were a minimal number of young staff members on hand but they made do without incident. The family night of bowling turned out great and we all left tired.

Was there on a very busy Saturday, I think 3 people were working there. And somehow, because of people like Michelle it was running like a well oiled machine. Highly recommended!

I visited the pro shop at this location. It was not well stocked but they were open when I needed access. There hours include space for the working individuals. You can get things done before your league start time and after your normal work day. That alone gets them 3 stars in my book. The shop itself is a bit pricey with limited selection. They offer the typical services of most pro shops. The technician on duty was friendly. The wait time was short. Stop by and tell me about your trip.

Had a great time in Virginia with the Family

The alley is usually busy, between leagues and parties. Decent food and drinks. One of the better bowling alleys, actually. The equipment is in good working order, because you don't see technicians all over, trying to fix minor issues.

Not a family friendly place . Go some where else . This place was not busy and never got busy. My child was not able to play tonight .Because we came as a group , but wanted to pay and get a separate lane . Example the child could not play tonight with mother , because they said we were with a group . We explain to two twentish young people and the refuse and said it had to fill . I waited with my daughter and was never able to get a lane . The young lady got loud and rude and it did not make sense .

Have been here many times. Being spring break a lot of kids on site but requested to be away from them and got pushed down several lines (thank goodness). Had 3 good games.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s it like visiting an arcade today?

It’s a mix of nostalgia and high-energy fun! Many arcades blend retro classics like Pac-Man and pinball with modern VR games, racing simulators, and rhythm challenges — often with music, lights, and a social vibe.

Is it better to go alone or with friends?

Both can be great! Solo visits let you focus on your favorite games, while going with friends adds competition, teamwork, and laughs. Many people plan arcade meetups as a casual hangout or even date spot.

What should I bring to an arcade?

Usually just yourself and a way to pay (some arcades still use coins, others use cards or apps). If you're competitive, bring your A-game. If you're social, bring friends or meet new ones over multiplayer games.

What’s the best time to visit an arcade?

Weekdays or early afternoons are usually less crowded — perfect for focused play. Evenings and weekends bring the buzz, especially at barcades or venues with DJs, tournaments, or themed nights.

Can I meet new people at arcades?

Absolutely! Arcades attract a mix of casual players and serious gamers. Whether you're jumping into a four-player co-op or chatting between rounds, it's a fun, low-pressure way to connect over shared interests.

Are arcades still just for kids?

Not at all. While many arcades are family-friendly, there are also adult-oriented ones with full bars, 18+ nights, or vintage nostalgia themes. Arcades today cater to everyone — from first-timers to lifelong gamers.

Are there events or tournaments I can join?

Yes! Many arcades host regular competitions, retro nights, cosplay parties, and more. Whether you're into high scores or just want to watch and vibe, events add an extra layer to the experience.

What if I’m not great at arcade games?

No worries — arcades are about having fun, not being perfect. Try a variety of games, ask others for tips, and remember: the vibe is more “let’s play” than “let’s win.”

Are pool tables in arcades still good in this modern age?

Yes, pool tables in arcades remain a fantastic draw in 2025! Games like 8-ball or 9-ball offer tactile, skill-based fun that blends strategy and precision. Modern tables feature smooth felt, responsive cues, and vibrant designs, enhancing the classic experience. Arcades foster a social vibe with casual matches or competitive tournaments, appealing to all skill levels. Unlike digital games, pool’s physicality—lining up shots, feeling the cue’s weight—keeps it timeless.