The Croc Bowling Alley at Ham Yard Hotel

A vintage alley inside Ham Yard Hotel

Inside Ham Yard Hotel, The Croc houses an original 1950s bowling alley imported from Texas and built by Brunswick, with monochrome ball returns, back-lit bowling balls, vintage bowling shoes and towering bowling-pin lamps. Two large-scale works by Howard Hodgkin hang in the same room, which also has a lounge, a bar and a dance floor.

The space is mainly an events venue, hired exclusively for 100 to 250 people, so casual bowling depends on availability. When the lanes are free, the hotel sells the Bowling Experience at £25 per person for an hour or £50 for two, and the Strike Special at £35, from 10:00 to 16:00 daily, which adds two sliders with fries and a drink to an hour of play. Slots open one week ahead, for groups of up to 16; children must be over 10, and under-15s need an adult with them.