From gin bars to $1 oysters: 10 Sydney bowling clubs that are on a roll right now

Reinvestment in beer gardens, bistros and community engagement events led to a record summer season for bowling clubs across Sydney, with soaring membership numbers, barefoot bowls bookings and revenue.

Change is afoot at clubs like The Diddy (formerly known as Longueville Sporting Club) in Lane Cove, where a renovated bistro, family- and dog-friendly policy, and new spritzer menu encouraged a record 500 members to join since December.

“A historically declining business model with a pandemic for dessert forced us to think outside of the box to ensure our survival,” says Baz Compton, secretary manager of the 100-year-old Leichhardt Bowling Club.

“We’re the little bowlo that could.”

A team of volunteers worked to overhaul the club’s outdoor area last year, creating a large beer garden with a children’s playground and a gin bar supplied by local distillers Lily Fields Distilling Co. Together with a new bistro, live bands every Friday night, and a $1 members-only oyster special every Thursday, the club was “heavily booked” all summer, attracting a “steadily growing” group of members aged from 18 to 101.

At the pokies-free Petersham Bowls Club, the introduction of free two-day live music festival ShamFest on April 6 saw 123 members join over one weekend.

Visitor numbers have also increased, as barefoot bowls attracted 600 guests daily to Bondi Bowls (where membership grew 260 per cent since December) and 20,000 guests over the season to The Greens in North Sydney.

Get in on the action at some of Sydney’s best bowls clubs, listed below.

Leichhardt Bowling and Recreation Club

Barefoot bowls from $10 per person

Faced with a sharp decline in membership, the 100-year-old bowling club at Leichhardt more than halved its number of pokies in favour of family-friendly facilities. After a significant renovation, the club is “pumping” with new faces, attracted by the new children’s playground, one of the largest (dog-friendly) beer gardens in the inner west, and an outdoor gin bar stocked by Lilyfield locals Lily Fields Distilling Co. Chef Alex Habhab took over the kitchen, Hannah’s, in March, serving Mediterranean dishes alongside classic pub fare. Keep an eye out for the pizza ovens, set to be installed shortly.

Best for: Lazy weekend afternoons, enjoying a happy-hour gin cocktail as the sun sets over the green.

88-92 Piper Street, Lilyfield, leichhardtbowlingclub.com.au

Petersham Bowling Club

Barefoot bowls from $5 per child, $10 per adult

From medieval reenactments, to free live music festivals, to life drawing classes − there’s always something fun happening at the Petersham Bowling Club. It’s another proud, pokies-free success story, having increased turnover 904 per cent since giving up gambling in 2007. Expect a strong line-up of locally made, independently owned craft beers on tap; a second repurposed bowling green perfect for picnicking and children playing; and a menu of pizzas, parmis and the best-selling salt and pepper squid, from Lizzie and Craig Chappel at The Fiddle Leaf Bistro.

Best for: Connecting with other members of the community at one of the many weekly events.

77 Brighton Street, Petersham, thepbc.org.au

Bondi Bowling Club

Barefoot bowls from $150 for one hour with a maximum of 10 people

This eastern suburbs favourite attracted an average of 600 booked guests each day over summer, many of whom signed up as members, boosting membership numbers by a massive 260 per cent. So, what’s the appeal? Perhaps it’s the relaxed, pokies-free pub environment, or the weekly food specials from head chef Vijay Kumar ($15 for three tacos and a trivia special on Tuesdays, or a $25-for-two curry night on Fridays, for example). Or maybe it’s the welcoming approach to bowling newcomers, who are carefully guided through each game. Just be warned, parking can be a challenge and children aren’t allowed on the green.

Best for: Friendly competition among friends at bowls, ping pong or darts tournaments.

1a Warners Avenue, North Bondi, bondibowlo.com

Marrickville Bowling Club

Barefoot bowls from $15 per person

It’s Friday afternoon and chances are, the Marrickville Bowling Club is packed. Punters pause their conversation every so often to sip their craft beer as another plane roars past, but they’re not the type to be bothered by noise. This club (established in 1905) is known for its strong live music line-up, hosting everything from rock bands to rockabilly dance parties. Barefoot bowls include coaching and an optional catering menu of party snacks such as halloumi skewers and BBQ cola-sauce meatballs from in-house bistro Bliss Kitchen. For those keen to make a day of it, there are bottomless bar tab packages from $55 per person for three hours.

Best for: Boozy bowls and live bands.

91 Sydenham Road, Marrickville, marrickvillebowlingclub.com.au

The Diddy (Longueville Sporting Club)

Bowls from $5 per person

Bowling has taken a back seat to family-friendly weekends at The Diddy, where the greens are often used for children’s parties, live music events, and lazy afternoons with spritzes and wood-fired pizzas. The club prides itself on its intergenerational membership base, which welcomed a record 500 new members over summer. And the food? Well, head chef Malek Aani has got the holy tick of approval, having acted as the personal chef for Pope Benedict XVI during his 2008 visit to Australia. His menu at in-house bistro Lusso Kitchen features grazing boards, finger foods and the best-selling pizzas. Bonus, the club is dog-friendly.

Best for: Weekend family gatherings.

Kenneth Street and River Road W, Longueville, thediddy.com.au

Hurlstone Park Bowlo

You won’t find a bowling green in Hurlstone Park, where the asbestos-ridden 70-year-old club was demolished in 2017. But you will find the Hurlstone Park Bowlo, a small suburban bar with members’ plaques and pennant flags salvaged from the demolition skip bin, about 40 beers from local, independent breweries and the all-important meat raffle, drawn every Friday night. Come for weekly trivia (Wednesday at 6.45pm) and BYO food (most locals opt for neighbouring Charros Burger), or try the Barman’s Lunch (a modern ploughman’s platter).

Best for: Knock-off drinks, just a short walk from Hurlstone Park Railway Station.

6 Crinan Street, Hurlstone Park, hpbowlo.square.site

Clovelly Bowling Club

Barefoot bowls from $25 per person

“The drinks are cheap, and the view is glorious!” So says the tagline for Clovelly’s barefoot bowls program, succinctly summarising the unique appeal of this 77-year-old oceanfront club. Despite the multimillion-dollar vista, the club is fairly no-frills: there are two cocktails on the menu (a margarita and an Aperol Spritz), a mandatory dress code (no short-shorts or swimmers), and a couple of barbecues available for use (BYO food). Newbies can take advantage of free coaching sessions with each barefoot bowls booking, but children are not permitted on the green.

Best for: Budget-friendly barefoot bowls by the beach.

1 Ocean Street, Clovelly, clovellybowlingclub.com.au

Concord Bowling Club

Barefoot bowls from $12 per person

The Concord Bowling Club has had a $2 million overhaul since amalgamation with Canada Bay Club in December 2020, a change which saw membership numbers soar to 20,000 as of March. The club’s historic charm has largely remained, but the dog-friendly greens now feature wood picnic tables under yellow and white striped umbrellas, comfortable bean bag chairs, and a food truck run by head chef Paulie Nguyen. Regulars have become fans of Nguyen’s cheeseburger (from $15), but there are plenty of more Italian-leaning dishes on the menu, such as pizzas, pastas and prosciutto paninis (from $10.50).

Best for: Its growing program of community events, including the popular Musical Drag Bingo Night (Wednesdays at 6.30pm).

1a Clermont Avenue, Concord, canadabayclub.com.au/concordbowlo

The Greens

Social bowls from $25 per person

Lawn bowls is often considered a summer activity, but The Greens’ new winter program might change that. While their lush bowling green, extensive cocktail list and menu overhaul attracted more than 20,000 social bowlers over peak season, The Greens aims to do one better when the weather cools, bringing in large outdoor fire pits, s’mores kits and mulled wine and cider. Irish head chef Jordan Sturdy leads the in-house kitchen, which offers a wide range of pub-friendly dishes such as slow-smoked pork ribs, grilled pork cutlets with caramelised apple, and pecan pie with cinnamon gelato.

Best for: Cosy winter afternoons on the green.

50 Ridge Street, North Sydney, thegreensnorthsydney.com.au

Rock ‘n’ Bowl at Manly Bowling Club

Barefoot bowls from $29 per person

For more than two decades, the organisers of Rock ‘n’ Bowl have worked to bring a new generation of bowlers to the sport, declaring: “Gone are the days of the bowling oldies!” The team facilitates casual, social competition between mates, offering guided sessions Tuesday through Sunday, with catering available to pre-order through the Manly Bowling Club bistro. Organiser Sierra Bertoli holds the steak sandwich in high regard, but there are also chicken schnitzel platters, old-school Aussie cheese boards and the best-selling pistachio arancini platter.

Best for: Fuss-free large group gatherings.

59 Raglan Street, Manly, rocknbowl.com.au