Aldersbrook Bowling Club

I recommended Aldersbrook Bowling Club to my friends because I held my mother’s funeral reception there in 2011. Fifteen years later, on 9th July 2026, they chose the venue for their own mother’s funeral reception based on my recommendation. Unfortunately, I was embarrassed by the experience. From the moment we arrived, the venue appeared neglected. The outside seating area was shabby, with a ceiling in disrepair, piles of empty crisp boxes stacked as though waiting to be recycled, and dirty seating that I didn’t feel comfortable using. Before we had even entered the building, guests were talking about an unpleasant interaction with the manager or owner. The grieving daughters had reportedly been told to remove fruit juices from the tables because no outside drinks, including alcohol, were permitted due to the venue’s own bar. They were also told that if guests did not follow the rules, they would be “thrown out.” If these conditions formed part of the venue’s policy, they should have been made clear at the time of booking rather than being communicated in such a confrontational manner during a family’s funeral reception. Inside, the building was uncomfortably hot. Despite most of the windows and doors being open, there was no air-conditioning, making the room stifling. Throughout the evening, the manager or owner, and another gentleman were carrying out DIY repairs to the patio door overlooking the bowling green, using a hammer, keys and a chisel while the reception was taking place. The door appeared to be jammed shut, and the catering staff were expected to work in the heat with it closed. This seems entirely inappropriate while a funeral reception was in progress. The ladies’ toilets were also poorly maintained. A rubber seal was hanging loose from one cubicle door, spare toilet rolls had been left on the wet sink area, and empty toilet roll holders had not been replenished. I ended up replacing the toilet roll in one cubicle myself before I could use it. Later in the evening, the manager or owner was moving chair covers in a very forceful and agitated manner while guests were still present. The atmosphere this created was uncomfortable and unsettling at what should have been a respectful and peaceful occasion. If the venue has its own parking, it was not obvious. I paid £6 to park on a nearby side street for three hours. Parking restrictions appeared to end after 6:30pm, but this wasn’t clear before hand. Sadly, I cannot recommend Aldersbrook Bowling Club based on this experience. The venue appeared run down, and the overall standard of customer service was disappointing. The one exception was the young woman working behind the bar, who was friendly, polite and professional throughout the evening. She provided excellent service and was the only member of staff who left a positive impression. Looking back, I wish I had recommended Hackney Marshes Centre on Homerton Road instead, where I have always had a much more positive experience. I cannot comment on their alcohol policy, but based on the condition of the venue and the treatment of a bereaved family, I would not recommend Aldersbrook Bowling Club for such an important occasion.

Think carefully before hiring this venue. The manager for this venue marched around like a tyrant, not at all approachable. When I was unfortunate enough to have to ask her a question, she was confrontational and barked a response at me. I thanked her and followed her orders. She started clearing the venue room while guests were still seated and had no intention of leaving yet. The venue was booked until 9pm and she started undressing tables and stacking chairs well before 8pm. I wondered what was going on, bare tables and chairs were appearing around me. This is a clear passive aggressive signal to leave. There was no need for this as the arrangements had already been made about the clearance of the venue. The only time I witnessed this woman soften and smile was when she stopped dragging chairs long enough to enjoy the entertainment. She is very unprofessional and I am not at all sure why she is in the hospitality sector. The venue was hired for a funeral reception. I arrived to find the daughter of the deceased very distressed because of the way she had been spoken to by the manager. No grace was given for vulnerability or circumstances. I won’t report their experience, I will leave this to them. I have only reported, sorry reviewed, what I witnessed personally. The toilets are dilapidated. A large and unsightly amount of cardboard boxes were just left by the outside seating area where guests we expected to sit and take pictures. Perhaps it was hoped that we wouldn’t notice this. When I eventually found bar staff sitting outside, I asked if the bar was still open? The response was “the tab is finished! I repeated my question making it clear that I didn’t ask about a tab, I asked about the bar and I again I was informed that the tab was closed. It took three attempts to order and pay for drink. I speak very good English and I understand the difference between asking about a tab and bar, it’s strange that the staff do not. The assumption being that I was after a free drink and wasn’t prepared to purchase one…. If you care about yourself and your guests, do not book this venue.