Menu
Menu
We were treated to an incredible display of world-class curling at last week’s English Curling Association’s Senior Championships.
Open to curlers aged 50 or over, 10 teams competed against each other to have the fantastic opportunity to represent England at the World Senior Championships.
The competition had an amazing turnout of seven men’s teams, including last year’s winners Guy Topping and Peter Topping, plus three women’s teams which also included Carole Topping.
The Flower Bowl’s venue manager Ruaraidh Whyte says: “The contest was exhilarating from start to finish and played to such a high standard. It was a wonderful showcase for the quality of English curling.
“Spectators were constantly on the edge of the seats. They supported, clapped and cheered, only to add more atmosphere to this already exciting week.”
This year’s winners were Team Kerr (Viv Kerr, Carole Topping, Desna Fielding and Jean Moat with coach Alistair McHarg) and Team Loftus (Ken Horton, Douglas McGlynn, Martin Gregory, Stuart Brand and coach Andy McGlynn). As ECA Senior Champions they will now go to Fredericton in Canada in April to participate in the World Senior Championships.
The winning men’s team included two members of Preston Curling Club and the women’s team are all from the club.
Good curling to all that competed, and we will be cheering on our champions in the worlds!
We are thrilled to be teaming up with Lytham International Film Festival to launch a new season of independent film nights. Taking place on the last Tuesday of every month, it’s a chance for audiences to enjoy a 90-minute screening of the very best short films from around the world followed by an exclusive Q&A with an industry professional. The Flower Bowl’s cinema manager Sarah Miller says: “This is a wonderful opportunity to experience film making at its finest on the big screen. These films have all been recognised at global festivals and generally aren’t on public release or available to a wide audience. We are delighted to be hosting such a fantastic event for film lovers.” Tickets cost £12 and visitors can also enjoy a special offer of a hot drink and cake for just £5 from Oasis Café Bar. Our first event will take place on Tuesday 28th January at 7.30pm. We can’t wait to see you there!
Join us for a new monthly movie screening designed for audiences aged 55+. Taking place at 2pm on the third Wednesday of each month, Silver Screenings are a chance to enjoy a handpicked film at a discounted price in our boutique cinema. Your special £10 ticket also entitles you to a hot drink and cake for just £5 in the Oasis Coffee Bar. It’s the perfect way to unwind and catch up with friends!
The first event will take place on Wednesday 20th November with a showing of Sir Steve McQueen’s new historical war drama Blitz. The film follows the epic journey of George (Elliott Heffernan), a nine-year-old boy in World War II London whose mother Rita (Saoirse Ronan) sends him to safety in the English countryside. George, determined to return home to his mum and his grandfather Gerald (Paul Weller) in East London, embarks on an adventure, only to find himself in danger, while a distraught Rita searches for her missing son. It’s an intensely moving story driven by powerful characters and immense acting skills.
The Flower Bowl was proud to host the ECA English Mixed Doubles Championship this year! There were ten entries which were divided into two groups of five. Each group played a double round robin and then the top two teams in each group contested in a semi-finals on Sunday morning, with a final on Sunday afternoon.
Our very own Ruaraidh Whyte (Venue Manager) and his sister Naomi Bethwaite curled their hearts out and earned a place in the final, against team Opel. It was a very entertaining final and team Opel took the win 6 – 5 over team Whyte, making team Opel three-time consecutive winners of the competition. The winners will now travel to Dumfries in December to represent England at the World Mixed Doubles Qualifier.
We’re thrilled to announce our fun-filled Children’s Christmas Parties are back for 2024. Join the elves for breakfast, lunch, tea or fish supper at The Ocean Fish & Chip Restaurant. Each party includes an hour and a half of professional entertainment, yummy food and drink, plus a gift and special visit from Father Christmas!
Bursting with festive joy, songs and games, this year’s theme revolves around the elf inventors Comet and Merry who have decided Santa’s sleigh needs an upgrade. The clever duo have designed a new model which means Santa can deliver his presents faster than ever before. But when mischievous Merry lets curiosity get the better of her, things take a bad turn. Now they are left without anything to power Santa’s sleigh – and time is running out. They need your help to save Christmas!
Tickets are priced at £34 per child (aged 2+) and £18 per adult (maximum of two adults per child). Under 2’s can attend free of charge with a paying child but will not receive a meal or gift from Father Christmas.
The parties are available to book now on the following dates: December 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th.
GB Olympic curling skip Bruce Mouat paid a special visit to The Flower Bowl at the weekend. The World Championship gold medallist and Olympic silver medallist took part in The Flower Bowl’s annual Summer Bonspiel on Friday 19th July to Sunday 21st July. Bruce, who was joined by his family and friends, also enjoyed a competitive game of crazy golf. The Flower Bowl’s managing director Guy Topping says: “It was a real honour to welcome Bruce to the centre and watch him in action on the ice. Everyone had a fantastic time and I hope his visit will inspire more people to have a go at curling! It’s such a fun and inclusive sport that all ages and abilities can excel at and we have fantastic facilities here to enjoy.”
A total of 16 teams from across the UK competed in the two-day bonspiel at The Flower Bowl which is home to the only full-sized curling rink in England. This year’s winning team was The Mighty Ducks, which was comprised of members from Preston Curling Club and the South of England Curling Club. In second place was a group from Preston Curling Club Juniors called Team Zen. Guy’s team Magic Roundabout made third spot.
After the final game, Guy presented Bruce with a Pieris japonica ‘Little Frosty’ plant to say thank you for taking part in the event. This was followed by a trophy presentation with chocolate medals for the crazy golfers. Guy then gave each of the four top curling teams a special congratulatory hamper.
The Flower Bowl offers a wide range of curling sessions for both beginners and experienced players. It also hosts a weekly Junior Curling Club and is home to Preston Wheelchair Curling Club. Children can have a go at two special shortened versions of the alpine sport – Mini Curling and Shuffleboard on Ice. In addition to curling, The Flower Bowl offers a wide range of activities including crazy golf, ten-pin bowling, a cinema, and five places to dine and refuel. Looking ahead, The Flower Bowl has an exciting schedule of events lined up, featuring upcoming curling tournaments in September such as the ECA Junior Curling, Open Bonspiel, and ECA Mixed Doubles. We encourage spectators to enjoy the action from the comfort of the Oasis Coffee Bar.
The Flower Bowl team is thrilled to have made the shortlist for Leisure & Tourism Business of the Year in the 16th Be Inspired Business Awards (BIBAs). The BIBAs are Lancashire’s largest and most prestigious business awards. Brought to you by the North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, they are a celebration of the county’s best performing companies and entrepreneurs, and its world-class business community. The Flower Bowl’s venue manager Ruaraidh Whyte says: “We’re delighted to have been nominated in these highly respected awards which shine the light on Lancashire’s best businesses. It’s a reflection of the whole team here who work so hard to make sure everyone who walks through our doors has an amazing experience. We’re all keeping our fingers crossed for the final!” The winners will be announced at the annual BIBA Awards Ceremony, which is taking place on Friday 20th September at the iconic Blackpool Tower Ballroom. Babs Murphy, chief executive of the North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, says: “As with every year, the BIBAs journey is never the same and the calibre of the categories always seems to go up a notch – and 2024 has been no different.”
Team England are hoping to sweep away the competition at the World Seniors Championships which are taking place in Sweden from April 20th-27th. The event, for athletes over the age of 50, will bring teams from more than 25 countries to Oestersund Arena where they will compete to be crowned the best in the world. England’s winning team is made up of our company directors Guy and Peter Topping, Chris Kerr and Peter Alexander, with John Brown as the 5th man. It’s the whole team’s first time representing England on the world stage. They earned their place in the competition by winning the ECA Senior Men’s championships earlier in the year. Their group consists of Switzerland, USA, Belgium, Estonia and Latvia. All the latest scores can be found on the World Curling website. Good luck Team England!
This weekend we were delighted to welcome the Welsh Bonspiel to The Flower Bowl curling rink. Hosted by the Welsh Curling Association, the event which took place on Friday 8th to Sunday 10th March was a great success. A total of six teams took part comprising of a mix of Welsh and non-Welsh players across four sessions. Following a three-session Schenkel, we held closed finals. The winners were Team Coombs followed by the runners-up Team Watmough. Congratulations to everyone who took part!
A group of children from Blackpool-based CN Sports were treated to a fun-filled evening of activities at The Flower Bowl in February. As part of our ongoing partnership with the grassroots football club, we hosted two special events for the children to enjoy. On February 18th, the younger team members had a go at crazy golf, ten-pin bowling and crazy pool. A week later, the older teams took to the ice to play a game of curling. Club Vice Chairman Lee Good says: “This was a fantastic initiative set up by the team at The Flower Bowl and was a great chance for our teams, coaches and parents to interact with each other and most importantly have fun. Thank you so much to Guy Topping and all of the events team for a fantastic time.”
It was an action-packed weekend on the ice as The Flower Bowl hosted the ECA Seniors Curling Bonspiel on 12th-14th January. Four male teams and three female teams competed for the sought-after prizes. Congratulations to our company directors Guy and Peter Topping for being part of the men’s winning team. And what a result for Team Harsch who took the women’s seniors title for the second year running! The Flower Bowl is home to the only full sized curling rink in England and regularly hosts major tournaments. Both teams will now go on and compete in the World Senior Curling Championship in Sweden in April 2024.
The team at The Flower Bowl is celebrating after being named as a finalist in Marketing Lancashire’s 2023 Tourism Awards in the Accessible and Inclusive Tourism category. This award celebrates tourism experiences that ensure all visitors can have a great time without any barriers or restrictions. It recognises businesses that improve their facilities for a wide range of customers who may have additional needs. These include disabled people, seniors, families with young children, and those with a medical condition. The Lancashire Tourism Awards is the biggest and only county-wide celebration of tourism excellence in Lancashire. The winners will be announced on Tuesday 6th February 2024 at a ceremony to be held at King Georges Hall in Blackburn.
This season’s sweetest new blockbuster launches at The Flower Bowl on Friday December 8th. With Timothée Chalamet singing and dancing his heart out in the lead role, Hugh Grant playing an Oompa Loompa and Paddington director Paul King at the helm, Wonka promises to be a delicious sugar-coated treat. The film focuses on Wonka’s early life as he dreams of opening a chocolate shop but faces opposition from his corrupt competitors. It’s a warm, feel good movie that The Telegraph has described as “the most fun you’ll have in a cinema all year”. Tickets are selling fast so book now to avoid disappointment.
The countdown to the big day is on so it’s time to put up the tree, open the mince pies and start binge-watching Christmas films. We’ve lined up a fantastic selection of festive crackers including the all-time classics Elf and Love Actually. CBeebies Panto is back on our screens for another Christmassy adventure, this time with Robin Hood at the helm. Andre Rieus’ White Christmas is always a festive treat to look forward to and The Royal Ballet: The Nutcracker is simply enchanting. New for 2023 is Journey to Bethlehem, a live-action musical adventure for the whole family to enjoy. And finally, Simon Callow enacts the story of Ebeneezer Scrooge in a moving telling of A Christmas Carol. Our deluxe cinema is the perfect place to cosy up with a hot chocolate or glass of fizz and let the festive feelings flow!
BOOK HERE.
It’s Party Time at The Flower Bowl!
Our Corporate Christmas Parties are back with a bang this year. We’ve launched an action-packed range of fun festive packages to choose from. The Whole in One Day includes bowling, crazy golf, curling, festive fizz and lunch for £70pp. The Strike It Lucky party offers exclusive use of the Copper Lounge, two private bowling lanes, festive fizz, buffet and karaoke for £25pp. Or enjoy a two-course meal with festive fizz plus a choice of curling, bowling or crazy golf. We can also organise a bespoke event just for you. The choice is yours! And book a Strike it Lucky package for January and February 2024 to get a saving of £17 per person compared to the usual price.
FIND OUT MORE.
New Murder Mystery Event Hits the Dancefloor!
Friday 23rd February
It’s time to put on your dancing shoes for a fabulous evening of disco, drama and delicious food. The Ocean Restaurant is hosting a thrilling murder mystery event inspired by the funky 1970’s era. Murder on the Dancefloor is a fun interactive experience hosted by Black Watch Entertainment featuring a cast of talented actors. Plunge into a world of suspense and intrigue, as you put on your detective hat to solve the crime. Fancy dress is definitely encouraged so dig out your platforms and bell-bottoms! The event takes place at 7pm-10pm on Friday 23rd February and includes a meal and a complimentary glass of fizz.
BOOK NOW.
New Christmas Pizza is Here!
10th November 2023
Enjoy a taste of Christmas at The Flower Bowl with the launch of our delicious festive menus. New at Blooms for 2023 is our Christmas pizza topped with pigs in blankets! We’ve also launched two limited edition sandwiches – turkey and nut roast. Our famous mince pies are now available with a choice of festive drinks including mulled wine and Bailey’s hot chocolate. The Flower Bowl venue manager Emily Topping says: “We hope these delicious new additions will add some extra joy to the season. They won’t be around for long so treat yourself now!” Also coming soon to the Oasis menu is the classic flavour combo of Turkey, Brie and Cranberry Panini plus a Nut Roast, Brie and Cranberry vegetarian option. They are guaranteed to put you in a festive mood!
Find out more here.
Cliff Richard Hits the Big Screen!
7th November 2023
For two nights only, Sir Cliff Richard is bringing his Blue Sapphire Tour to cinemas. Designed to celebrate his 65th year in music, the show includes many of his biggest hits including Move It, Wired For Sound and Saviour’s Day. Recorded at the Hammersmith Eventim Apollo in London, the movie will also include never-seen-before footage. Sir Cliff says: “This is a great opportunity for fans to experience one of my concerts from the comfort of their local cinema. I’ll be performing my biggest hits and favourite tracks from throughout my career.”
The cinema screenings are at 7pm on 25th November and 3pm on 26th November.
It’s Christmas Party Time!
6th November 2023
Enjoy a Christmas party with a difference at Lancashire’s number one visitor attraction. We’ve got a fantastic line-up of fun party packages to choose from with all the trimmings included. Take your pick from the Olympic sport of curling, ten-pin bowling and crazy golf. Our Copper Lounge comes complete with a bar, sound system and optional karaoke. Venue manager Emily Topping says: “With unique activities, festive food and fabulous décor, The Flower Bowl is the perfect venue for your Christmas party. We recommend booking as soon as you can!”
Find out more here.
Curling Champions!
8th October 2023
Congratulations to Team Opel who won the 2023-2024 ECA National Mixed Doubles Championship which took place at The Flower Bowl. A big thanks to all 12 teams who took part in the event and provided us with some thrilling curling action. Team Opel will be taking part in the World Mixed Doubles Qualification Competition in Dumfries in December representing Team England. We can’t wait to host the Seniors Championship in January 2024!
What a night the team had at the Best of Lancashire Awards! The Flower Bowl was head sponsor of the event which took place at the Woodland Spa hosted by The Lancashire Evening Post. Our managing director Guy Topping was one of the judges and gave a welcome speech. Guy says: “Lancashire is home to a remarkable array of talent, businesses and individuals and it’s a privilege to be able to recognise and celebrate their contributions through the Best of Lancashire Awards.” The event raised a total of £1,338.11 on the night.
Happy Halloween!
15th September 2023
Climb aboard our new spine-tingling VR ride for a frightfully fun time the whole family can enjoy. Our Spooky Cart Ride will spirit you away into a haunted barn where creepy crawlies, ghastly ghouls and sinister scarecrows await. Book now if you dare! Available until Monday 13th November £6pp. Book online and ask for the Spooky Cart ride at our information desk at your timeslot!
The Flower Bowl is celebrating after being shortlisted for Lancashire Tourism Award’s Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award 2023. Designed to recognise tourism businesses that excel in providing an inclusive customer experience, the award particularly focuses on venues with accessibility requirements. Emily Topping, venue manager, says: “We have always wanted The Flower Bowl to be fully accessible for our guests so as many people as possible can enjoy what we have on offer. Over the past year we have put a big focus on accessibility, so it is great to be recognised for our efforts.” The winner will be announced on 6th February 2024.
Last night we rolled out the red carpet for NEW British rom-com… Ghosted! Our guests joined us for the first screening outside of Leicester Square to watch this award-winning film. They enjoyed a drinks reception and an exclusive live Q&A with lead star, writer and producer Jade Asha! What a wonderful evening it was!
We had a fantastic weekend hosting our first bonspiel of 2023! Thank you to all 8 teams who competed over the three days and a big congratulations to our winners! In 1st place was team Moat, 2nd place was team Bailey and 3rd place was team Cooper.
The Flower Bowl team is celebrating after winning the prestigious Lancashire Tourism Award for Visitor Attraction of the Year 2022. We collected the coveted title at a special ceremony hosted by Britain’s Got Talent finalist and panto veteran Steve Royle at Blackpool Winter Gardens. The Flower Bowl’s manager Emily Topping says: “We’re absolutely thrilled to win this award. Throughout the recent challenges facing the hospitality sector, we’ve worked really hard to develop and strengthen our offering. This award is a fantastic accolade and a great boost for the whole team.” The Flower Bowl will now be entered into the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2023.
Local schools were given 5 weeks of free beginner curling lessons before competing in an inter-schools curling competition on Tuesday. All 8 teams showed off the skills they had learned and it was great to see young talent shine here at The Flower Bowl. Congratulations to Garstang St Thomas School who came 1st place! Each child was given a free voucher for our Junior Curling Club – we hope to see you all there!
Garstang Rd, Preston
PR3 0BT
Show the Map
(for Sat Nav please use PR3 0RB)
Garstang Rd, Preston
PR3 0BT
Show the Map
(for Sat Nav please use PR3 0RB)
