Bowling chain to create 30 jobs with new Exeter venue

A bowling and entertainment chain with venues across the UK is set to open in Exeter, bringing around 30 new jobs to the city.

Lane7 has signed a deal for a 27,000 sq ft site across two floors of the Guildhall Shopping Centre, with an opening planned for early 2027.

The company, which operates venues in cities including Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and London, said Exeter would be its 30th UK site.

What is Lane7?

Lane7 opened its first venue in Newcastle upon Tyne in 2013. It has since expanded to more than a dozen UK cities and recently pushed into Europe, opening venues in Berlin and two sites in Dublin.

Unlike traditional bowling alleys, the brand targets both families during the day and adult groups in the evening, combining tenpin bowling with food, drinks and other entertainment.

The Lane7 Group also owns the LevelX, Gutterball and ML7 brands, which together operate around six further sites across the UK. Further openings are planned in Leeds, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Why Exeter?

Managing director Gavin Hughes said the company had been looking for a suitable Exeter site for some time, describing it as a "buzzing city centre in the south west of England."

The Guildhall Shopping Centre site, which sits in the heart of the city centre, gives Lane7 a large two-floor footprint from which to offer its mix of daytime and evening entertainment.