I tried Meadowhall's 1million new slick late night attraction

Clubhouse is a great place to while away a few hours if you don't mind falling out over a game of mini golf

20:03, 24 Feb 2023Updated 20:05, 24 Feb 2023

[Willing the ball to give me a strike definitely did not work]

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Willing the ball to give me a strike definitely did not work(Image: South Yorkshire Live)

A brand new visitor attraction is now open in Meadowhall promising a "competitive socialising experience" and we had a sneak peek of what is on offer.

Clubhouse is a new late-night bar within the South Yorkshire shopping centre which houses a bowling alley, a high-tech mini golf course and and even more techy darts area. The bar offers a variety of beers, ciders and cocktails and the kitchen serves up sharing plates such as nachos and chicken wings.

The venue is located on Lower Park Lane which is where Debenhams once was and in the unit which was once a Gap. We popped along on Thursday for a preview to see what it was all about.

I don't mind admitting that I'm a competitive sort and my partner matches me every step of the way which is why Monopoly is banned at our house around Christmas time. The idea of 'competitive socialising' is right up our street so we were happy to take on this assignment.

The first thing that caught us off guard about Clubhouse is the location which is nowhere near the Oasis, which I'd been picturing in my head the whole time despite having the address. It is tucked away in what, at night, becomes a very quiet part of the shopping centre.

[The mini golf is nine holes of astroturf and LED silliness that is just good fun]

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The mini golf is nine holes of astroturf and LED silliness that is just good fun(Image: South Yorkshire Live)

Initial misgivings about the location evaporate when you turn the corner into the open frontage of the venue which is slickly decorated and welcoming. It is hard to look at the space now and ever imagine it being a shop unit.

There a plenty of tables for customers to perch on for a drink or a snack in-between rounds of bowling, dart or mini golf. For those taking a longer rest there are booths further in to the venue which are a comfortable space to order a few dishes to share.

The overriding feeling is one of space with the feeling that even with a nine hole mini golf course, a bowling alley and a couple of darts board, there is still room for more to be done here. I'm not saying it is wasted space and on a busy night it might be welcome standing room, but it had the effect of being a little cavernous at times.

We tried our hands at bowling and mini golf while we were at Clubhouse. Bowling will set you back 11 per person for a session, mini golf comes in at 8.50 for nine holes.

The bowling alley is a classic 'pins on string' affair and is a clean and classic bowling experience. The lanes themselves are very Instagram friendly in their aesthetic too which is a bonus.

Mini golf is a stand-out feature for the bar with half of the venue essentially dominated by the elaborately lit course which is a temple to astroturf and LEDs. It comes with the fun addition of a virtual scoring system which can include a selfie of each player.

The course has its little frustrations such as the borders around the holes having a little overhang but the variety of holes is good. By the end, we were both buzzing to see our faces up on a big screen with our final scores broadcast to the whole venue, to my shame I admit I was badly beaten.

[Nothing like the whole bar being able to see you being soundly beaten]

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Nothing like the whole bar being able to see you being soundly beaten(Image: South Yorkshire Live)

We tried some of the food which ranges from between 5 to 10 for the small plates to sharers of over 30 and burgers and skewers which sit in-between. The food we had was all hot, fresh and tasty and perfect for the sort of experience on offer at Clubhouse.

The bar is an attractive place to spend a little time regardless of the activities and the staff were friendly and welcoming. You might have to shut your eyes when presented with the card machine though with the cheapest pint of beer coming in at 5.80 and a medium glass of wine coming in at 6.70.

We felt for what was on offer the prices of the food and drinks were not outrageous and matched similar venues elsewhere in the city. Overall we left having had a thoroughly good time.

Clubhouse has has opened following a 1 million investment and has also created 40 new jobs for people in the local area. The bar is still recruiting for team members at a range of levels to apply for a role, visit: www.clubhousesocial.co.uk/pages/careers.

Jack Pendlebury, Director at Clubhouse, said: Were so excited to see our vision come to life and finally open the doors after all our hard work. We couldnt have picked a better location than Meadowhall to launch our new venture, and were looking forward to welcoming lots of new faces to experience everything we have to offer.

We are also looking to grow our team to help us deliver an unforgettable experience for all our customers and wed encourage anyone with a passion for hospitality to get in touch.

[The venue is in an unusual location for Meadowhall but could be the start of something new for the shopping centre]

View 4 Images

The venue is in an unusual location for Meadowhall but could be the start of something new for the shopping centre(Image: South Yorkshire Live)

Clubhouse is open from 10am until 9pm from Monday to Thursday, 10am until 11pm on Friday and Saturday, and from 11am until 8pm on Sundays.

You can find our more information on their website here.

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