Bounce, Bounce!

• Nightlife

When flying back from my ski holiday a few weeks back I spotted a logo I designed in the EasyJet in-flight magazine that another passenger was reading. Intrigued, I delved into my copy (I never read these, I always have a supply of Grazia/Glamour/Instyle with me!). Incidentally the logo was for an awards event I did the branding for and on a clients advert showcasing their win. I was quite chuffed that my design was in another magazine, weird to see something you made out there! So I flicked though the rest of the magazine anyway and that is where I read about Bounce in a London nightlife section. 

THE VENUE

Bounce, a venue that claims to be the home of Ping Pong, is located near Chancery Lane and is
brought to us my the founder of All Star Lanes. I am currently freelancing round the corner from there (another weird coincidence) so felt it I had to try it out for myself. In another weird coincidence, it turns out that the site it is built on is actually where Ping Pong was invented (a plaque on the wall said so) which they only found out after they had decided on it!  Wanting to try it for myself, I arranged an overdue meet up with two old work friends to go there.

I am the kind of person that doesn't usually go in for 'activities', usually happy to just sit in a bar and chat, but thought this looked fun and wanted to try something different. As my friend had arrived first, I made my way to the bar which is a 'blink and you'll miss it' doorway opposite the big Sainsbury's HQ (Holborn Viaduct) and next to WH Smiths and Boots I think. On finding it, I went down into a huge basement type bar, reminded me a bit of a speak easy, and where there were laid out rows of Ping Pong tables. It was heaving for a Tuesday night and making my way through to meet my friend I was met with Ping Pong balls flying everywhere!

Ping Pong tables with room for spectators, pictures from the Bounce website.

Bar area, images from the Bounce website

THE THEME

Once we had all arrived, we put our names down for a table (£13 for half hour, £26 for 1, groups over 6 can book in advance) and then picked up and bats and balls and set about a game. Half an hour at a time was plenty for me and my attention span, plus you get a it worn out and we had booked a second game a bit later. It was a good way to break up the evening, a great conversation starter and really fun. By our second game our skills were declining somewhat as the wine kicked in, a common theme throughout the bar! We actually got two free games as we waited a bit for our table, which went into our time slot (out fault really for chatting!) but they gave it to us for free anyway, so that was a result! 

Restaurant overlooking the action, images from Bounce website

THE HOSPITALITY

They also have a large restaurant area and bar snack menu featuring 'sharing boards' with olives, stuffed feta peppers and salami type delights. The main menu had an italian theme, specialising in pizzas, which I didn't actually try but it did smell really good!

The drinks were standard price for London, wine started at £18 a bottle, £6.50 for spirit and mixer, but as you were playing Ping Pong I found I didn't drink that much (plus I had to be on a 7.30 train the next day!). 

The staff were all friendly and attentive, helping carry drinks for us and then collecting all the discarded balls around the floor in big nets. Plus our free games was a bonus!

THE ATMOSPHERE

It is an inviting bar, full of bustle and noise and played a variety of music, some sixties, soul and rock 'n' roll, it made for a great mixture. They also offer a group package, with a room you get exclusive use of and can book a compere for your games, great idea for special occasions or corporate events. It's open late, 1am I think, and at weekends when they allow kids in the daytime. I think they are onto a winner here and I for one would definitely go back.

Shirt H&M, skinny jeans New Look, Wedges New Look, Chain New Look (old)

THE OUTFIT

What to wear for this drinks/activities event? I was working in an office that day, so had to be smart yet needed comfy footwear for evening (Ping Pong isn't easy in heels!), so chose my new H&M stripe shirt, black skinnies and wedge lace up shoes. A tuck in of the shirt for evening, a gold bling long necklace and a slick of pink lippy meant I looked evening appropriate but not too overdone, it was Ping Pong after all! The overall look in the bar was smart-casual after work wear, but with some people more on the very casual side (jeans and converse), so no dress code (or Forest Gump types!) See more stripes and black and white on my Spring-spiration post.

So to sum up, if you're in London and fancy something a bit different to your usual afterwork drinks, then give it a try! (plastic visor optional!)