Swingers West End | London

“Swingers West End takes crazy golf back to its seaside roots in a venue that reimagines the faded glamour of the 1920s English Riviera.” Swingers West End

Since I visited the original Swingers city based venue in the summer of 2016 a second branch of the popular activity opened in March this year in the West End just off Oxford Circus. Perfectly located to attract the swarms of visitors that descend on this area daily, Swingers West End, like its smaller city counterpart city, is a great way to while away a couple of hours before and after hitting London’s busiest shopping area.

Swingers West End, housed in the former BHS flagship store, offers players two nine hole crazy golf courses, The Big Wheel and The Helter Skelter courses alongside street food outlets, well-stocked cocktail bars and The Grand Hotel Bar, the free-standing art deco, palm fringed bar that’s essentially a building within a building. Operated by ICS (Institute of Competitive Socialising) Swingers West End is based on old school British seaside 1920’s golf-club complete with artificial greens, tricky slopes, obstacles and moving attractions to navigate on each hole.

Drinks are permitted on the course (but food is not allowed), in fact they are encouraged with drinks shelves on each hole and drinks served by the on-hand servers during the game if you so desire. Teeing off in five minute slots golfers are limited to a group of four with a maximum of six shots per hole permitted to keep things moving. Rounds take about forty-five minutes with all clubs, balls and scorecard provided, once your round is complete you can take your place on the 3D photo tiered podium for that commemorative picture (not so exciting when you come last, losing on the last hole).

Four of London’s popular street food vendors have set up in beach huts lining the wooden boardwalk, aka The Promenade, each offering differing menus of savoury and a sweet options. Patty & Bun serves burgers, chicken wings and fries, the Ari Gold and Colin Montgomerie burgers winning favour and the Dig-it, a portobello mushroom fritter for those favouring a plant based diet. Breddos Tacos offers an array of Mexican dishes such as tacos, tostadas and a whole lot of sides dishes. Their signature Baja fish and Masa Fried Chicken tacos are definite favourites along with their nachos.

If pizzas are your thing, Made of Dough, which originated at Pop Brixton, make delicious wood-fired neapolitan pizzas. I first got to sample their wares at Taste of Dubai where they cooked pizzas in their oven housed in the back of a Land Rover Defender. At Swingers West End there are cooking up seven of their best sellers including a Vegan special and the Raging Bull meat feast. Hackney Gelato are according to Time Out ‘The ice cream experts’. This artisan ice-cream company, launched by Enrico and Sam who previously worked together at the Michelin-starred Locanda Locatelli, offers a range of handmade gelato using traditional Italian techniques. The ice-cream bar at Swingers offers a variety of creams, sorbets and milkshakes, there’s a flavour to suit everyone’s taste.

Swingers has capitalised on the popularity of similar London venues that have successfully combined sporting activities with bars and street food and now with two venues there is even more opportunity to enjoy year round indoor crazy golf. Perfect for after work drinks and company events (a variety of private rooms are available for hire) as well as a fun tourist attraction or even a little respite from retail activities. Swingers is great for golfing, lots of laughs especially when your shots don’t go to plan, non-golfers are also welcome to accompany those playing for drinks, food and moral support.

Swingers West End

Location: 15 John Prince’s Street, London. W1G 0AB

Telephone: 020 3030 4111

E-mail: westendinfo@Swingersldn.com

Website: swingersldn.com

Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Opening hours: Monday – Thursday 12 noon – 12am, Friday – Saturday 12 noon – 12.30am, Sunday: 12 noon – 11pm

Cost: £13 per person per round (entry is free to non-golfers), £10 per person off-peak (Monday – Thursday before 5pm)

Half the general admission tickets can be booked in advance online HERE, tickets up to 31st December 2018 are currently on sale (tickets are released 3 months in advance on the 1st of the month). The remaining half are available for purchase on the door daily. Daytime tickets can be bought from reception from midday and evening tickets from 6pm onwards.