Let’s Go in Barnstaple is the kind of family leisure complex that earns its keep on a rainy North Devon afternoon, and it earns it comprehensively. Under one roof you have ten lanes of ten-pin bowling with bumper rails for younger players, crazy golf, a large soft play zone for younger children, arcades, karaoke booths, a diner and a bar, everything required for an afternoon that satisfies all ages simultaneously.
The bowling is the centrepiece, and the setup is well-maintained and well-organised. Cosmic bowling sessions with music and lighting effects operate in the evenings. The soft play area is substantial enough to give proper exercise rather than just a supervised walk-around. The arcades are the usual mix of skill and prize machines that children tend to disappear into.
The food and drink operation at Let’s Go is a step up from standard leisure complex fare, the diner menu is properly put together and the bar does a reasonable job. For a family that has been wet and windswept and needs an afternoon that requires no commitment to the weather, this combination does what is needed very effectively.
Let’s Go is on Braunton Road in Barnstaple, about 11 miles from Woolacombe. Note that this is the current brand name for what was previously known as Barnstaple Bowl. Open daily from mid-morning; online booking available for bowling lanes.
Let’s Go is particularly effective for mixed-age family groups where different members want to do different things at the same time. Bowling and arcades for older children and adults run simultaneously with soft play for younger family members, and the diner and bar provide a central point where everyone can regroup. Online booking for bowling lanes is strongly recommended during peak season and at weekends, as lanes fill quickly and walk-in availability is limited. Note that this venue was previously known as Barnstaple Bowl, the Let’s Go rebrand is relatively recent.
