Why Splitsville is Kanata's favourite birthday party venue

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As for the shoe issue, I didn’t notice grit on our lane, which is the main concern put forward by purists. Faghihi, who’s been in charge of the Kanata location since opening day, said the company’s street-shoe-friendly policy was the result of customer surveys throughout the chain, which currently includes 19 locations in four provinces, and a new one set to open this fall in Pickering.

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“The guests really made it clear that convenience and comfort are incredibly important to them, so as a business, we really embrace a more flexible approach that prioritizes the guest experience and modernizes the game,” Faghihi said in an interview, noting that the company also increased the lane-cleaning frequency.

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“It is totally up to you whether you want to wear the bowling shoes and get that full experience, or whether you want to wear your own shoes for comfort.”

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Canada’s Splitsville chain was acquired by Britain’s publicly traded Hollywood Bowl Group in 2022 as the first step in a strategy to expand beyond the U.K.

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Splitsville Kanata was one of two new Canadian locations to open in 2025.

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While some commenters felt they missed a big opportunity to open in Stittsville, purely for the rhyming potential, Faghihi says Kanata was identified as the best spot because of its growing population of tech workers and their families.

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“Kanata is one of Ottawa’s fastest-growing suburbs right now, with a strong demand for family-friendly entertainment options,” he said.

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Family entertainment centres are a major attraction these days, a trend that observers attribute in part to parents’ desire to get kids off the small screen and engage with friends in person. Splitsville fits the bill, not only with the easily accessible nature of bowling, but also with an arsenal of arcade games.

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Splitsville also has an arsenal of arcade games. Photo by JEAN LEVAC /POSTMEDIA

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Equipped with pre-loaded cards, we hit the games after our hour-plus round of bowling. As an arcade rookie, I made the common mistake of fixating on one silly game, blowing all the credits and not having enough left to try anything more interesting.

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In my futile quest to snag a purple stuffy in a claw game, I didn’t make it over to the two most popular non-bowling attractions: the photo booth, and the virtual-reality Godzilla game that lets you fight the beast in the heart of a bustling city. Next time.

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Also worth a mention was the menu, available laneside or in the lounge. We shared a satisfying platter of loaded nachos and a separate plate of deliciously garlicky pizza strips from a menu that also includes burgers, wings, wraps and more, with vegan and gluten-free items. The beverages section was bursting with options, too, from beer, wine and spirits to mocktails and a selection of creamy concoctions called Dirty Sodas.

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In the end, of course, it’s the bottom line that makes Splitsville such a strong contender for parents’ birthday-party dollars. Kids’ bowling packages start at $99 for a party of six, including pizza, fries and drinks, while adult party-packages can be booked for just over $200, including a couple of shareable plates and one drink per person.

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Regular adult admission to bowl one game starts at about $8.99. Multi-game and all-you-can-play rates are also available and there’s lots of free parking. Booking online is a simple process.

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Our session concluded with me posting the lowest score, but possibly having the most fun. I plan to go back to work on my game.

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