It is news that strikes at the heart: the much-loved Rowans Bowling Alley in Finsbury Park appears to be under threat.
Here's what's happening:
🎳 A few days ago Instagrammer mrfinsburypark drew attention to a draft local plan consultation pinned up near Rowans, explaining the site on which Rowans stands — just across from Finsbury Park station — could be redeveloped with up to 190 flats. The plan harks back to 2014, when Rowans was threatened with compulsory development — successfully quashed by a public campaign, but then almost immediately reintroduced into new plans. These would see redevelopment take place between 2032 and 2041. mrfinsburypark's response to all this: "JUST SAY NO".
🎳 The Evening Standard pressed Haringey Council on the above, to which it said there are no current plans to knock down and replace Rowans. However, the council did acknowledge the new local plan which identified Rowans as a site with the opportunity to 'provide new homes alongside replacement leisure and community uses'... Councillor Sarah Williams from Haringey Council later told the Standard "We know that Rowans is a much-loved local space for our community and there are no proposals to replace it." However, it's unclear how building almost 200 new homes on the site would not affect the bowling alley in some way — in the very least impact on its late opening times (12.30am during the week, 2.30am on Fridays and Saturdays).
🎳 Rowans itself has said nothing of the plans on its website or social media.
🎳 The public consultation is only open until Friday 19 December 2025: if you cherish Rowans, have your say, and let Haringey Council know how you feel.
What's so great about Rowans? First springing up in the 1980s, it's changed very little since — continuing to offer the good, old-fashioned fun of sweaty shoes and Slush Puppies; arcade games and cheapish beers. We even had the Londonist Christmas party here one year. As the Londoner writes: "Young or old, newbie or lifer, I’ve never met any Londoner who doesn't know what it is — and more uniquely, who doesn't have some degree of affection for it."
