Namco
Metrocentre, Gateshead
Reviewed by Tammy Linsell
Amusement type arcades were never my bag, but we’ve just arrived home from a fabulous Sunday morning spent at Namco, Gateshead Metrocentre. Full marks to the staff for making us so welcome. Unfortunately I only got one of their names – a young lady called Pippa, but the service from all of them was impeccable. Namco bosses if you read this please take note.
I was there with my civil partner Heather, her friend Marie, and Marie’s son Dan for us all to enjoy a game of ten pin bowling. Two games in fact. On previous visits to bowling alleys the wearing of bowling shoes was mandatory. Dan, Heather and I all had our trainers and we were allowed to keep them on. Marie was wearing sparkly sandals, which, she informed us, contained real diamonds. I’m a little bit dubious as to the truthfulness of this claim, but the friendly staff quickly found her sensible shoes, and guarded her diamond encrusted sandals with their lives while we went off to enjoy ourselves. It’s worth wearing trainers to avoid the hassle of having to change, but if you forget or you’re going somewhere posh afterwards where high heels are obligatory, then it isn’t a problem.
We were assigned lane number 1, and as we settled in a helpful member of staff appeared and explained to us the different sizes and weights of the bowls and offered to fetch us our drinks. These are reasonably priced; large soft drinks for the four of us came to £6. There is a lovely atmosphere at Namco’s, everying is spotlessly clean, and we had big squashy sofas to lounge upon and chat in between taking our turns to bowl. Seven year old Dan quickly worked out how to input our names into the computerised score keeping system, and the score screens were large and easy to understand. Pippa came across to talk to us and check that everything was alright, which it was. Our two games kept us thoroughly entertained for an hour, and then we had ten minutes on the dodgems. I haven’t been on a dodgem since I was sixteen and it was fun, even if I did have to be helped in and out of my yellow car. I noticed a large café/restaurant area with plenty of tables overlooking a colourful soft play facility, so we’ll keep this in mind should we ever find ourselves in charge of younger children. There’s a lot more to do, there are snooker tables, many games machines and amusement type attractions. Unfortunately Dan had another appointment to be off to, but we’ll return and sample what else is on offer another day.
Dan was very impressed with a device which spits out yellow tickets as you bowl, the more pins you mow down, the more tickets you receive. Unsure of the system Dan asked Pippa, “Can I ask you a question?” His query concerned how he would go about exchanging the tickets for a toy. Pippa immediately sat down to get herself onto his eye level and explained to Dan what he had to do. At the end he triumphantly exchanged his tickets for a Toy Story pen.
We asked Dan how he would rate Namco’s out of ten. At first he said seven, but when we challenged this (bearing in mind he’d spent his entire morning leaping about with delight) he admitted that actually it was ten out of ten, he was just a little disgruntled at being beaten at bowling by his Mum!
Marie enjoyed herself so much that she began to leave the premises still wearing her bowling shoes and forgetting about her diamond sandals. Pippa earnestly beckoned to her to return.
Namco Funscape is in the Yellow Mall, Metrocentre, Gateshead. Tel; 0191 4061066. The adult bowling tariff is £6 per game per adult, but this is reduced if you have more games. So for example, 3 games of bowling is £12.50 per adult. A family ticket for four (must include at least one child) is £35. There are however concessions for students, and reduced prices between certain times. There are also special deals for soft play, kid’s party packages, and teen party packages around all the different facilities. See www.namcofunscape.com for full details.
Five out of five Namco, particularly for customer service.
Rating: 5/5 
For more information or to book online visit www.namcofunscape.com.
Namco Funscape, Unit 244 Garden Walk, Gateshead, Metrocentre, Tyne and Wear, NE11 9XY
