Andy Devaney
Bat & Ball, that cheeky London hangout where pints meet ping pong and karaoke collides with crazy golf, has lobbed a winner straight down the middle of the school holidays. In a rare alignment of family fun and frugal living, kids can now play for free—yes, free—at both their Stratford and Covent Garden venues throughout August.
From the 1st to the 31st, between 12 pm and 5 pm each day, children are treated to a 30-minute game session entirely on the house—just so long as they bring along a responsible adult with a wallet and a decent backhand. No minimum spend, no fine print written in Latin, and you don’t even have to book in advance.
Walk-ins are welcome, pre-bookings are smiled upon, and meltdowns over screen time are gently replaced with the dulcet tones of darts hitting the board and the occasional karaoke warble.
It’s part of Bat & Ball’s ongoing campaign to remind the capital that games aren’t just for grownups with craft beer in hand. As one spokesperson put it with all the heart and half the hangover:
“We’re all about bringing people together through games, food and fun. This summer, we wanted to make it even easier for families to enjoy what Bat & Ball has to offer. Whether you’re looking to celebrate a birthday, or just enjoy a spontaneous afternoon out, kids can now get stuck into the games on us. It’s a chance for everyone to switch off and have a great time — no screens, no stress.”
And they’re not bluffing. Stratford plays host to everything from pool and darts to old-school ping pong and crowd-pleasing karaoke booths. Covent Garden, which opened its neon-lit doors in March 2025, goes a step further.
This flagship site is a whopping 12,000 square feet of fun, food, and full-volume family antics. The main event? Crazy golf with a glow-in-the-dark twist.
Of course, all that gaming calls for fuel, and Bat & Ball doesn’t disappoint. Their menu walks the line between crowd-pleaser and gourmet grub, featuring wood-fired pizzas, towering smash burgers, and drinks that range from child-friendly slushies to proper pints for the parents.
It’s a setup that caters to kids, couples, and those nostalgic for the days when games were played on tables, not tablets.
Bat & Ball isn’t just running a promotion. It’s making a point: fun doesn’t need to come with a surcharge, a screen, or a side of stress. And in a summer where many parents are counting the days and the pennies, that’s a message worth hearing.
To serve yourself a slice of family fun this August, swing over to www.thebatandball.com and get ready to let the kids go wild—without going broke.
