Sparetimes

Just visiting the area for the first time, decided to shoot pool and possibly bowl. The parking lot was dark and scary, but when we walked in we got pat down and a metal detector ran across our bodies. I felt like I was dealing with the TSA at an airport. We ended up shooting two games of pool and left, quickly. The lanes and pool tables were clean and neat, I’ll give them that. Not sure if it was the welcome that we received at the door or the environment in general that put us on edge, but we felt like a gang war was going to breakout at any minute. Needless to say, I definitely wouldn’t recommend coming here, especially at night.

First time having been here and it was a nice experience. The desk is right in front of entryway so you get right to business with your shoe purchase ($ 3) and lane assignment and even put our names in for us.
Lanes are well maintained. Staff was friendly and helpful. Mid afternoon they were not busy either plenty of lanes available.
Kids summer bowling offered here. Kids bowl 2 free games (shoes are additional purchase).

The reviewers are partially right. Outside of the bowling alley looks a little sketch. But! When you walk inside… Wow. This was probably the nicest bowling alley I have ever been to. High ceilings, nice murals, nice couches, lots of space, smooth lanes, $ 10 for 3hrs of unlimited bowling! You can’t ask for much more. I recommend bringing your own bowling shoes because their shoes are really slippery. 1 star off for the location and slippery shoes but otherwise check this place out!

I’ve had a lot of fun times here with college friends. The food isn’t half bad either. If you’re looking for something fun to do that’s not too hard on the pockets, catch a game or two here. The service could be a little better, but they don’t really bother you much.

Bowling here is pretty good. It’s in the back off the main road and seems pretty ghetto. But once inside it’s nice and clean.
My favorite is the food here. It’s so flavorful and the portions are pretty generous. Price is a little high in my opinion for bowling alley food but it’s good.
Only complaint is the pizza. Stay away! It’s cardboard with sauce and cheese. It’s terrible!!!

First time visiting this bowling alley, and went in thinking that it wouldn’t be a great experience because the exterior of the building looked super shady. The bowling experience (we did Glow Bowl) was actually really nice! The management was great, and the lanes were in great condition. They played a variety of music to suit everything from Country to Hip Hop. Bartenders were very friendly! The only poor experience was the concessions. They were not properly staffed for a Saturday night, and so the lines and subsequent wait for our order took forever. Hoping that someone just called in sick and they couldn’t find someone to backfill. I will absolutely try Spare Times again!

We were trying to find something to do that won’t too far away from our hotel, the Embassy Suites. Sparetimes is literally right around the corner (though, it took some maneuvering to actually figure out how to get to it). We went for the $ 10 all you can bowl on a Tuesday night around 10pm.
There were 2 other groups there, 40 year old couple, and family of 3 bowling.
The guys working there, were friendly enough, not overly attentive, but I guess that comes from the bowling alley being pretty dead late night weekdays.
The equipment isn’t state of the art, but it works. They play music, but I’m not really sure what vibe they were trying to get going, there was a little bit of everything and in no real sequence.
I wish they had more ball sizes, and either my shoes were slippery or the floor was slippery, I slid literally every time I bowled. One of the couples was bowling in their own tennis shoes, this is usually absolutely forbidden at every bowling alley I’ve ever been to. It didn’t bother me, especially not like they saved money by NOT getting shoes, since they’re included in the $ 10 AYCB, just thought that’d give you an idea of the type of atmosphere it is.
We ordered food, pizza and popcorn shrimp. The fruit punch was REALLY sweet, the pizza was okay, I’ve had better bowling alley pizza. The shrimp was surprisingly good, but it may have just been because my expectations were low.
The parking lot isn’t well lit, and I could see how someone would think it was sketchy, but I didn’t feel unsafe there, inside or out.
There’s also a bar and pool tables, but I didn’t use them. Pool tables cost $ 1.50 per game.

I had seen the signs for this place ever since we moved here 4+ years ago and it always struck me as a very shady place, just based off of where it is (near the intersection of Mercury and Armistead). When we tried to go there to meet some friends, we did have a hard time actually finding it since it’s tucked away down what looks like a little residential road.
Parking lot confirmed my concerns. Lots of broken class and some suspicious-​looking characters hanging around. But we were already there so headed in to meet our friends.
Security, yes, security at a bowling alley, met us at the door. My handbag was searched and my husband was wanded.
Friday and Saturday nights (9:30pm to 1:30am) are Glow Bowl, with black lights and loud music. Unlimited bowling for $ 16 a person (including shoe rental) and $ 11 for kids under 12. Not a bad deal at all.
The bartender that night was way over his head. I guess he is used to just serving beer, because our order for 2 Bacardi and Cokes really threw him for a loop. He made them way too strong (not complaining — if they’re going to be made poorly, I’d much rather them err on the side of too strong vice too weak) and put almost no ice. My husband actually had to ask for a plain cup of ice so we could add more to our drinks. At the end of the night, he gave me our tab but with someone else’s credit card. I pointed out the mistake and luckily, he still had my card behind the bar and hadn’t gone and given it to someone else. I was not amused by this mix up at all, and kept checking my online banking to ensure no mystery charges popped up.
Overall this place seemed alright. There wasn’t any drama and the place was clean and well maintained. But Sparetimes advertises as a family place (literally, the actual address is 1 Family Fun Place, Hampton, VA 23 666) and personally, if I had children, I wouldn’t take them anywhere that needs security.

this place is very shady. just read the papers. however, it seems to be the only place hampton has that really draws a crowd anymore. its sad that it draws drama, but i encourage more decent families to try and attend. if your concerned i would reccommend the bowling on fort monroe. much cheaper and the cleanest place i have been. it is private now so no military id needed

I have been to this bowling alley once for their ‘glow bowl’ night and had a really good time hanging out with friends. It is a nice and clean bowling alley with food and drink available. My friends and I had a few beers and bowled for a couple of hours before we were tuckered out. The only thing is this place is pretty expensive for the glow bowling, although if you look at their website it does list some of their weekly specials. I actually traveled from Norfolk to Hampton to go to this bowling alley specifically for the glow bowl night — a mixture of black lights and top 40 music, fun times!

Does this place have a history or what? Well, okay, maybe only in my life but a little known fact is that this is the location where Bubbachuck, AKA, Allen Iverson, got into it with some other players and the infamous brawl took place. I wasn’t there that night and from what I’ve heard it got taken way out of proportion.
Sparetimes is a cool hang out spot to bowl or shoot pool with friends. That is exactly what I used to do there with my friends from the time I got a license until I graduated from college and stopped coming home as often.
It is kind of in the cut because you have to take a special side street to get to it (or at least you did last time I went there). It was a teenage favorite and a place I’ll show my future kids one day (as they sigh in boredom).