Bowling alleys have long been a staple of group entertainment. From league nights to birthday parties and corporate events, they offer a social, relaxed setting for all ages. But as customer expectations continue to shift toward more immersive, all-in-one experiences, operators are discovering that simply offering lanes isn't enough.
To stay competitive and drive new bookings, many bowling centers are exploring add-on activities. Among the easiest and most effective? Karaoke rooms. Unlike building out an arcade, escape room, or laser tag arena—which can require months of construction and six-figure investments—karaoke rooms can be fully set up in just 30 days, using as little as 120 square feet of space.
The result is a high-impact, high-margin experience that stacks up favorably against more complex attractions. Karaoke rooms are fast to launch, simple to manage, and tailored perfectly to the social, group-focused nature of a bowling alley audience.
Why karaoke is the perfect match for bowling venues
Bowling and karaoke share many of the same customer use cases: group fun, special occasions, and casual competition. They're both great for:
- Families looking for multi-generational entertainment
- Friends planning a night out with food and drinks
- Corporate groups hosting casual team-building events
- Birthday or bachelor/bachelorette parties
Karaoke adds a fresh, interactive dimension that keeps guests onsite longer and increases per-visit spend. It's a flexible, low-maintenance addition that makes use of small, underutilized spaces in your venue.
Even better, many venues report that karaoke and bowling are often booked together—particularly for parties and group events. Consider offering bundled "bowl and sing" packages to drive more combo bookings and simplify event planning for your customers.
A real-world success: Bloomsbury Lanes, London
Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes in London is a prime example of a bowling center that has fully embraced karaoke. Located in the heart of the city, Bloomsbury offers a unique combination of boutique bowling, American diner-style food, and six private karaoke rooms—all powered by Singa.
As a bowling alley, it's always a good idea to try and increase the dwell time of your customers. As a rule, the longer they are in your venue, the more they are going to spend. Entertainment options mean that once their game of ten pin bowling has finished, they have other reasons to stay. Arcade games as well as food and drink options are traditional ways of doing this, but karaoke is a another effective way of keeping your customers for longer. The pre-book nature of a karaoke room means, along with a bowling lane, your karaoke rooms are likely to be reserved before your customers arrive. That way you can further forecast your business revenue.
Private karaoke rooms are also likely to bring in new customers, people who love karaoke may be coming to your venue for the first time!
Let's have a look at the people already making it a success:
Bloomsbury Lanes have five very popular karaoke booths and we spoke to them about how and why they use Singa. They said:
We needed a system that could take care of karaoke for us but one that we can manage. We chose Singa because as opposed to other karaoke companies because there’s an extensive range of music and it’s always updated, as well as the system being online, so any updates are sorted out straight away.
To see the full story, see below video:
We want to create the ultimate night out, where you can bowl, drink, dine and sing in style. Our luxury karaoke booths are perfect for groups who want to kick-off the evening or finish the night singing along to their favourite songs. Singa has a great selection of music, including all the latest hits which our customers really love. We’ve also introduced contactless ordering in the karaoke booths, so guests can enjoy food and drink served straight to the room.
Fast to set up, easy to manage
Adding a karaoke room to your bowling center doesn’t require massive renovations. All you need is:
- A spare enclosed room (as little as 120 sq. ft.)
- A TV or projector
- Speakers and microphones
- An iPad or tablet
- A karaoke platform like Singa Pro
The AV equipment and software typically cost between $3,000 to $5,000, making it one of the most affordable high-impact additions to a bowling alley.
The setup can be completed in just a few weeks, and with intuitive platforms like Singa Pro, your team can learn to operate and troubleshoot the system with minimal training.
Increase bookings, dwell time, and guest satisfaction
Karaoke adds significant value to your guest experience by:
- Providing a pre- or post-bowling activity
- Attracting new customer segments (e.g. music lovers, partygoers)
- Driving additional food and beverage sales
- Encouraging longer visits and return trips
Bloomsbury Lanes uses its karaoke offering not just for entertainment, but also for hosting corporate events, private celebrations, and team socials. The ability to book bowling and karaoke together makes the venue more competitive and more flexible in how it serves different audience needs.
Launch your own karaoke experience in 30 days
With the right plan, a karaoke room can be up and running in about a month:
Ready to bring karaoke to your bowling alley? Platforms like Singa Pro provide everything you need—from licensed song catalogs and mobile queueing to 24/7 support and remote management tools.
Explore what Singa can do for your business and download the full 30-day launch guide at:
