It serves up bottomless brunches, burgers, cocktails, mini golf and interactive darts
Putt Above is a new mini golf venue in Bristol(Image: Putt Above)
A new mini golf venue has opened its doors in what was formerly an empty unit next to the SWX nightclub (now Electric Bristol) on Nelson Street near the City Centre. Opening its doors earlier this month, the venue offers ‘hi-tech’ mini golf, Augmented Reality darts, food and cocktails, with a range of packages and special deals you can already book in time for Christmas – and even its own bottomless brunch.
It’s described as a ‘high tech mini golf and interactive darts experience’ and, instead of a golf course, the mini golf is played on the same ‘hole’, with the course changing with projection mapping and the winner not necessarily being who takes the fewest shots. You can order cocktails and ‘tasty food bites’ directly to your lane while you’re playing, by scanning a QR code or ordering at the bar, and staff will deliver your order straight to you.
According to its website Putt Above also boasts locations in Dudley and Blackpool. It is owned by Laser Tag Leisure, who also own Laser Quest and Laser Fusion venues (including one on nearby Silver Street) as well as the Clue HQ ‘live escape game’ experience.
BristolLive reported back in March that a licensing application submitted to the local authority, saw the company request opening hours at the central Bristol location of 10am to midnight, seven days a week. It was described in its application as being “a high-tech mini-golf venue with food and drink facilities”.
Putt Above is a new mini golf venue in Bristol with ‘golf lanes’ rather than a course(Image: Putt Above)
The venues opening hours, according to Google, are currently listed as being 3pm-12am Monday to Thursday, and 11.30am to 12am Friday to Sunday. Families are welcome until 8pm.
The team tells BristolLive that Putt Above “combines High Tech Mini Golf with Augmented Reality Darts, a fully stocked bar, and a fresh kitchen menu, all under one roof. Think crazy golf but smarter.
“Each hole uses cutting edge technology for automatic scoring, glowing effects, and immersive themed challenges. Then switch things up with AR Darts, traditional darts reimagined with interactive digital gameplay projected onto the board.”
Steve Goddard, director of Putt Above, adds: “We have designed Putt Above to be a place where everyone can have fun, whether you are on a date, out with friends, or bringing the family for some friendly competition.”
Inside Putt Above on Nelson Street(Image: Putt Above)
“We are open late, serving great food and drinks, and we have worked hard to make sure there is something for everyone.”
Bristol is no stranger to a golf/bar venue, with the likes of Treetop Golf, Par 59, and Mulligans already boasting sites in the city, and more set to open in the future. It comes as Bristol sees a growing trend in experiential bars and nights out – from bowling to gaming, axe throwing, darts, cricket and, of course, mini golf.
If you take a look at some of the experiential bars that have opened up venues in Bristol recently, you’ll find a whole host of USPs among them – sports-themed bars where you can play the likes of digital darts (Flight Club), virtual cricket (Sixes), and even golf (Par 59). Then you have bars like Coyote Ugly, which provides you with a night out just like you would find in the movie (as well as added perks and extras like bottomless brunches and an arcade area).
And even gaming bars are growing in number across the country – boasting not just arcade machines and the like, but actual retro consoles you can rent out and enjoy with friends outside of your home.
Back in December, BristolLive reported the opening of a new mini golf venue in Cabot Circus – Treetop Golf – which opened in the former home of Jungle Rumble, which closed earlier in the year. That venue includes an 18-hole course, with five different zones that will take guests on a journey to see “unique landmarks and meet memorable characters”.
