Take a look inside Ottawa’s newest bowling alley

Bowling balls are lined up next to bowling lanes at Splitsville in Kanata. Feb. 28, 2025. (Peter Szperling/CTV News Ottawa)

Ottawa’s newest bowling alley is opening this weekend.

Splitsville opens its new location at the Kanata Centrum on Saturday, offering 10-pin bowling, arcade games and food, and CTV News got a preview of what guests can expect.

“We’re a family entertainment company,” said manager Mike Tinston. “We do 10-pin bowling, we have amusements, we’ve got food and drink, and lots and lots of fun for our guests.”

The 26,000 sq. ft. bowling and entertainment facility will have 18 bowling lanes.

“Bowling is really unique because anyone can bowl, any ability. It brings the family together. It brings friends together. You know, we have first dates here. We have corporate events, birthday parties, literally everyone’s coming bowling,” said Tinston. “This is the first and only 10-pin center in Kanata, so yes, exciting.”

Doors open Saturday, and staff are already anticipating Splitsville to be popular.

“We’re already fully booked in Kanata for our opening weekend, so. Yeah, really excited, to get our guests through the door and show everyone what we’re about.”

Tinston says games for kids start at $7.49, and a family of four can bowl for a game of bowling for around $30.

“A game for a family of four would last about 40 minutes,” he said.

Employee Janet Vu said the 10-pin game has been fun to play.

“I’ve actually really enjoyed playing it with my friends. They were all here last night for friends and family and we really just had a blast,” Vu said.

“It’s been a blast here, a lot of my friends can say the same thing.”

You can wear your own shoes

There are bowling shoes on site you can wear but you don’t have to, Tinston says.

“We asked our guests if they like wearing bowling shoes, 90 per cent of them don’t, so they can wear their own shoes,” he said. “If you do want to wear bowling shoes, we have bowling shoes available.”

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Josh Pringle