Craig and Julie Hubbard are preparing to celebrate twenty years operating CJ’s Bowling in Hockley, having first transformed the vacant factory unit by adding 12 bowling lanes, snooker and pool tables, and a bar in 2007.
CJ’s Bowling in the Essex town of Hockley is due to celebrate its twentieth anniversary next year, with owners Craig and Julie Hubbard thanking long-time customers for their continued support.
The entertainment hub offers 12 bowling lanes, an arcade, snooker and pool tables, AR darts and shuffleboard, as well as a licensed bar and kitchen, and has grown significantly since the Hubbards took it on in 2007.
“We had a snooker club originally where the building is at the moment and a friend of the family came down one day and told us that the factory downstairs would be a good place to open a new business,” Hubbard told the Echo.
“The factory kept going bust so I said to the landlord if it goes bust again, I will take it on. We did all the work ourselves and since we opened, we have always been busy. It’s something we are proud of. It was a wood factory, and we built it from scratch. Here we are twenty years later still trying to improve in any way we can. We are always looking to make things better for people.”
Despite a fire, two floods, and the pandemic, CJ’s Bowling has continued to thrive, with a 96 percent recommendation rate on Facebook, alongside hundreds of positive reviews.
“We have been very fortunate. Some of our customers have been coming here since 2007. The fact people keep coming back regularly shows something. We wouldn’t be here without our customers.”
Bowled over
Craig Hubbard said… “We have been very fortunate. Some of our customers have been coming here since 2007. The fact people keep coming back regularly shows something. We wouldn’t be here without our customers……
Originally published on Coinslot on July 20, 2026. Republished with permission.