Lawn Bowls Inner West

Barefoot bowls has become a staple of inner west social life, and the region's mix of pubs, breweries and neighbourhood clubs makes it an easy place to plan an afternoon around a game. The club listed on Party Hero for the Inner West so far is Leichhardt Bowling Club, on Piper Street in Lilyfield near the Leichhardt border. For groups spread across Newtown, Marrickville, Balmain or Burwood, it puts greens, a large beer garden and a bistro in one spot, which saves shuffling a group between venues once the game is over.

Planning inner west bowls for a group:

• Getting there: trains, buses and ferries serve different parts of the inner west, and the Inner West light rail has stops in Lilyfield. Street parking there is easier than in the city.
• The experience: a 90-minute barefoot session, with coloured bowls supplied and an introduction and free coaching for newcomers.
• Group size: the two rinks beside the beer garden can be hired for groups, with up to 20 people on the green at once and as many as you like bowling across the session.
• Booking lead time: book the bowls and a table separately. On weekends, groups of 10 or more must book outdoor tables.
• Food and drinks: the Blue Ribbon Bistro does pub classics, and catering can be requested with a table booking, subject to a minimum spend.

Prices start from $15 per person, or $300 for the two-rink hire for 90 minutes. The club, known locally as the Bowlo, also has an auditorium with full AV and a stage for up to 180 guests, which helps if a birthday or end-of-year party outgrows the beer garden. For anyone choosing between suburbs, it is the practical middle ground for groups coming from the inner west's eastern and western ends, and the light rail makes it workable without a car.