This year’s Bowls’ Big Weekend was another fantastic celebration of our inclusive and welcoming sport. From Friday 23 to Monday 26 May, over 800 clubs opened their doors across England, giving thousands of people the opportunity to try bowls for free. The event once again demonstrated the joy, community spirit and accessibility of the sport we love.
Bowls England’s Performance Team, International players, Staff, and Board and Presidential members visited clubs across the country, offering support and celebrating with participants.
At Old Coulsdon Bowling Club, 52 people attended their Bowls’ Big Weekend event, resulting in 22 new players registering for future coaching sessions. The club also raised valuable funds to help improve its facilities, making the weekend a win both on and off the green.
Over at Gildredge Park Bowling Club, more than 60 attendees took part, with several making use of the club’s inclusive equipment, including disability aids such as a pusher — showing that bowls truly is a sport for everyone.
Across the country, clubs embraced the chance to give back, with many — including Southam Bowling Club — raising vital funds for Cancer Research UK. Collectively, bowls clubs helped make a real difference to a cause that touches so many lives. If you wish to make a donation please click here.
Through our work in building the awareness of bowls within government, our collaboration with Lord Walney and our letter sent to all MP’s encouraging promotion and support of the initiative, we saw fantastic support both in the lead up to, and during the event. Various MP’s attended local clubs within their constituency, who all believe in bowls as a force for good and see clubs as pillars of their communities.
Did you see us on the television? This year bowls featured on numerous media outlets including BBC Breakfast, BBC 5 Live radio, regional news and much more, reaching out to an audience of over 20 million people.
These are just a few of the many incredible stories from Bowls’ Big Weekend 2025. If you have a story to share, we’d love to hear it — click here to submit and you could be featured on Bowls England channels.
Bowls England would like to thank all the incredible clubs and volunteers who made Bowls’ Big Weekend 2025 such a success. Their passion, preparation and community spirit shone through and gave so many people a brilliant first experience of bowls.
Jon Cockcroft, Chief Executive of Bowls England, said:
“Bowls’ Big Weekend 2025 has once again shown the incredible power of our sport to bring communities together. From club volunteers to first-time players, England bowlers to local MPs, the energy and enthusiasm on display was inspiring. We’re so grateful to everybody who took part and helped showcase all that makes bowls so special.”
Relive the excitement with our collection of photos and highlights from the event here.
Bowls’ Big Weekend will be back in 2026! Sign up to our monthly newsletter, The Jack, to be the first to hear about the 2026 event, and more!
If you attended a Bowls’ Big Weekend event, one of the best ways to stay involved with the sport is through Bowls Bash, our casual and fun form of the game – see here for details, or click below to find a club near you.
Mark your calendars for the Aviva National Bowls Finals coming up in August! With 19 days of non-stop competitive action, excitement and unmissable moments at the iconic Victoria Park, Royal Leamington Spa. From Wednesday 13th August to Sunday 31st August, the home of Lawn Bowls will transform into a vibrant hub of competition and camaraderie.
Tickets start at just £4.50, so come and watch the best bowlers in the country battle it out for national titles.