The Licensing Sub-Committee of Hillingdon Council met on Monday 27 July 2026 to consider an application to vary a licensed premises gaming machine permit. The committee decided to grant the application to increase the number of Category D gaming machines at Hollywood Bowl & Puttstars.

Application to Vary a Licensed Premises Gaming Machine Permit: Hollywood Bowl & Puttstars

The committee considered an application from The Original Bowling Company Ltd to vary the licensed premises gaming machine permit for Hollywood Bowl & Puttstars, located at Unit 220, The Chimes (Upper Mall), Uxbridge UB8 1QJ. The application sought to increase the number of Category D gaming machines from 35 to 43, with no change to the existing five Category C machines.

The applicant's agent, Ewen Macgregor, explained that the application was brought before the committee because the council's gambling policy requires applications for five or more machines to be determined by a sub-committee. He noted that the permit for five Category C and 35 Category D machines had been granted by the committee in March 2024, and there had been no operational issues since then.

Mr. Macgregor clarified that the requested increase to 43 Category D machines did not represent 43 separate physical machines. He explained that some machines, such as penny falls machines, have multiple playing positions, and the Gambling Commission now categorises these by position rather than by individual unit. He stated that the venue would not be able to accommodate 43 physical machines.

Regarding machine categories, the five Category C machines are located near the bar, are restricted to individuals aged 18 and over, and are equipped with facial recognition technology for age verification. The Category D machines, which have no age restrictions, are situated within the amusement areas.

Councillor Colleen Sullivan, Deputy Mayor of Hillingdon, asked if the additional machines would compromise floor space, fire exits, or overall comfort. Mr. Macgregor assured the committee that the installation of machines across the company's numerous sites never compromised fire escape access, egress, or customer movement.

Councillor Kuldeep Lakhmana inquired about the age verification process for Category D machines. Mr. Macgregor explained that if a machine prompts for age verification, staff would check identification and input a code before gaming could commence. He confirmed that records of refused individuals are maintained. He also noted that all staff receive age verification training, which is refreshed periodically and accessible to council officers.

Concerns were raised about how staff would identify signs of problem gambling or continuous play with the additional machines. Mr. Macgregor stated that machines are monitored, staff are encouraged to engage with customers, and warning labels for problem gambling support services like GamCare are present on all machines. He also highlighted that the venue has ample space, which allows for the potential testing of new machines in the future.

The committee was informed that there had been no complaints received by the Licensing Authority regarding the operation of the premises or its gaming machines, and no Members' Enquiries had been made. The Gambling Commission also had no objection to the application.

After deliberation, the Sub-Committee decided to grant the application to vary the Licensed Premises Gaming Machine Permit, increasing the number of Category D gaming machines from 35 to 43. The committee was satisfied that the applicant demonstrated sound knowledge of the licensing objectives under the Gambling Act 2005 and that their proposed precautions and mitigation measures were sufficient to promote these objectives. The decision was made with regard to the Gambling Act 2005, the Gambling Commission's guidance and codes of practice, and Hillingdon's Statement of Gambling Policy 2025-2028.

The applicant has the right to appeal this decision to the Uxbridge Magistrates' Court within 21 days of receiving the notice of decision. The committee also issued a warning that the licence could be reviewed and potentially revoked if licence conditions are not adhered to or if the premises are managed in a way that does not uphold the licensing objectives.