Brand new to Banbury is the fantastic multi entertainment venue, The Light and it’s packed with activities. I was lucky enough to be invited along with my son to check out everything on offer.
With a cinema, indoor climbing wall, mini golf, bowling, snooker, karaoke, arcade games and restaurants, The Light entertainment attraction in Banbury is great for families. It’s arranged over a couple of levels with great graffiti art and different vibes in the various areas, from cool night in the bowling to bright and light upstairs.
Bowling
We started off with a game of bowling which did involve me jumping in the air with excitement when I got a strike! There are 10 lanes and the very first one has it’s own private section which would be ideal for a party or get together.
If you’ve got younger kids then they can put up bumpers and they have the special thing to roll the ball down too.
Indoor Adventure Climbing
The indoor climbing certainly has the wow factor. The 3 zones in the climbing arena have 26 different climbs which includes 2 racing walls, a stairway to heaven and special ninja zone. They use an auto belay system which is super safe and gives you the independence to climb wherever you want without needing someone at the bottom with the other end of the rope.
I have to admit that I’m actually pretty terrified of heights so was planning to sit back and relax while my son climbed. He persuaded me to give it a go and I actually made it to the top of one of the easier walls. Each climbing challenge varies in difficulty, making it a great all round family activity if you have kids of different ages.
Cinema
With 7 screens, The Light Banbury are able to offer a wide variety of movies. I was really impressed that all the seats were really spacious and super comfortable.
If you want to go all out on the luxury they have everything from full recliners, to sofa style where you can lift up the middle armrest if you like.
They also have baby-friendly screenings. They’re aimed at parents, giving them a couple of hours to relax and watch a movie and designed to be kinder to babies as well. The sound is lowered and the lights are only dimmed. I’ve been to baby friendly screenings years ago when my son was little and they work surprisingly well. He used to have a little milk and then zonk out while I was able to watch a film.
I was pleased to find out that they have autism friendly screenings for a more relaxed experience for youngsters and adults with additional needs. To make the screenings more comfortable, the sound is turned down and the lights are only dimmed, not turned off. Guests are welcome to move seats and also welcome to bring your own food.
Mini Golf
My boys love a game of mini golf and it’s always a winner as a rainy day activity. It has an mysterious other wordly feel and even a Dalek. There are plenty of challenges and some of them quite tricky so it’s recommended for ages 7+.
Something a little different added to the mix, is a hands on challenge. It’s like one of those games you get in party bags with a ball in a case that you need to move around to get it to drop in the hole. This is a super sized one!
Karaoke
Fancy belting out a tune? The Light Banbury has a very sparkly karaoke room you can hire. They have thousands of songs to choose from and they’ll even deliver any drinks ordered to you so you don’t miss out on any of the fun.
There’s lots more entertainment on offer too. Try your hands at interactive darts, have a game of American pool or test your skills on the shuttleboard. They also have a large variety of arcade games that my eldest was instantly drawn to.
If you’re still with me on this review I think you’ll be getting the jist of the sheer variety of what’s on offer at The Light Banbury.
Eating & Drinking
There are numerous places to grab a bite to eat, snack or refreshment, depending on what you’re after. There’s a bar area by the American snooker part downstairs for a more grown up vibe. They also have a lovely looking burger and pizza restaurant which I’ll definitely be back to try.
Upstairs is all bright with big windows and views and has stylish sofas, a bar and coffee shop. I liked the corner with toys out for younger kids. This would be a great place to meet up with other parents. There’s also a large TV screen in this area which rotates through live images from the adventure climbing arena and the mini golf so you can keep an eye on older kids from a distance and sit back with a coffee and relax.
Just outside the entrance is a free to play pirate ship sandpit as well as outdoor tables, ideal on a sunny day if you have little ones and you can watch the canal boats drift by.
The Light Banbury Parking
The Light is over the canal from Lock29 and is part of Castle Quay which has parking. Parking is free in the evenings from 6pm and only £1 all day on Sunday. The rest of the time prices vary from £1 to £6.50 depending on how long you stay. When you leave the car park, follow signs for the cinema.
The Light Banbury impresses on all accounts with the sheer variety, quality and imagination that has gone into the design.
