Hollywood Bowl calls on dynamic pricing as heatwaves hit sales

Hollywood Bowl called on its dynamic pricing system to endure falling ten-pin demand during the summer’s record heatwaves, prompting a share price boost. Britain’s biggest ten-pin bowling operator said the summer’s “exceptionally prolonged, dry weather” had “heavily impacted” its trading, as like-for-like sales in the UK fell 2.6 per cent in the second half of this year. “Demand remained resilient during the extended period of record hot weather in the UK, supported by our disciplined cost and pricing model, and our operational initiatives to drive footfall,” chief executive Stephen Burns said. The London-listed group delivered a 4.3 per cent uplift in like-for-like sales in the year to September, buoyed by its 9.5 per cent sales growth in the first half of the year. “Our affordable, inclusive proposition has continued to ensure we are well-positioned in an environment where consumers are closely watching what they spend,” Burns told shareholders. Hollywood Bowl beats