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 Located on the corner of Westgate Road and Lynnwood Terrace, west of Newcastle upon Tyne, the Brighton Electric Theatre was opened on 10th July 1911. It was the first of three sections of a leisure centre to open. The 800 seat assembly hall followed in November 1911 and a snooker hall in April 1912. The building was converted to a 16 lane bowling alley with bar and diner in November 1963 and remained openuntil MFA closed the centre in September 2018.
MFA closed the Centre with little notice, leaving league bowlers just a few hours to collect equipment from their lockers.
The centre catered for students, junior, adult and senior league bowlers, families, special needs groups, carers and OAPs. The age range was from 3 to 93. There were kids parties, Halloween, Christmas Eve and New Years' Eve fancy dress parties, Tuesday Rock Nights and loads more.
At the time of the closure, there were over 100 league bowlers playing regularly at the centre. Many had been bowling there since the 70s and the odd one or two since the 60s. Many of them would call the bowl their second home. The original post on Facebook regarding the closure was apparently viewed over 100,000 times and there were many comments about the times that people had spent there - meeting their future wives, having their first pint, learning to play darts, pool and pinball, etc
On 9th July 2019, three league bowlers including Paul Ryder (the previous Manager) and Dave Malpas (Northumberland Tenpin Bowling Association secretary), with over 100 years bowling knowledge and experience between completed on the lease for the building.
After essential repairs and maintenance, redecoration and investment in new systems, the centre will open to the public on Saturday 24th September at 12 noon.
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Now in its 3rd year, and this year played at RAF Alconbury over two weekends its the Cambridgeshire Challenge - Final scores are here.. and Bucks make it a three-peat. 
