Bush Hill Bowls is Born!

So here we are! Maybe it was March madness, but this software services company happens to have two directors who bowl, so we decided we ought to have a bowlswear shop!

That was the very first post on this website, and it is where the Bush Hill Bowls history begins. Here’s how a small idea grew into one of London’s specialist lawn bowls shops.

How it started: August 2012

Bush Hill Bowls opened for business in August 2012. The two directors of Spectrasoft Ltd, a software services company, were Jerry Sanders and Denise Rolland, and both were keen bowlers. They knew from their own clubs how hard it was to find good bowls clothing and kit without a long trip, so they decided to sell it themselves.

We started from home, with stock in the spare room and orders going out by post. The early days were all about bowlswear, the whites and greys every club needs, and listening to what bowlers asked for next.

From home to our first shop

As word spread, customers wanted to come and see things for themselves, especially bowls, which you really need to hold before you buy. So we moved into our first shop at Genotin Terrace in Enfield, where we stayed for ten years. In 2023 we moved to Lincoln Road, and in 2024 to our current home at 250 Bury Street West. You can read the full story in Location, Location… Location.

Becoming an accredited stockist

A big step in the Bush Hill Bowls history was becoming accredited by the leading bowls makers: Drakes Pride, Taylor Bowls, Aero and Henselite. Accreditation means we can supply new bowls direct from the manufacturers, give proper advice on sizes and models, and help with warranty questions and re-testing.

Bush Hill Bowls today

Today we carry dozens of sets of new and second-hand bowls, plus shoes, clothing, bags and accessories, and we supply clubs with rink equipment and team kit. We sponsor local bowlers such as Andrew Spencer, and we’re still a small, friendly business run by people who play the game. Our best advice is always the same: come in, try a few bowls in your hand, and talk to someone who bowls.

How bowls has changed since 2012

Looking back over the Bush Hill Bowls history, the game itself has changed more than people think. When we started, almost every set of bowls was black or brown. Now coloured bowls in every shade, from red and blue to green and two-tone designs, are a common sight on greens and in indoor clubs. Smaller sizes have arrived too: size 000 and 0000 bowls are now legal in competition, opening the game to bowlers with smaller hands. Shoes have become lighter and more comfortable, and modern waterproofs mean nobody has to stop for a shower.

What hasn’t changed is the most important part: bowls is a sociable, welcoming sport that people can play for a lifetime. Most of our customers are also our friends, people we see at clubs, leagues and county matches, and many of them have been with us since the spare-room days. If you’re one of them: thank you. If you’re new, we’d love to help you start your own bowls story.

Visit us

You’ll find us at 250 Bury Street West, Enfield N9 9LB, open weekdays 9am–4pm. Or browse our bowls in stock now online.

This post was first published on 12 April 2015. Last updated 1 October 2026.