Kingpin Goes Big on Collins Street with a New Era of Competitive Socialising

This is not the Kingpin most locals grew up with. The Collins Street site marks a clear shift in direction, repositioning the brand as a bar and grill driven by competitive socialising, rather than a bowling alley you occasionally wander into after work drinks. Think sports, food, art and play all stacked into one sprawling inner city playground.

Anchoring the opening is a large scale mural by acclaimed Australian street artist Matt Adnate, commissioned to honour Dame Edna Everage, Barry Humphries’ most famous creation and one of Melbourne’s sharpest cultural exports. It is a nod to local humour and heritage that sets the tone early, playful, self aware, and unmistakably of this city.

Inside, the attractions go well beyond ten pin bowling. Kingpin is introducing several first to Australia concepts, including an immersive batting cage built for both cricket tragics and tennis obsessives, Supercharged Shuffle which adds pace and spectacle to classic shuffleboard, and indoor lawn bowls that cleverly tips its hat to a very Australian pastime. These sit alongside crowd favourites like darts, table tennis, karaoke and a frankly excessive arcade offering, creating a choose your own adventure approach to a night out.

Food is no longer an afterthought either. Executive Chef Adam Moore leads a completely rebuilt menu shaped around Mediterranean influences and modern Australian tastes, with a strong focus on charcoal grilling and wood fired pizzas. A standout feature is the open kitchen and live fire setup visible as you enter, paired with a living herb wall that supplies micro herbs grown onsite using significantly less water. It is theatre, but practical, and very Melbourne in its sustainability leanings.

Design wise, the space leans industrial luxe without feeling cold. Working alongside Ignite Architects, Kingpin has collaborated with emerging local artists to layer street art, sport references and urban textures throughout the venue. It feels like something designed for this part of town rather than dropped in from interstate.

Kingpin’s leadership describes the project as its most ambitious yet, aimed squarely at people wanting to swap screens for shared experiences. Whether it becomes your post work release valve, a group birthday default, or a date night wildcard, one thing is clear. Collins Street is about to get a lot louder, a lot more competitive, and a lot more fun when doors open in January 2026.