THE LOWDOWN

If your kids are ready to take your football game to the next level, they need to head to Ballerz, the new home of football in Bluewater, where they can play like a pro, hone their skills and even host their next birthday party in this state-of-the-art air dome.

Ballerz is the brainchild of a team of sports and hospitality specialists including former professional footballers, Rio Ferdinand, Bobby Zamora, Roberto Carlos and Mark Noble so the concept has been thoroughly researched on both a football and entertainment level. It’s an impressive place to hang even if those names don’t ring any bells.

The launch event featured a high-profile Battle of the Ballerz football tournament, where big names from football, music, and entertainment got to test out the pitch so Ballerz has been causing quite the furore in Kent since it opened in May 2024.

You can tell why it has been such a success as this immersive 30,000-square-foot dome is obviously weatherproof (rain does not need to stop play here) and there is so much for any football-mad child to enjoy, regardless of ability.

And it doesn’t just have to be for the kids as Ballerz is all about uniting sports, fun, and community spirit together, so it is the place to go whether you’ve got a kid with boundless energy, a teenager who wants to perfect their skills, or if you’re looking for a social spot to stay fit and have fun -yes, Ballerz might be our new-found happy place.

THE LOCATION

You won’t be able to miss Ballerz which is housed in a 30,000-square-foot air dome in the upstairs car park by M&S at Bluewater. Whilst this may not sound like the most glamorous of locations, we loved how convenient it was to get to in Kent as it is easily accessed from the A2, M2, M25 and M20. Plus, there is plenty of parking and it is free, so you are off to a good start before even before you have entered the building.

Ballerz regularly host half term or holiday camps or footie sessions so you can enrol your little Ballerz whilst you indulge in some shopping by yourself at Bluewater. From goalkeeper clinics to semi-pro small group sessions, catered to every age and skill level, and all those shops for me to conquer, it’s a win win situation for all involved.

THE VIBE

If you are one of those parents who have stood on the sidelines of many pitches or at the edge of party wondering if you could just slip away and get a decent coffee, then Ballerz will make you very happy. The décor is stylish so somewhere you could meet a friend for a coffee (and they are very good in this department – we may have seen oat milk cortados on the menu) without being overwhelmed by shrieking children as there is a lot of space.

The Ballerz Café had a yummy look selection of daily grab-and-go food specials, from sandwiches and salads to pastries and cakes so you can sip on a coffee, smoothie or a fresh juice while taking in all the action.

Or head on upstairs to the Heineken Lounge and grab yourself a cocktail. Whilst 11am on a Saturday morning was a little early for me to be knocking back the Pina Coladas, I can see the appeal of returning to watch big games in one of their Hospitality suites with friends. During the Euros, they were a big hit to hire for group gatherings to cheer on England.

Even the loos have stylish showers so players can freshen up post matches and head onto the Heineken Lounge to catch up with friends. No stone has been left unturned when it comes to putting on a football and social experience.

THE PARTY

We booked the Little Legendz experience for my son’s 11th birthday with eleven school friends as he lives, breathes and dreams football so it ticked all the boxes. The package included 50 mins of pitch time; with coaching, followed by a game plus Goal highlights from the match so they could relive it all afterwards.

They really have thought of everything to ensure you get the full impact of a professional football game starting with a smartly decked out Home & Away changing room where my son truly felt he was preparing for the biggest game of his life – even if it was a six a side game against his school friends.

From the moment, they stepped out of the Ballerz tunnel onto the ProTurf pitch, the boys were immersed in the atmosphere of a Champions League game with the music playing, the fake roar of the crowd and big-screen replays during the game. It is the ultimate immersive experience with dynamic lighting and in-game crowd noise, replicating the sensation of playing in front of 40,000 fans.

The boys loved the professional approach of it all – in fact, they could have lingered in the smartly decked out changing rooms for an hour but the allure of the Tunnel walk-out was too strong as they charged out in front of the engineered roars of the crowd. I genuinely think some of the boys thought it was real as they were so caught up in the moment.

The additional beauty was us parents could spectate from the stands, with food and drinks from the cafe and admire our wannabe Grealishes and Rashfords on the pitch.

The SkillZone, a dedicated football-fitness arcade, kitted out with a range of cutting-edge footie games to test your skills, is also included within the package where my son and his mates could track their stats with QR wristbands to compete against their friends or just beat their own personal best.

The SkillZone features seven football fitness games, designed to test budding footballers’ speed, skill and agility to their limits so this kept everyone occupied especially taking their best shot at beating the RoboKeeper™ who I would have loved to have taken home with me as a bona fide babysitter in the garden.

Just at the right time, the boy’s party host, Ely, summoned them for post-match sharing platters and jugs of soft drink in their own area with live football matches playing on screens all around them. It’s a step up from the usual kids’ party fayre too as they lunged at the platters containing potato cheese balls, chicken tenders, mini burgers, house fries, chicken wingz and crispy pork bites.

To top if all off, the boys finished the day at Ballerz’ dedicated gaming lounge (an additional £100) overlooking the sports pitch which comes with super slick gaming consoles and bean bags so the perfect place to chill-out post all the match fun. They even had FC25 (if you know, you know) which had been released the day before so extra brownie points on this front. This also worked as a nice moment to deliver the cake but no candles of course since the naked flames aren’t a good mix in the air dome. Well there had to be one chink in their armour.

It didn’t come as a big surprise, but it still was a feel-good moment, when my son suddenly came over to me, after trying to slam a ball past RoboKeeper™, and said “This has been the best party I have ever had. Thank you for taking us here.”

ANYTHING ELSE?

Don’t feel you need to go just for a party – it is fantastic venue for a club social or team bonding as you can exclusively hire the full pitch. Or go and hang out at the SkillZone for a break from shopping moment at Bluewater – there are plenty of reasons to keep going back.

You might also want to know about the leagues at Ballerz which are available for booking on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for both men and women so if you want somewhere different to get active and be social, Ballerz should be on your radar.

WHAT’S THE DAMAGE?

This much fun and finesse does come at a price as the cost of each child is £45.50 for peak time (weekends and holidays) and £35.50 for off-peak times (weekdays) so you may want to start investing in the party-pot now, but it did deliver on every level.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

GOOD FOR? Any active child, or adult for that matter. they don’t need to be football mad to embrace all the elements of Ballerz.

NOT FOR? Purse strings. It does err on the pricier side but when evaluate how many smiles you get per minute of fun, you might walk away thinking it was all a bit of a bargain.

Ballerz™ Air Dome, Bluewater, Greenhithe, Kent DA9 9ST, 01322 471212, www.ballerz.co.uk

Level up your game at Ballerz! The ultimate football hub for kids to play, train and celebrate

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