Got an axe to grind? This weekend, you can grab your mates (or your date) and head on over to a new bar to throw some axes instead to vent. British bar chain Boom Battle Bar has entered Dubai’s entertainment scene and they’re hitting the mark (pun highly intended) by offering an activity that’s been sorely missing on Dubai’s social calendar – axe throwing.
Up until last week, the city’s wannabe lumberjacks and jills had to drive out all the way to Last Exit or Hatta to hurl axes. So, this popular sport showing up at an electric arcade-style venue conveniently located inside the Doubletree by Hilton, JBR is a bonus. What lets Boom Battle Bar cleave its way to the top of the night-out list is the fact that they also offer other wildly fun competitive games.
Crazy darts, crazy mini golf and a crazy party toilet
They’ve brought in Dubai’s first-ever augmented reality crazy darts. Instead of traditional wooden boards, you’ll shoot darts onto a smartboard screen that transforms into a variety of themed settings. Then, there’s the crazy mini golf with 9 holes of whacky-themed courses with loop de loops, a baseball bat and catapults to tee off, and cups light up when you score.
And the oldest and most cut-throat of bar games, beer pong, has a spot here too but in a colourful peppy avatar with the option to swap out hops for prosecco if you feel fancy. A karaoke room will join the ranks soon, so you can wrap up the night with raucous singalongs with your pals.
Until then, hit up the toilets for an impromptu dance party – when you smash a big red button by the sinks, speakers blast music and disco lights turn on. Or you could just head to the bar area where a DJ will anyway be belting out tunes and bar staff will be doling out finger foods such as chicken wings, loaded nachos, Wagyu beef sliders and delicious cocktails.
No drinks before axe-throwing at Boom Battle Bar
Although the background is augmented reality, the axes are very real and very sharp, so players are tagged with a wristband that prevents them from hitting the bar before they swing their weapons. Patient staff will walk you throw how to weild the axe correctly to stick it in the target. For those of us (me) who’re uncoordinated and have the upper body strength of a noodle, don’t worry. You’ll fail spectacularly but still have a spectacularly good time.