Shops / Shop of the Week
Shop of the Week: Six Sixes, Kingswood
Hidden behind an unassuming garage door in a quiet industrial park, Six Sixes Cricket is easy to miss.
But step inside and it quickly becomes clear this is no ordinary shop.
Founded by lifelong cricket lover Rob Bawdon, Six Sixes in Kingswood is the result of a leap of faith: quitting his job to build a business centred entirely around the sport he loves.
is needed now More than ever
The shop stocks everything a cricketer could need, from top-brand bats by Kookaburra, Gray-Nicolls and G&M, to helmets, pads, footwear and wicketkeeping gear.
But it’s what lies beyond the shop floor that really sets Six Sixes apart.
Rob’s dog, Kiara, is a regular visitor to Six Sixes’ indoor batting lane – photo: Gabriel Lordon
After relocating from a high-street location in Hanham, Rob fitted and netted an indoor batting lane himself.
The space features a Bola Professional Bowling Machine, allowing players to train regardless of the weather or season.
“Cricket shops are kind of on the decline,” Rob explains.
But, he says, as more people turn to online shopping, the bowling lane has helped steady what would otherwise be a highly seasonal business.
“It attracts a real mix of customers, from people who’ve never played before, to Somerset and Gloucestershire players coming in for extra training,” the business owner says.
The shop is kitted out with everything required to get started in the sport
While many sporting goods retailers have struggled, Rob believes cricket bats remain one thing people still want to buy in person.
“A bat is like a new toy,” he says. “It gives you that little bit of confidence, that feeling of, yeah, I’m going to get some runs this year.”
With bats often costing hundreds of pounds, choosing the right size and feel is part of a ritual that hasn’t yet been lost to the internet.
“It feels like a prize when you get a new one,” the owner of Six Sixes says.
Rob Bawdon is the proud owner of Six Sixes Cricket
For Rob, though, the shop is as much about people as it is about equipment.
After being part of Stapleton Cricket Club for a decade, he recently stopped playing but now supplies the club with their shirts, T20 kit and junior kits.
“The best thing about the job is meeting different people,” he says.
He still enjoys heading down to support the club and values Bristol’s “really nice, approachable community of cricketers”.
Batting sessions at Six Sixes last 55 minutes and can be booked via the Six Sixes Cricket website: sixsixescricket.co.uk
All photos: Gabriel Lordon
Read next:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
