Frindsbury Lawn Tennis Club to Undergo £400,000 Revamp to Attract New Members

Frindsbury Lawn Tennis Club is making a bold move in a bid to attract new members and secure its future viability. With membership numbers dwindling over the past seven years, the club’s chairman, Darren Marshall, has described the £400,000 revamp of facilities as a “do or die” attempt to turn things around.

The club, located near Upnor in Medway, has faced tough competition from rival Avenue Tennis in Gillingham, leading to a significant drop in membership numbers. In response, Frindsbury Lawn Tennis Club is set to replace its grass courts with padel tennis courts, a form of the game that combines elements of tennis and squash and has been growing in popularity.

Mr. Marshall expressed his excitement for the new padel courts, highlighting the need for change to attract more people to the club. The conversion of the lawn courts into padel pitches with floodlighting is expected to cost around £400,000, but the investment is seen as crucial for the club’s survival.

Working with Nigel Occleshaw of Thorndon Leisure Limited, the club aims to begin work on the new courts by June. The move is not only about attracting new members but also about offering a different and more modern sporting experience to the community.

With the changes, the club plans to rebrand itself as Frindsbury TPC (tennis and padel club) and offer pay-to-use facilities with discounted rates for members. The hope is that the investment in new facilities will breathe new life into the club and attract a fresh wave of tennis and padel enthusiasts.