London & South East

It’s game on for Portsmouth tennis centre

Mountbatten Tennis Centre, Hilsea, Portsmouth

The time has come to dust off those tennis shoes and get out the racket as Portsmouth’s new tennis centre has opened.

The £1.33 million centre is located next to the Mountbatten Centre in Hilsea and was officially opened on 18th November. The centre offers a range of fantastic facilities and is ideal for tennis newcomers, as well as those wanting to improve their game or simply play for fun and fitness.

The venue includes four indoor courts, six outdoor courts, eight indoor mini tennis courts and free parking facilities. Changing provisions are available at an adjacent gymnastics centre.

Portsmouth City Council secured £834,387 funding for the new tennis centre from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), with the additional £332,824 coming from council funds.

Portsmouth City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Sport, Councillor Lee Hunt, said:

“After the London Olympic gold medal success for Andy Murray and winning silver in the mixed doubles with Laura Robson, then his American Open Grand Slam win alongside many worldwide junior winners, it’s a really exciting time for British tennis. By working with British tennis and city partners our city council is helping to create facilities which rank amongst some of the best for ‘grassroots’ players in the UK.

“We are hoping to encourage people who may not have tried tennis before to come along and have a go. Together with our new Portsmouth Wiggle Triathlon, Great South Run, excellent Mountbatten Centre facilities, tennis investment, growing boxing success and more besides, Portsmouth’s Olympic legacy is secure. There are plenty of opportunities at the new centre for all abilities and ages to get involved.”

Independent construction company, Raymond Brown Construction Ltd, was the quantity surveyor on the new tennis centre, whilst Genesis Design Studio provided architectural services. Raymond Brown Construction Ltd has been in operation for almost 60 years and within this time has established itself as a leading construction and civil engineering company.

With a turnover of around £50 million, Raymond Brown Construction Ltd successfully deliver a diverse range of civil engineering and building projects for both private and public sector clients. The new tennis centre provided Raymond Brown Construction Ltd with the perfect opportunity to demonstrate their diversity on such an interesting scheme.

Parkwood Community Leisure, who also manage the Mountbatten Centre for Portsmouth City Council, have released a comprehensive programme of activities for all ages and abilities for the new centre. A range of junior sessions for both under and over 8s has been designed to develop children’s enjoyment of tennis through fun activities, based on areas of balance, co-ordination, agility, movement and racket and ball skills. Teen tennis focuses on developing skills amongst young people aged 11 to 16 years.

Adult sessions include cardio sessions set to music, Tennis Xpress coaching sessions for beginners and intermediates covering key techniques and tactics, or visitors can simply pay and play! All players taking part in a course will receive a free Portsmouth Tennis Centre membership worth £100.

For more information on courses and pay-and-play sessions, or to sign up, please contact 023 9266 0589 or email: indoortennis@parkwood-communityleisure.co.uk.

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