Six new tennis courts have now opened at Hove Beach Park, run by the same private operator as its padel courts.
Game4Padel will also be running the park’s table tennis and pickleball, alongside coaching sessions.
An open day with Game4Padel coaches is planned for this spring – with free sessions for all.
The table tennis will be free to use by anyone in the park.
The tennis courts will also be home to the long-established King Alfred Tennis Club, who will once again play their Parks League matches and host their club sessions here.
Councillor Julie Cattell, Lead Member for Major Projects, said: “The racket sports offered by Game4Padel will join bowls, croquet, skating, skateboarding, BMX and sand sports, ensuring the new park offers sports and leisure facilities for all ages and abilities.
“The range of sports facilities, gardens and cafes in Hove Beach Park are transforming the area. I hope that the superb reception these new facilities are receiving from users will inspire the work of the new Seafront Development Board to transform other parts of our seafront.”
Game4Padel CEO Michael Gradon said: “The padel courts have been really busy since we opened in December, with a high number of bookings in January and February, despite the weather.
“The tennis facilities have been eagerly awaited and we are sure, with the help of our excellent coaching team, they will be equally popular in the coming months.
“The investment in these facilities should be celebrated, as well as the council’s foresight to work with external partners like Game4Padel to use our expertise in building thriving racket sport communities.”
Why are the tennis courts so poorly finished? I understand they have been resurfaced after the contractor cock up but look like they have a temporary finish with no painted surface and done on the cheap. Contemporary courts have a green/orange/blue painted finish. Not council grey…
I expect they’ll be painted proper colours soon. The tarmac needs months to dry before that can happen. Same situation at Dyke park.
The whole redevelopment along that stretch is the best I’ve ever witnessed anywhere. It reminds me of the very first Sim City where you build it and the people just move in. Let’s hope a GodZilla doesn’t come out of the sea and trample the lot.
Classic game.
And tell me, does the LS stand for Leisure Suit?
Yes sir. Add Space Quest to that list of classics!
They look like prison exercise spaces. Who designed this rubbish?
The tennis courts are shocking. Initially were blue and ripped up due to a mistake. Why did this happen ceo man?
Jess Gibbons is the CEO with only one council leadership role in Bournemouth for 2 years before she came here. Paid more than the PM, while basic statutory services are being cut. Disgraceful.
There was a hiccup with the surfacing of the tennis courts but they look good now, and it’s great to finally see them open and being used.
The whole of Hove Beach Park is looking terrific, and is such an improvement to what was a run down and under-used area.
The park sections, wildflower meadow, and green borders will only get better as the planting starts to take, and I look forward to seeing shrubs grow as Spring arrives.
As it happens, I live opposite these tennis courts, and the biggest surprise to me is how busy the Padel courts are. The timed lighting allows the fun to continue into the evenings.
For me, Hove Beach Park has been a huge positive – in a time of great negativity.
Thank you Billy for a positive report. There are a lot of moaning Minnie’s on this platform, as I believe has been mentioned before.
I too think the tennis courts shockingly look like prison exercise yardsas do many of my friends. So ugly. Can’t they be hidden with trees foliage.