Cromer Tennis and Squash Club invests in year-round facilities

While the Norwich Road club’s 10 grass courts are out of action for winter, chairman Kelvin van Hasselt said other offerings - including half-price membership for the next seven months - would prove popular. 

Mr van Hasselt said: “I hope this will be seen as a bargain, given the massive new investment the club has made in all-weather tennis facilities coupled with the major development of other racquet sports at the club.

“I hope too that people will visit the club to see for themselves that the club is indeed an all the year round club – with loads going on 52 weeks of the year.”

Will Taylor (right), one of the two pickleball coaches at Cromer Tennis & Squash Club and a silver medallist at the English Open Pickleball Tournament in 2023. (Image: Chris Taylor)

Mr van Hasselt said £100,000 had been spent resurfacing its four all-weather tennis courts so that two now have ‘tiger turf’ artificial grass and the two have tarmac.

One of the courts has been set up for pickleball, and has started hosting sessions for adults on Sundays 2pm-4pm and for juniors on Wednesdays from 4.30pm. 

He said £35,000 had also been spent on LED lighting, and the club was also increasing its squash, racquetball and table tennis programmes. 

Caitlin Chapman is the club’s table tennis coach, and is offering a club for juniors on Thursdays from 5pm and individual lessons on Thursday evenings, email chapman229@hotmail.com or call 07717 760 542 to book.

The next history talk to be hosted in the club rooms will focus on the Battle of Trafalgar, and will take place on October 21 at 7pm. 

The club also runs a monthly quiz including supper, with the next one scheduled for Friday, October 27 at 7pm, as well as music nights.