New website makes tennis easier to play
For people in Brighton inspired by Andy Murray’s Wimbledon triumph booking a tennis court has never been easier thanks to a new pilot scheme at Preston Park which launches on Monday 15th July.
Affordable tennis sessions at Preston Park, Brighton, will be available to find or book at the click of a button at www.tennisinbrightonandhove.org.uk from Monday.
The new website which is a joint venture between Brighton & Hove City Council and the Lawn Tennis Association will make it easier for Brighton & Hove residents to find and book a court online starting at Preston Park and to learn about affordable coaching sessions taking place. Court prices remain the same with no increase and it is hoped the new online service will provide an easy and accessible route for anyone thinking of picking up a racquet this summer and follows successful models in other local authority areas, including Tower Hamlets, where participation has seen significant growth since the introduction of an online system there.
The website will highlight opportunities to play tennis at Preston Park, where beginner adults can start Tennis Xpress and kids can have a go at Tots Tennis, with regular sessions starting on Monday 15th July, both sessions aiming to encourage more people to participate in the sport and make use of their local facilities.
It will also include information on sessions such as Cardio Tennis and LTA Mini Tennis camps which run throughout the summer holidays for children who might well go on to follow in Murray’s footsteps as a future British Wimbledon champion.
Cardio tennis is a fitness workout which uses tennis drills, burning up to 600 calories an hour, while mini tennis provides kids the perfect introduction to tennis with smaller courts, nets, rackets and lower bouncing balls.
Liz Bartlett, the Lawn Tennis Association’s Tennis Development Manager for Sussex, said: “We are delighted to be working alongside Brighton & Hove City council to make it easier than ever to find your local tennis court.
“There is free and affordable tennis across Brighton & Hove, as well as a range of fun activities for the whole family to take part in, and we hope this website for the Preston Park courts will help people inspired by Murray’s success at Wimbledon be able to keep on playing throughout the summer and beyond.”
Councillor Geoffrey Bowden Chair of the Economic Development and Culture Committee said “ I’m really pleased that the partnership between the Lawn Tennis Association and Brighton & Hove City Council is encouraging more people onto a tennis court. There is affordable and free tennis available across the city and we need to make the most of it - you never know the next British Wimbledon winner could be from Brighton & Hove.”