Gunnersbury Park and it’s eight new floodlit tennis courts are giving local people the chance to hone their serve-and-volley skills all year round – and there are plenty of opportunities for all ages to get involved. 

Courts are available to be booked for members of the public who fancy a game, and there are also coaching sessions, holiday camps and mini-tennis courses for juniors learning the sport.

Ealing News Extra caught up with Andrew Bird, a tennis coach who runs training sessions on the courts at Gunnersbury Park. He said: “It is quite rare to have tennis courts of this number and quality available on an open access, pay-as-you-play basis; and, by having these courts here, we can bring tennis to people of all ages and abilities.

“I think there are not too many public access courts that offer what we have here. These ones are available all year round and we run courses throughout the calendar. They are here for people to just come and play – you don’t have to join a club and you can literally just book online.

“Book a court and come and play at whatever level you are.”

Tennis can be an incredibly fun and rewarding sport for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy – it can be a real gamechanger for those taking it up regularly, a point Andy is keen to emphasise.

He said: “It is a fantastic game for physical activity, health, and mental wellbeing. It is a game for life, not just when you are younger. People can start at any age and we have courses for every level. For juniors we have courses for three-year-olds up to 12.

“I don’t think there are many public access courts like this because these ones are available at all times of year. They are here for people to just come and play – it is simple, quick and easy to get on the court and start enjoying tennis, whatever age and level you are.”

You can see more of Andrew’s interview in the video below.

These new facilities are part of a multi-million-pound sports hub on its way to Gunnersbury Park, which is managed jointly by Ealing and Hounslow councils. It will not only offer regular tennis, but also football, cricket, gym activities – and even angling.

Completion is due in the early part of next year, so it will not be long before local people will be able to get involved with the wealth of activities soon to be on offer.