Cirencester Tennis Club is an impressive club.

It boasts around 350 members ranging in age from two to 80 and offers year-round tennis in one of the most beautiful settings on the Bathurst estate in the heart of the town.

And the good news is that the club, who won the LTA Gloucestershire 'Club of the Year' award in 2017, has recently secured a new 30-year lease on the place their members call home.

These are certainly exciting times for a club which has seven floodlit courts and welcomes players of all ages and abilities to play on them.

“In 2017, after consulting the membership of the club, we invested approximately £70,000 to replace the existing macadam surface with artificial clay on four of the courts,” said club chair Rachel Snowball.

“This was possible after years of careful financial management and it has been a very exciting development for the club.

“In addition to the significant playing advantages of this surface, it was felt it would attract new members of all ages.”

That has proved to be spot on and the club has continued to work hard on improving its facilities.

“In 2018 we installed some LED floodlights on three courts with some financial support from the LTA,” Rachel continued.

“This has increased our capacity all year and allowed us to extend our coaching programme.”

The coaching programme is wide and varied and offers children’s sessions from tiny tots to young adults.

The adult sessions also cater for beginners right the way through to premier division players.

The coaching is run by head coach Adam Swan, who runs ADS Tennis, and is supported by a strong and enthusiastic team of coaches.

But it’s not just the tennis that makes Cirencester Tennis Club so appealing because there is also a very strong social element.

“The social side of the club is equally important and we run a series of fun and competitive tournaments throughout the year,” said Rachel. “Every week we hold ‘members’ roll up' sessions on a Wednesday night and Sunday morning.”

Clearly there is plenty going on at the club but these things don’t just happen of course.

“The club is run by a strong committee of 10 members who ensure the club is financially sound while keeping the facilities well maintained,” said Rachel.

“Our next investment project is to replace our basic portaloo for a flushable toilet and we are currently awaiting planning permission.”

For more information about the club, visit https://cirentennis.net/