Avenue Tennis is a gem in Gillingham. On arriving at the club the message received is “quality and taste”.
Investment here, approaching £11m, has been used wisely on the 4-acre site and care for architectural finishes, sport related installations and other club features have obviously been applied.
There are about 750 junior and adult members in the Racquets section of the club. Players of badminton are also included. However, the membership figures for Avenue Tennis totals some 1250 if membership of the Wellness section comprising the gym, all classes and the health suite is taken into account. The facilities are made available to 10 local schools and 2 schools providing special needs.
This year saw Avenue Tennis awarded “Kent Club of the Year” at the British Tennis Awards on 10 March 2018 at Tudor Park Marriott Hotel and Country Club, Maidstone, Kent.
At the ceremony Colin Jarvis, Chairman, said: “We’ve been open less than a year, and we are delighted that our club has been voted Kent Club of the Year. As a new club, the Kent Club of the Year Award is a great opportunity for us to showcase our unique tennis and fitness centre in Gillingham and this win is a real testament to the team at Avenue Tennis.”
Indoors, Trevor May Contractors installed three Proflex Elite tennis courts in the spacious indoor tennis hall.
In addition to the indoor tennis courts the indoor facility boasts three badminton courts and a well-appointed area for table tennis with the same surface.
A disability programme is in development with a plan being to encourage wheelchair tennis and badminton.
Outdoors, the most striking thing is the attention given to keeping courts and the surroundings clear of litter and debris. The club has five well maintained Advantage RedCourt artificial clay courts and two TigerTurf Advantage Pro synthetic grass courts installed by Trevor May Contractors together with four natural grass courts in first class condition. State-of-the-art floodlighting allows tennis play close to 365 days a year.
Avenue Tennis has other opportunities for self-improvement available. Wellbeing offers the latest Technogym resistance and cardiovascular gym equipment, fitness classes and health suite together with personal trainers to help members achieve their fitness goals.
The health suite has a sauna, steam room, heated relaxation pods, ice machine, chromotherapy shower and treatments including sports massage, osteopathy and Indian head massage.
Bookings for any part of the facility may be done using a purpose-built app, in person at reception, online or by telephone.
If members wish to dine or simply relax then the bar and 54-cover restaurant is the place to be and if a little retail therapy is required the onsite shop provides a range of apparel and equipment to buy.
The club is managed by General Manager, Sam Dudgeon.
