Game, set and match: top-class public tennis courts open for play

Thanet District council has appointed Your Leisure Kent Ltd to operate five of the district’s public tennis courts. The interim contract runs from Tuesday 2 July 2026 until the end of the year. 

This appointment ensures that the tennis courts will be managed and maintained to a high standard, for players of all levels and abilities. 

Infinity Tennis has also been appointed to lead on tennis coaching and programming across the five courts.

The following refurbished tennis courts are open and available for booking:

• Montefiore Games Centre, Ramsgate
• Memorial Recreation Ground, Broadstairs
• Hartsdown Park, Margate
• Westbrook Games Centre, Margate
• St Mildred’s Games Centre, Westgate-on-Sea
• Spencer Square, Ramsgate 

Players can book the courts via the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) website, at a cost of £6 per hour. Alternatively, a six-month household pass is available for £20, which covers up to five people and allows up to two hours of court time daily across all venues with no additional charges.

With the exception of Spencer Square, five sites were refurbished as part of a £313,000 project in 2024, delivered in partnership with the LTA. Funding included a £285,000 grant from the government and the LTA Tennis Foundation as well as a £28,000 contribution from Thanet District Council.

The upgrade included comprehensive resurfacing, new nets, court markings, and the installation of secure digital gate-access systems. Access is limited to players who have booked, protecting the courts from misuse and keeping future maintenance to a minimum.

Cllr Ruth Duckworth, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Property at Thanet District Council, said: “The council is committed to encouraging people to get active across the district. Part of this means making sure that there are high-quality, well-maintained sports facilities for all residents, whether they are beginners or regular players.”

“Our priority now is to make sure that the courts are well-looked after and maintained to the level that Thanet deserves. I’d love to see as many people as possible picking up their rackets and heading to their nearest tennis centre for a game.”

Warren Reeves, Managing Director of Your Leisure Kent Ltd, said: “Your Leisure is delighted to partner with Thanet District Council and the LTA to provide park court tennis facilities. The accessible courts provide opportunities for the community to move more, remain active and improve their health and wellbeing.

“Through our partnership with Infinity Tennis, we will deliver coaching opportunities for the whole community, alongside easy access to courts for everyone to enjoy. We aim to inspire the local community to use these local assets for the benefit of their physical and mental health.

Gavid Vickers, Founder of Infinity Tennis, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been appointed as the coaching provider for park tennis courts across Thanet. This is a fantastic opportunity to work alongside Thanet District Council, Your Leisure and the LTA to make tennis more accessible than ever before, delivering a wide range of activities for children and adults of all abilities across the district.

“At Infinity Tennis, we firmly believe that parks play a vital role in opening up the sport and providing welcoming, affordable opportunities for everyone to get involved. By combining our experience of community tennis development with Your Leisure’s commitment to improving health and wellbeing, we are ideally placed to deliver on our shared vision of growing participation and creating thriving community tennis venues.

“We look forward to bringing our knowledge, expertise and passionate coaching team to Thanet’s park courts, ensuring these facilities are vibrant, well used and valued community assets that inspire more people to pick up a racket and enjoy everything tennis has to offer.”

The appointment of a short-term operator follows the termination of the National Tennis Association (NTA) lease by mutual agreement. The NTA managed and operated the facilities, from their appointment in November 2024 until Wednesday 1 July 2026.

A longer-term marketing process will be launched later this year to secure a permanent leaseholder from January 2027.

Experienced tennis operators interested in submitting an expression of interest for the long-term lease should contact the council via email: propertyandassetmanagement@thanet.gov.uk

Notes to Editors:

Upgrades covered five key community sites: Montefiore Games Centre in Ramsgate; Memorial Recreation Ground in Broadstairs; Hartsdown Park and Westbrook Games Centre in Margate; and St Mildred’s Games Centre in Westgate-on-Sea. 

Works included extensive resurfacing and the installation of secure, digital gate-access systems synced with online booking platforms to protect the playing surfaces and ensure player safety.