News & Posts

The Big Happy Lane Funday – Saturday 13 July 24

A day full of tennis, fun, food and drink to raise funds for our charity The Happy Lane Fund. 

  • DOUBLES TOURNAMENT – play some doubles and get your hands on the Happy Lane Cup!
  • SINGLES SMASH! – Enjoy some quickfire singles play
  • BARBECUE BY WENDELL – from 1pm
  • STRAWBERRIES & CREAM!
  • WIMBLEDON ON THE BIG SCREEN – THE LADIES FINAL!
  • WALKING TENNIS!
  • FULLY STOCKED BAR!
  • PIMMS & LEMONADE!
  • TEA, COFFEE, CAKES!
  • RAFFLE WITH GREAT PRIZES (including tennis prizes)

From 10am to 5pm. Open to all club members. Family and friends also welcome.
Drop in on the day for as many of the tennis sessions as you like, or just enjoy the barbecue and bar!

Barbecue from 1pm.

Tennis events

All proceeds go to the Happy Lane Fund.

10am-11.15am – Walking Tennis

Come and try a fun, tactical new sport that’s accessible for everyone regardless of age or ability. Followed by tea, coffee and cakes in the clubhouse. Bring along friends or family members who might like to give it a try – it’s perfect for people who are looking to get more active in a friendly environment.
£4 (card payment on the day)

11.30am-2pm – Social doubles tournament – The Happy Lane Cup

Social doubles tournament organised by Rob Durbin. All welcome, no need to have a partner, we will pair people on the day. Magnificent trophy for the winner!
£4 (card payment on the day) Stay for the barbecue and to watch some tennis on the courts and on the screen

2.30pm-5pm – Super Smash Singles competition

Fun but competitive singles play, organised by Andy Young and Nik Kolev.
£4 (card payment on the day)

Register your interest

Drop-ins on the day will be welcome for all events but please register here if you’re keen to come so we have a rough idea of numbers. 

Keen to help?

If you’d like to help out on the day (e.g. manning the bar, helping with the catering, donating a raffle prize etc) drop Andrew Nixon a line via andrewgnixon77@gmail.com, or speak to Andrew, Louise Davison or Jason Newman at the club. Your help would be much appreciated!

All profits go to the Happy Lane Fund, supporting tennis sessions for disabled and disadvantaged people across Avon.

The Happy Lane Fund is managed by Wesport – Charity Registration No. 1114495.

The Happy Lane Evening Extravaganza 2024: Moroccan Madness!

Saturday 13 July – 6pm to late

An exclusive event to raise funds for our charity The Happy Lane Fund. 

First-come-first-served tickets limited to 32 people. Last year sold out very quickly so snap up yours now by completing the form here.

Cost £30 per ticket. Ticket price includes:

  • Cocktails! Not one but two specially-created drinks by Jason: a Strawberry Bellini on arrival; and a Devil’s Milkshake dessert!
  • An amazing Moroccan-themed meal, home-cooked by Rachel. Featuring:
    • Moroccan chicken tajine with preserved lemons and olives
    • Moroccan lentil and aubergine stew (V)
    • Veg and halloumi scewers with sumac and tahini (V)
    • Turkish rice with orzo and cranberries.
    • PLUS a buffet Mezze table including:
      • Mucver (courgette fritters)
      • Feta and spinach filo pastries
      • Za’tar flat breads
      • Muhammara (roasted red pepper dip)
      • Cacik – yogurt cucmber
      • Hummos
      • Lahana Salatasi (coleslaw)
      • Kavun Salatasi (melon, feta and cashew salad)
    • Ice cream and/or Devil’s Milkshake dessert
  • A whole load of fun team tennis games and organised chaos, including tennis volleyball, retro rackets and more – overseen by our guest umpire
  • Bar until late – at Central’s usual bargain prices!
  • Raffle and other things we think up…

Reserve your ticket here.

All profits go to the Happy Lane Fund, supporting tennis sessions for disabled and disadvantaged people across Avon.

The Happy Lane Fund is managed by Wesport – Charity Registration No. 1114495.

Walking Tennis open session – Saturday 8 July 23 11am-12.15pm

We’re hosting a Walking Tennis session, open to all – as part of our Fun Day to raise money for our charity The Happy Lane Fund. 

Come and try a fun, tactical new sport that’s accessible for everyone regardless of age or ability, and meet fellow walking tennis players. Followed by tea, coffee and cakes in the clubhouse.

Saturday 8 July 2023 – 11am-12.15pm
£4 per person (card payment on the day) including refeshments. All proceeds go to the Happy Lane Fund.

Register your interest

Drop-ins on the day will be welcome for all events but please register here if you’re keen to come so we have a rough idea of numbers. 

Bristol Central Tennis Club
Happy Lane (off Derby Rd),
St. Andrews,
Bristol
BS7 9AQ

All profits go to the Happy Lane Fund, supporting tennis sessions for disabled and disadvantaged people across Avon.

The Happy Lane Fund is managed by Wesport – Charity Registration No. 1114495.

The Big Happy Lane Funday – Saturday 8 July 23

A day full of tennis, fun, food and drink to raise funds for our charity The Happy Lane Fund. 

  • LOTS OF TENNIS! Something for everyone including a social doubles tournament, coaching with Kerris and Walking Tennis.
  • BARBECUE BY WENDELL – from 1pm
  • STRAWBERRIES & CREAM!
  • WIMBLEDON ON THE BIG SCREEN!
  • FULLY STOCKED BAR!
  • PIMMS & LEMONADE!
  • TEA, COFFEE, CAKES!
  • RAFFLE WITH GREAT PRIZES (including tennis prizes)

From 11am to 5pm. Open to all club members. Family and friends also welcome.
Drop in on the day for as many of the tennis sessions as you like, or just enjoy the barbecue and bar!

Barbecue from 1pm.

Tennis events

All proceeds go to the Happy Lane Fund.

11am-12.15pm – Walking Tennis

Come and try a fun, tactical new sport that’s accessible for everyone regardless of age or ability. Followed by tea, coffee and cakes in the clubhouse.
£4 (card payment on the day)

12.45pm-2pm – Group tennis coaching session with Kerris

Have fun and pick up some tennis tips from our brilliant Head Coach.
Suitable for all adult players and older kids (yellow ball).
£5 entry – includes free strawberries & cream (card payment on the day) Stay afterwards for Wendell’s barbecue!

2.30pm-5pm – Social doubles tournament – The Happy Lane Cup

Social doubles tournament organised by Rob Durbin. All welcome, no need to have a partner, we will pair people on the day. Magnificent trophy for the winning pair! 
£5 – includes free strawberries & cream. (card payment on the day) Come early for Wendell’s barbecue first!

Register your interest

Drop-ins on the day will be welcome for all events but please register here if you’re keen to come so we have a rough idea of numbers. 

Keen to help?

If you’d like to help out on the day (e.g. manning the bar, helping with the catering, donating a raffle prize etc) drop Andrew Nixon a line via andrewgnixon77@gmail.com, or speak to Andrew, Jen Dacombe or Jason Newman at the club. Your help would be much appreciated!

All profits go to the Happy Lane Fund, supporting tennis sessions for disabled and disadvantaged people across Avon.

The Happy Lane Fund is managed by Wesport – Charity Registration No. 1114495.

The Bristol Central Tennis-and-Tapas Evening Extravaganza

Saturday 8 July – 6pm to late

An exclusive event to raise funds for our charity The Happy Lane Fund. 

  • RESTAURANT-QUALITY TAPAS FOOD
  • CHAMPAGNE COCKTAILS
  • FUN TEAM TENNIS GAMES OVERSEEN BY OUR SPECIAL GUEST UMPIRE!
  • PIMMS & LEMONADE
  • FULLY STOCKED BAR
  • RAFFLE

First-come-first-served tickets limited to 24 people. Snap up yours now!

Cost £25 per ticket. Ticket price includes:

  • champagne cocktail 
  • tapas dinner supplied by New Moon on the Quay restaurant
  • entry into the fun team tennis tournament
  • £10 donation to the Happy Lane Fund charity.

Itinerary

6pm Welcome drink (champagne cocktail)

6:15pm – 6-a-side Tennis Volleyball tournament

7pm – Break

7.15pm – More team tennis games (with different rackets and balls and general organised chaos all overseen by our special guest umpire).

8pm to close – Food provided by New Moon on the Quay tapas-style dining (to include Slow Cooked Pork Belly, Chickpea Curry and Rice, Aubergine Rolls and Pitta Bread and more).

All profits go to the Happy Lane Fund, supporting tennis sessions for disabled and disadvantaged people across Avon.

The Happy Lane Fund is managed by Wesport – Charity Registration No. 1114495.

Talking Tennis – the new tennis blog edited by Lizzie Flint

Talking Tennis is a brilliant new online tennis resource for club players, beginners and parents – edited by our very own Lizzie Flint.

You’ll know Lizzie as a popular Bristol Central coach, but she also has a background in journalism and writing. Talking Tennis is already packed full of top playing tips, advice for parents of juniors, and interviews with all sorts of people involved with tennis.

There are articles to help with common club play issues, like How to stop worrying about your serve and The etiquette of mixed doubles ; while parents can get tips on what to do next if your child thinks they’re the next Emma Raducanu.

You can sign up to the free email newsletter to get updates, and follow Talking Tennis on Twitter.

And if you have any requests for future article topics, you can drop Lizzie a line at lizzie@talkingtennis.co.uk

Visit Talking Tennis here.

Adam Davey wins the coveted Webber Trophy for the 2020 BCTC Junior of the Year award

Congratulations to Adam for being nominated by our Head Coach, Kerris, as the most promising junior of 2020 playing at Central. Adam is seen here with the club Chair, Ken Griffin, being prented with his trophy by last year’s winner, Isaac Kane.

The trophy was given to the club by one of our life members, Chris Webber, who was always hugely supportive of Central Juniors during his time in Bristol, giving up many of his Friday evenings each summer to play with some our promising juniors and encourage them into adult league play representing the club.

Bristol Central emerges from lockdown

Following the recent partial lifting of certain Covid-19 restrictions, Bristol Central Tennis Club is back open for play. Whilst the clubhouse and bar remains closed for the time being, the courts are open for play. We have re-introduced organised men’s and ladies’ evenings, together with our popular 1st and 3rd Saturday tournaments – however, all these club sessions must be pre-booked with the session organiser as we cannot currently allow any turn-up-and-play events. Courts are bookable at all other times through our online court booking system.

Please do not attend the club if you have symptoms of Covid-19 or have been asked to self-isolate. Follow government advice at all times; wash your hands, use the hand sanitiser provided by the club, keep your social distance – stay alert.