Current membership availability status:

We arrange regular induction sessions for prospective new members, where you can see the club, have a little hit with a member and find out which kind of membership is best for you.

The timing and availability of these sessions depends on how much capacity we have for new members. If you would like to go on an email list to be alerted about these sessions, please email Katy at bctcmembers@gmail.com.

Joining the club

With a friendly atmosphere, good facilities and very affordable rates, Bristol Central has a lot going for it. Unfortunately it does mean that we’re generally oversubscribed! There are two main routes to joining..

1) Via Improver membership – our 6-month improver membership is unique in the area, and is the most common route into the club for new members. It includes a 10-week group coaching course. It caters for beginners, but it’s also ideal for people who have played a little, or are a bit rusty, and would like to get up to a club standard. 

Improvers can do one or two consecutive Improver memberships – and then have the option of taking up a day/weekend membership, or graduating to full membership if they have reached the required standard.

NB. There is generally a waiting list for the Improvers. Read more about the Improvers here.

2) Via an induction session – for those who feel they might already be at club standard and so the Improver course isn’t right for them, we offer regular open sessions – usually on Saturday mornings – where you can come along for half an hour, view the facilities, and have a quick friendly hit on our Claytex courts with one of our members. We can explain the various membership options on offer and recommend the right one for you – as well as giving you an idea of the waiting list. 

Adult Membership levels

For adults, we offer the following levels of membership.

Full membership – allows you to book courts at any time (subject to availability), play in our singles box league and social tournaments, and also play in our club night sessions from 6pm (Monday – Women, Tuesday – Mens, Wednesday – Mixed). 
Please note that although we are a social club, to be considered for full membership you will need to be able to play at a minimum competitive standard, including being able to serve and rally consistently and being familiar with basic doubles tactics. Applicants for full membership (who don’t come through the Improver course) will be asked to come along for a trial hit with a member, who can advise them of the most appropriate level of membership.

There is also a special discounted rate on Full membership for Juniors aged 14-17 who play at a high standard and are best suited to playing with adults.

Weekday membership – allows you to book courts Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm (subject to availability). You can also enter the singles box league. Can be bought in conjunction with Weekend membership.

Weekend membership – allows you to book courts any time between 8am and 10pm on Saturdays and Sundays (subject to availability). You can also join our First and Third Saturday social tournaments and enter the singles box league. Can be bought in conjunction with Day membership.

Improver membership – this is designed for people looking to learn or improve their tennis, potentially with a view to becoming full members.  Improver membership lasts for six months and runs April to August and September to March, and includes a 10 week group coaching course. Improvers can book courts at weekends, weekdays before 6pm, and Thursday evenings (subject to availability). They can also enter the singles box league and may be invited to play in our social tournaments. See more details about Improver membership here.

Walking Tennis membership – we host a regular Walking Tennis session each Saturday 11am-12pm. This is free to members and is also open to the public for £4 a session (first session free). Or you can join as a Walking Tennis member for £45 per year – which entitles you to play the regular Saturday session every week. (Alternatively, walking tennis enthusiasts may prefer to become weekday members so they can book their own courts to play in the week, and attend the Saturday session free.) See more about Walking Tennis here.

We also offer a reduced country membership, plus options for Juniors and parents of Juniors.

Fees

Memberships carry a one-off joining fee as detailed in the table below. (£10 of each joining fee is donated to the Happy Lane Fund, created to open up tennis to people of all backgrounds and abilities across the West of England.)

Fees includes floodlights, match fees and provision of balls during club sessions. The membership year runs from the 1st April, but new members are welcome throughout the year on a pro rata basis (pro rata ratesd begin from mid-June).

All members can play in their alloted times with their own guests for a fee of £3 per guest per session.

Current prices are:

Membership typeJoining feeCost per annum
Full membership – Adult£30£175
Full membership – Junor aged 14-17£55
Improver (half year plus 10 week group coaching course)£10£130
Student£80
Weekday£30£80
Weekend£30£80
Walking tennis £45
Country£50
Junior£25
Parent£55
Visitor – per visitn/a£3

Members are advised to obtain a key for the club gate and clubhouse for which a £20 deposit is payable – refundable as and when key returned. (Keys must be returned within 28 days of cessation of membership otherwise we reserve the right to re-use the deposit to the benefit of all club members).

You will be expected to abide by the BCTC Code Of Conduct.

For more information or to discuss any queries please email bctcmembers@gmail.com