Accommodation

The Orchard Hotel, which was built for the University of Nottingham's East Midlands Conference Centre, is on its University Park campus, which is just the other side of the lake from the club, within easy walking distance.   During vacations, the University of Nottingham offers less luxurious accomodation in one of the halls of residence on the campus.  There is also another De Vere conference hotel on the University of Nottingham's Jubilee Park Campus, which is less than 2 miles away.

The Star Inn, which is next to the new bus/tram interchange in Beeston, has recently re-opened after renovation and has started to offer rooms.  The  Fairhaven,  is close to Beeston Railway Station and the Victoria Hotel (which only offers food and drink, not accommodation). A little further away is the Village Hotel which is close to Attenborough Nature Reserve.

You can search for accommodation in the wider area on the Visit Nottingham site (select the area West Nottingham and the South or City Centre).

Tournaments

Croquet tournaments are an excellent way to hone your skills and learning, enjoy the ambience of a club at its best, and get to know players from other clubs in a convivial yet competitive atmosphere. Catering and liquid refreshments are usually on offer. Most tournaments are weekends but some are longer. Nottingham’s flagship “Annual Tournament” lasts for six days and has been going since the club was founded. For most tournaments it is good etiquette (and for a few, required protocol) to wear “predominately white” clothing. We hope many of our members will enjoy tournament play, either at our own club, or perhaps sometimes travelling to other clubs around the country. 

The Croquet England website provides details of many tournaments at clubs around the country, and for most provides an online entry form. You can also enter tournaments by sending an entry form to the relevant club’s tournament secretary. John Filsak is our tournament secretary. 

As a club we host a range of tournaments each year, partly for the benefit of our own members who might prefer not to travel and stay away for tournament play, partly to engage in the wider croquet world, and partly because tournaments generate revenue for the club (from fees, catering and refreshments) and help to keep our subscription rates affordable. 

Players visiting our tournaments may find this page useful. 

At the time of writing, we plan to host the following tournaments in 2026:

Dates Event Lawns
11 – 12 April Juniors Mentoring Event 4
2 May GC Northern Stars 3
4 May One Ball Heat * 4
7 -10 May AC CqE Peels 6
14 – 17 May European GC Championships 9
30 – 31 May AC B Level 8
6 June GC Doubles Day * 4
20 – 21 June Schools & Juniors 4
26 – 28 June AC East Midlands Championship 8
4 – 5 July AC C Level 3 or 4
7 July GC D Level 6
8 July GC C Level 6
9 July GC B Level 6
11 – 12 July GC Championships 4
18 – 19 July AC Hallam Doubles * 5
22 – 27 July WCF AC Teams Championships Tiers 2/3 9
17 – 23 August AC Annual Tournament 9
5 – 6 September AC Open W/E 6
12 – 13 September AC Handicap W/E 4
19 – 20 September CqE GC Ascot Cup 4
26 September AC Derek Blow Beginner’s Event * 4

The four marked * are internal club tournaments for our own members only; the others are promoted nationally by the Croquet England on its fixtures calendar and will attract players from other clubs. 

Most tournaments start at 9:30 am. The number of lawns required is an estimate, and will depend on entries. More up to date information will be available on the club calendar and the lawn booking system. 

Sometimes during tournaments, some of the lawns may become free after tea time, but it cannot be guaranteed. Always consult (but never pester) the tournament manager before occupying an empty-looking lawn. It may be needed. 

Visiting competitors may be interested in local information about Accommodation and Food & Drink.