Facilities

The Club, which was founded in 1929, now has the exclusive use of nine full-sized lawns. Some of these are usable as two half-sized lawns for Short Croquet or for anyone who prefers to play in this format. We have two grade II listed, recently renovated, stone-built pavilions. We have timber shelters by most of our lawns, and a shipping container for secure storage of outdoor items. The club provides all the necessary lawn equipment (mallets, balls, hoops etc), including equipment for juniors, so players need only bring a pair of flat-soled shoes. WiFi is provided across the whole site.

The croquet lawns are the club’s most cherished asset. They require considerable care to keep them in good condition, provided for us by Nottingham City Council as part of our lease agreement. Custodianship of the playing surfaces for the long term is an abiding concern, so that we and our successors may continue to enjoy the use of high quality lawns for years to come. All lawns are served by computer-controlled automatic irrigation systems using water from our own borehole.

image of pavilion no people) - slightly stylised / distorted by fish-eye lensThe east pavilion has a large common / dining room, ladies’ and gents’ toilets and changing rooms with lockers, a well-equipped catering kitchen and pantry, and a self-service refreshment area.  The pantry has a landline payphone (0115 922 2237), but this will only be answered if someone is free and within earshot.

The west pavilion has a level-access electrically operated door leading via a lobby area to two unisex toilets (one with enhanced accessibility and baby changing), and an equipment storage area. The main entrance opens into a spacious croquet lounge / multi-purpose toom, off which we have a small members’ kitchen, refreshment area, club room and storage room.

Members may use the West kitchen (except when in use by tournaments) to store and prepare their own food; please leave them clean and tidy. No cash is stored on the premises – please settle all accounts online, by cheque or in the Members’ Accounts book. 

During the season, which typically runs from early April to early October, members may visit all day, seven days a week, and – so long as lawns are free – play. Lawns may be booked in advance using our online lawn booking system and casual play is possible on lawns which are not booked – some being reserved for this purpose. We run Open Days and accommodate casual play from visitors and passers-by when possible, and also have club “roll-up” sessions when players may drop in to play whoever is waiting for a game. On many Saturday afternoons we run our popular club social doubles events followed by afternoon tea. As part of the wider croquet community, we host tournaments and matches of local, national or international importance, providing competitive opportunities for members and also providing extra sources of income for the club. Coaching courses for beginners are run each year, and we have programmes of ongoing coaching for more experienced players at all levels. Coaching is given freely by experienced members.

Outside the main playing season there may be some limited lawn availability for members to play, subject to maintenance and weather considerations. 

  

 

Nottingham Croquet Club invites you

The lawns at Nottingham Croquet Club are now officially open for the season! Members are welcome to enjoy the facilities, and visitors are invited to experience the charm of croquet on our special Open Days during the weekend of 26th and 27th April 10 am to 4 pm—whether to watch or give it a try and maybe join a beginner's course.

In 2021 we expanded and upgraded our excellent facilities, and would love to welcome more people to experience this fascinating, challenging, enjoyable and highly accessible non-contact outdoor sport, which combines skill and strategy, doesn't require great energy, is played on an equal basis between women and men of all ages, and can enhance physical, mental and social well-being. 

Come in through the grand gates below (with an impressive vista of Nottingham University's Trent Building), and we can be found through the smaller gates immediately on the right and left.

a pair of huge impressive wrought iron gates open with a vista to the grand Trent building

But since you're here, you may like to explore our website first and see what we can offer - perhaps starting with this video.

Nottingham Croquet Club strives to be inclusive, diverse, accessible and welcoming.

Winner of a national award for diversity and inclusion in 2022 , we continue our work to enhance our welcome to all.

Do check out our welcome page which has more audio-visuals.

If you are new to croquet, we hope this website will help you discover this wonderful game, and hope you may also choose to visit us, learn the game, join the club and enjoy our wonderful sport. Some of our members find they want to give something back and support the club in various voluntary ways.

If you like what you see, you may like to arrange to have a go, learn the game or join the club using our contact form. Or you can pop and ask in whenever members are on site which is a lot of the daylight hours during the season (early April to early October). Tuesdays from 2pm to mid evening is a good time as there will always be one of our friendly volunteers available to welcome you. 

 As well as offering public amenity and casual and club play, we welcome lots of community groups, and also host tournaments of local, national and international significance.

players and spectators in casual dress enjoying social croquet on a sunny afternoon
flags of 8 nationalities flying over the entrance to the club during the world under 21 championship

Images: Social croquet & International croquet

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