New tennis club owners vow to enhance facilities
GUERNSEY Tennis Club has been sold, with its new owners vowing to retain and enhance its sporting and social facilities.
The Longcamps centre, home to the island’s only four indoor tennis courts, also features outdoor courts and five padel courts – another racquet sport that has surged in popularity both locally and worldwide in recent years.
It has been owned by the Jersey-based Norman Group for the last 30 years but has now been acquired for an undisclosed amount by current manager and coach Andy Privett and his wife Jan, along with Richard and Faye Vincent, who moved to Guernsey four-and-a-half years ago.
‘We were a bit frightened when the club was going to be sold whether the indoor tennis courts were going to remain, so that was a big driver for us,’ said Mr Privett, who has been involved in the club for more than two decades.
‘We also felt we could make a difference and make the club better. It was an opportunity to keep the tennis and do something together that we’re passionate about, and we all felt we had different strengths that we could add.’
With around 400-500 members across both tennis and padel, the new ownership team now aims to support and develop both sports as well as improve the overall experience around the club.
The gym, physio and hairdressers which also operate on the site are all set to remain.
‘The short-term thing is not to go too crazy and change loads of stuff, because I think that just disrupts things,’ said Mr Vincent.
‘Longer-term, obviously there’s scope here to present this in a better standard than it’s in now, and that means throughout the whole place, to improve all the facility including the bar, the outside areas, padel and tennis.
‘There’s lots of scope, but it will be evolutionary rather than revolutionary. We’ll take it step by step.’
Gordon Dickson of Norman Group explained the decision to sell.
‘Earlier last year, after a review of the group’s investments we decided to sell the clubs, but were keen to find a buyer who would carry on their operation,’ he said.
‘We are delighted that Andy, Jan, Richard and Faye will be in the driving seat from now on.
‘I would like to thank our members for their support over the last 30 years, and our terrific staff.’
n Read more about the future of tennis and padel at Longcamps later in the week.
