Recreation & Leisure

Kennet Leisure Centre in Thatcham offers a range of activities including swimming, gym, squash, and there are additional leisure centres in Newbury. Boating on the Kennet and Avon, horse riding, football, rugby, etc all in the local area. Reading and Basingstoke have theatres, cinemas and a wide range of pubs and restaurants. For more leisurely pursuits, there are many walks through the local countryside. Please find a complete list of local leisure facilities and clubs, both sport and general interest, below:

Sports and Leisure Facilities

Kennet Leisure Centre - Stoney Lane
The Kennet Leisure Centre is located adjacent to the Kennet School. The complex includes the George Pickersgill swimming pool with flume, water cannon, water jet and pool inflatable. There is provision for the over 50s, people with special needs, parents and toddlers and early morning, lunchtime and evening lane sessions for adults. In addition the Aqua Action programme offers expert teaching for swimmers and non-swimmers of all ages and abilities.

Harpers Gym offers state of the art facilities for friendship and fitness and exceptional value for money. Activities include circuit training, yoga, aerobics and step. Other sporting activities include badminton, basketball, squash, tennis, netball, 5 a-side football, trampolining and martial arts.

Facilities for young people include Wizzkids (comprehensive structured activity that focuses on enjoyment), Camp Energy (Social Services registered holiday scheme for 5 to 16 year olds) and Party Animals (choose your own style of party from a wide range of wet and dry activities).

For enquiries and bookings t: 01635 871112
web: http://www.leisurecentre.com/centres/28/home/Kennet-Leisure-Centre.aspx

Henwick Worthy Sports Ground
This sports ground is ideally situated on the A4 at West Thatcham with approximately 130 car parking spaces and additional spaces for coaches. There are excellent outdoor facilities with changing rooms, which include nine full-size football pitches, two cricket squares, a full-size floodlit all-weather pitch, tennis courts, a full-size outdoor basketball court and a children's playground. Sports catered for include football, rugby, cricket, hockey and tennis. There is also scope for large events, particularly through the summer, including an annual kite festival.

For enquiries and bookings t: 01635 519345

The Moors Recreation Ground
There are, at the Moors Recreation Ground in Lower Way, football pitches, a basketball hardstanding and changing facilities. For enquiries and bookings t: 01635 863592

Moorside Community Centre
Moorside Community Centre has a sport hall and a floodlit and enclosed hard-court area for basketball/football etc and an indoor dance hall for young people and the community. For further details t: 01635 871558

Recreation Grounds and Children's Play Areas

A range of outdoor activities are offered at recreation grounds in the town as follows:

Siegecross Play Area, Agricola Way Children's playground, 5 a-side soccer pitch, basketball hardstanding and informal recreation area.
Longcroft Road Recreation Ground Children's playground, 5 a-side soccer pitch and informal recreation area.
Dunstan Green Children's playground, basketball hardstanding and informal recreation area.
Memorial Playing Field Basketball hardstanding, tennis courts and informal recreation area with dog exercise compound.
Turnfields Recreation Ground Children's playground and informal recreation area.
Pound Lane Children's playground and informal recreation area.
Mount Road Children's playground and informal recreation area.
Burdwood Wheelers Green Way. Children's play area
Lamb Close Children's play area

Sports Clubs

Thatcham Town Football Club
Waterside Park, Crookham Hill, Thatcham. BGB Southern League Division 1 (South and West). Thatcham Town Harriers (Boys) aged 6 - 16 years. Thatcham Town (Girls) aged 6 - 16 years. Thatcham Town Ladies Football Club
Contact Steve Berry t: 01635 862016
web: www.thatchamtownfc.co.uk

Thatcham Tornadoes Boys and Girls Football Club
Thatcham Tornadoes Boys and Girls Football Club is one of the largest junior football clubs in the country, providing training and competitive league action for boys and girls aged from 6 to 17. There are currently 20 teams and in excess of 300 players. Matches are played at Henwick Worthy Sports Ground and the Moors Recreation Ground.
For further details t: 01635 841445

Thatcham Town Cricket Club
Top league cricket action can be seen at Brownsfield, Brownsfield Road, the home of Thatcham Town Cricket Club who play in the Thames Valley League, the Berkshire League and the Borders Sunday League. The Club has four senior sides and a number of colts sides. For further details Ian Redmond t: 01635 867695

Thatcham Rugby Football Club
The Club fields two senior sides and plays at the Henwick Worthy Sports Ground. For further details t: 0797 4771701

Thatcham Bowling Club
The Club is based at Brownsfield Road, Thatcham and provides excellent facilities. New bowlers and beginners welcome. Coaching available. For further details (May to September) t: 01635 867044

Thatcham Tennis Club
The Tennis Club is based at the Thatcham Memorial Hall Playing Field, Brownsfield Road. It is a thriving club where adults and juniors are welcome. Contacts are: Malcolm Hannington (Secretary) t: 01635 863927

Team Kennet Athletics Club t: 07785 560120
Thames Valley Vikings Wheelchair Basketball t: 07775 682987

Newbury and Thatcham Archers
The club has 3 venues around Newbury and Thatcham. Regular meetings are on Saturday mornings 10.00am onwards during the winter season and Friday evenings 7.00pm until dusk during the summer season. Membership is open to adults and to children from age 8 years upwards, and training for beginners is available. Members shoot target, field and clout archery.
Contacts: For beginners to archery to arrange training contact the Club Chairman, Tony Ruddle t: 01635 873619
For experienced archers to obtain details of membership contact the Membership Secretary, Ken Hayter t: 01635 864654
e: info@natarchers.org.uk web: www.natachers.org.uk

GENERAL INTEREST

Thatcham Allotment Gardening Club t: 01635 865230 or 01635 863592
Angling Association t: 01635 860382
Cycle It t: 01635 871182
Historical Society t: 01635 867802 web: www.thatchamhistoricalsociety.org.uk
In Stitches Stitching club, meets monthly t: 01635 877087
International Seismological Centre t: 01635 861022
Kennet & Avon Canal Trust t: 01635 569647
Newbury Remote Control Car Club web: www.newburyrcclub.co.uk
Pang and Kennet Valley Countryside Project (FWAG) t: 0118 930 5336
Philatelic Society t: 01635 866942
Rotary Club of Thatcham & District t: 01635 863592 for contact details
Royal British Legion t: 01635 866208
RSPB t: 0118 981 6181
Thatcham 18 Plus Group t: 01235 810361
Thatcham Country Market t: 01635 866653
Thatcham Film Club t: 07795 112 047
Thatcham Round Table t: 01635 863592 for contact details
Thatcham Scrappers Scrapbook crop club, meets fortnightly t: 01635 877087
Thatcham Social Club t: 01635 863578
Thatcham Walkers t: 01635 862505
Thatcham Writers web: www.thatchamwriters.co.uk
United Nations Association t: 01635 86333