Indoor beach volleyball is returning to London in a big way.
The Beach Hangar, a new tournament-calibre six-court beach volleyball facility with a lounge and licensed bar, will be opening on the grounds of the London International Airport. Local entrepreneurs Kyla Woodcock and Dave Ward, the founders of Forest City Sports & Social Club and Summit Sports, have teamed up to bring the over 23,000 square foot play space to the city.
"The Beach Hangar is not just a facility, it’s a community destination where passion for sport and recreation comes alive,” said Woodcock, who also founded TimeOut Sport & Social Club in Windsor. “Our vision is to create a vibrant, inclusive environment where athletes of all skill levels can come together to play, socialize, compete, and enjoy the spirit of the game, in a space that is best-in-class.”
Woodcock added that the new facility will more than fill the void left by the recent closure of Spikes indoor volleyball venue in south London. With its 30 foot ceilings and natural light, The Beach Hangar will be able to host year-round recreational and competitive leagues, national and provincial tournaments, private events, camps, clinics, and drop-in play for adults and kids.
The space will also be versatile enough to offer other sports including dodgeball, soccer, and badminton.
"New recreational spaces of this calibre don’t come along very often," said Zanth Jarvis, Tourism London's director of sports tourism. "It’s a significant addition to our city’s recreational and tourism infrastructure that will help bring new national and international sport events to the city.”
For spectators, the space will include a mezzanine-level lounge with a bar and food service. Woodcock and Ward are currently looking for a culinary partner to helm the dining experience.
Construction will begin this spring with the new facility expected to open its doors next January.
