National Badminton Centre set for modern new look

The National Badminton Centre is the home of badminton in England. The home of the performance team, where the best talent is nurtured and developed to compete and represent England and Great Britain on the world stage. Like any homeowners, we want to be house proud. This is where we showcase our sport, share our sport’s heritage and welcome everyone interested in badminton, health and fitness.

Badminton England are very excited to be investing in a phased refurbishment of the National Badminton Centre to ensure we are well-positioned to inspire the badminton community, further develop our beloved sport and help our elite athletes perform at the very highest level in the future.

In November 2023, our badminton base was rightly recognised by UK Sport for its contribution to the preparation of elite Olympic and Paralympic athletes; the National Badminton Centre was one of only eight venues across the country to be awarded the status of ‘Accredited Elite Training Centre’ – celebrating its role in helping athletes to achieve their full performance potential.

While proud of that achievement, we want to strive for more. We believe the home of badminton in this country can be better, bolder and bring so much more to so many.

We already provide world-class badminton courts open to clubs, coaches and the wider badminton community who can play on the same surfaces as our Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Situated beside the serene Lodge Lake in Loughton, the suburban site is home to public and professional gym facilities, fitness suites and a spin studio, meeting rooms, a popular three-star 25-room hotel, a sports bar, a small restaurant and the National Badminton Museum – all open to the public.

However, the building is old and has grown tired since its last modification nearly 15 years ago. Now it is time to invest in its public-facing facilities to better meet the demands of both new and existing audiences, to maintain and improve the competitive environment for our elite athletes and to inspire the next generation of badminton players and aspiring athletes.

We aim to ensure vital revenue streams are maintained as they significantly contribute to the cost of delivering Badminton England’s long-term strategy to the nation’s badminton community. The newly-renovated site will attract local businesses, new court-users and gym-goers and all those who want to meet colleagues, share a coffee with friends or family, host a working lunch or enjoy a drink in the evening. 

We want to make the National Badminton Centre a great place to work, rest and play.

A refurbished reception area will create an inclusive, welcoming first impression, our new restaurant and bar area will cater for all kinds of events – everyday meetings or big, bold functions – while spaces will also be created for those who want to switch their office or their study at home for a calm, relaxed working environment. The National Badminton Museum, meanwhile, will have its own identity – a reimagined space balancing the history and heritage of badminton with a sleek, modern seated area for all to enjoy.

The gym will be modernised with new cutting-edge equipment to be installed throughout, the changing rooms will deliver a breath of fresh air, light, bright and airy with a modern feel and there will even be a new outdoor space, a courtyard from which all who visit the National Badminton Centre can enjoy the British summer…when it decides to arrive!

Structurally, the building will retain its authenticity. But inside, parts of a new-look National Badminton Centre are expected to excite all who are welcomed through its doors. And, aligned with our strategic inclusivity objectives, these renovations will improve the facility’s accessibility to ensure badminton within the National Badminton Centre really is a sport for everyone.

Construction work on the refurbishment is set to begin this month and be completed by the end of 2024. Disruption will be kept to an absolute minimum so we hope no National Badminton Centre-users will be too inconvenienced. And, through regular communication with our key stakeholders, we will share updates with you, our badminton community, as the staged refurbishment makes progress.

Inviting. Inclusive. Inspiring. We are always aiming to deliver more to our badminton community. We look forward to welcoming our members to the new-look National Badminton Centre in 2025 and beyond…