Sand in the City - Welcome to the Marlborough Sports Garden

• By Sam Parton on Jul 13, 2016

Sand in the City - Welcome to the Marlborough Sports Garden

Just introducing you to the latest sand volleyball court in London which can be booked online. Roll out the red carpet and get the champagne on ice for the Marlborough Sports Garden. It is a fantastic public open space in the heart of London, a few minutes walk from London Bridge, hidden away from the main roads around Borough. The sports garden is managed by Bankside Open Spaces Trust who took over the management of the space from Southwark Council and it is now part of a growing network of green spaces in London looked after by BOST.

A Place For Everyone

The Sports Garden is used by the local community who value it for the role it plays in promoting the health and wellbeing of residents and as a rare outdoor space providing much-needed access to physical activity, sport, and leisure pursuits. Available for everyone living and working in SE1 to use, it has an astroturf football pitch, sand court, basketball hoop, table tennis tables, patball wall and seating for those who just want to sit and enjoy the scenery. 

Commercial Hire

The sand court can be booked instantly online and is predominately used for volleyball, touch rugby, beach football and ultimate frisbee. It is used by social sports organisations such as 5 a side and Go Mammoth as well as various other commercial and community groups. Other parts of the Marlborough Sports Garden can also be hired for corporate events, particularly if during a weekday. Why go to a boring conference centre when you could have a beach volleyball tournament?

Future Developments

Following a consultation with the local community and stakeholders, a masterplan for the future development of the Sports Garden has been agreed and the first phase of its implementation will begin in the autumn of 2016. The plan includes upgrades to the boundaries of the sand court, a new state of the art netball court, improved seating areas, and new planting with much more to follow later.