Let's Dink Pickleball Centre opens in Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire now has its first dedicated pickleball centre. Let's Dink Pickleball Centre opened in late 2025 at Caunton Lawn Tennis Club, near Southwell, with five purpose-built, floodlit, wind-protected courts.

The Story Behind It

The centre was founded by Mark and Deb Pearce — two pickleball converts who discovered the sport in January 2024 when Deb attended a taster session at Caunton Tennis Club. Neither came from a racquet sports background — Mark played football and cricket, Deb hockey and golf — but both got hooked immediately.

They entered their first tournament, Dinking in the Big Hall at Nottingham University, later that year. They lost every match. Rather than being put off, they decided to take it seriously — travelling to Los Angeles for one-to-one coaching and pursuing coaching and officiating qualifications back home.

The collaboration with Caunton Lawn Tennis Club proved the perfect fit. The tennis club already had planning permission for new courts but needed funding. Mark and Deb provided the investment, and Let's Dink was born.

What's On Offer

The centre offers both membership and pay-and-play options, alongside coaching programmes run by James Harding and Pickleball4All. A junior section is a key priority for the founders — making it one of the few venues in the East Midlands actively developing younger players.

With five dedicated courts, floodlighting and wind protection, it's a serious facility — and a genuine addition to the Nottinghamshire pickleball scene.

Getting There

The centre is located at Caunton Lawn Tennis Club, near Southwell — about 12 miles northeast of Nottingham city centre. Worth the drive if you want proper dedicated courts rather than badminton lines with a net.

Visit letsdink-uk.com for sessions and membership details, or find them on their Where to Play listing on Notts Dinks.