Meopham Tennis Club have been named club of the year by the Kent LTA at their annual awards night.

They took the prize - for clubs with five or more courts - in recognition of a successful 2022 and go forward to the regional awards, with winners due to be announced in April.

Meopham completed a couple of major projects, resurfacing two of their five hard courts to all-weather clay, and installing LED floodlighting, making the courts playable throughout the year.

They have also seen junior and adult membership grow by about 40% in the past two years, taking them to more than 300 members.

The club have developed strong relationships with local schools and offer the LTA youth coaching programme free.

On top of that, Meopham opened opportunities to the wider community by introducing pay and play. Social tennis is also important to them, offering a junior session on Friday evening and four adult sessions per week.

Kent LTA president Mary Evans said: “The Meopham Tennis Club nomination stood out as it demonstrated how the club had come up with an excellent project to resurface and floodlight two tennis courts, thus improving playing facilities and allowing year-round play for members and the wider community by offering pay and play through the LTA Play scheme.

“In addition, they have developed links with three local primary schools using the LTA Youth Schools initiative, offering the schools use of their courts during the summer.”

Meopham are offering annual junior membership for £30 (under-6s are free), and adult membership for £99 (discounted from £160). Pay and play is £10 per hour. See meophamtennis.com