The Monkey Tree

Tucked away at the bottom of Lower Park Road you will find the oasis of green that is the Avenue Lawn Tennis Club.  The Club has been in existence since the early 1930s and has been responsible for thousands of youngsters and adults from Loughton learning to enjoy playing the game. 

This is a family-orientated Club and over the years has developed a programme of coaching, social and match play to suit all levels of play.  Over 100 junior players took part in the 2005 Junior Open Tournament.  In the last round of the Essex Junior League both the Boys 1 and Girls 1 teams won through to the finals. There are full social programmes for both adults and Junior’s and a licensed bar.

2006 sees more changes for the Club.  Planning permission has been obtained for floodlights on one court and these will be installed when all the courts are re-surfaced and a new Mini Tennis court built in the autumn.  

Another change sees the return of Mike Matthews as full-time Head Coach in April.  Many Loughton residents will know Mike, not only through his previous time at the Avenue, but over the past 11 years when he was running the Roding Valley Tennis Centre at Buckhurst Hill.   Mike has many years experience of coaching players of all abilities and last year converted and updated his qualifications, becoming an LTA Level III coach.  The Club aims to gain accreditation as a Mini-Tennis Centre for youngsters aged 4 to 10 as soon as possible.

The Club welcomes players and would-be players of any standard and visitors are welcome to come and try out the facilities.  For enquiries about visits, membership or coaching please telephone Janet Thomas on 020 8508 9440.