Having opened to the public in October 2022 at a total cost of £970,000, the new sports pavilion has brought a host of benefits to the residents of East Leake, from attracting teams and their supporters into the South Nottinghamshire village, to offering an accessible venue for community events and activities.
East Leake’s pavilion has hosted the village’s major sports teams since the 1970s, being used by thousands of children and adults throughout that time.
Due to its age, the building was in a poor state of repair and was failing to meet modern standards, particularly on energy conservation.
With rising energy bills and a dated layout limiting its use, it was in desperate need of renovation to fulfil the needs of the local community.
The pavilion’s transformation was finally completed in autumn 2022 and was one of the biggest community projects the village had seen.
It was made possible by donations from East Leake Parish Council, the East Leake Playing Fields Charity, and East Leake Traders Association, as well as grants and public fundraising.
Local manufacturer British Gypsum also donated vital building materials, including its ThistlePro PureFinish plaster, which has significantly improved indoor air quality as well as creating a smooth, durable finish.
Since its ambitious transformation, the pavilion now boasts new dedicated changing rooms and showers for the cricket and football teams, an upgraded bar and catering facilities, and a state-of-the-art ‘clubhouse’ area for spectators, with a shaded external seating area and wheelchair-friendly access.
As well as being able to hold a number of new indoor and outdoor activities such as cricket, football, rugby, archery and yoga, the flexible space can act as a venue for business meetings, private parties, community groups, or even as a vaccination hub due to its modern facilities and large open spaces.
Rob Deet, Commercial Manager at Dako Construction, has been leading the building work behind the pavilion’s transformation since January 2022.
He said: “East Leake is very grateful to British Gypsum for the donation of their industry-leading plaster and drylining materials.
“Their donation has enabled money freed up from the budget to be put towards enhancements like upgrading the finishes, which make for a more enjoyable end-user experience.
“It has also allowed a second refreshment area to be installed, making it more attractive to market it as a space-for-hire to host private functions, which will assist in the financial success and ongoing viability of the facilities.
“The new facility will be significantly cheaper to operate than the old one, boasting all new modern facilities and appliances, such as new water boilers and LED lighting throughout.
“We anticipate this new facility will bring a whole host of benefits to the residents of East Leake, offering a fully flexible space for people of all ages.”
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