Portsmouth Tennis Centre is celebrating another major achievement after being recognised once again by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) for its outstanding commitment to inclusivity.
The centre has been crowned the 2025 Hampshire and Isle of Wight winner in the ‘Tennis Opened Up’ category at the LTA Tennis Awards for the third consecutive year, underlining its continued leadership in making tennis accessible to everyone, regardless of ability or background.
Adding to this success, Portsmouth Tennis Centre has also been presented with a prestigious LTA Tennis Excellence Award, recognising the centre’s wider contribution to the sport and its lasting impact across local communities.
The LTA Tennis Awards recognises the vital work volunteers, coaches, officials, and players contribute to make tennis an enjoyable, safe, and accessible sport for all.
Owned by Portsmouth City Council and operated by registered charity and social enterprise BH Live, Portsmouth Tennis Centre is committed to delivering fun and inclusive community sport.
BH Live’s dedicated coaching team works closely with the LTA and a range of community partners to deliver a truly inclusive coaching framework. Each programme is designed to ensure everyone has the opportunity to play, develop skills and enjoy the physical and social benefits of tennis.
Currently, more than 400 players attend weekly tennis sessions at the centre, including people living with head injuries, dementia, Down’s Syndrome and visual impairments. Sessions are carefully adapted to meet individual needs, with adjustments such as smaller courts, raised court lines, lightweight rackets, foam tennis balls and slower‑paced games. The centre itself is fully accessible, featuring ramps, automatic electric doors and accessible toilet facilities.
The team is equally passionate about introducing young people to the sport. Throughout the year, Portsmouth Tennis Centre hosts free open days, giving families the chance to try tennis through fun games and coaching activities.
BH Live also funds and delivers coaching sessions to hundreds of schoolchildren across Portsmouth, helping to inspire the next generation of players. This includes funding from the Tim Henman Foundation, enabling coaches to deliver funded sessions for four SEND schools in the local community.
Last year alone, more than 1,600 children attended the centre’s popular school holiday camps. Half of these spaces were provided through Portsmouth City Council’s HAF Fun Pompey programme, funded by the UK Government, which offers free activities and hot meals to children from families receiving benefits and those eligible for free school meals.
The centre is also home to ACE Academy, a tennis programme for children aged 5-16 taught alongside the LTA’s youth learning framework.
On behalf of BH Live, Macca Neaves, Tennis Manager, shared;
“We are incredibly proud to be recognised once again by the LTA. Winning the regional Tennis Opened Up Award for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight for the third-year running, alongside receiving a Tennis Excellence Award, is a huge achievement for our coaching team.“Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do at Portsmouth Tennis Centre, and this recognition reflects the passion, dedication and care our coaches bring to ensuring everyone has the opportunity to enjoy tennis, no matter their age or ability.”
More information about Portsmouth Tennis Centre can be found online at bhliveactive.org.uk/tennis-centre.
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Notes to Editors:
For more information about BH Live please contact:
Daisy Saunders, PR & Communications Executive
E: press.office@bhlive.org.uk
About BH Live
Champions of community engagement, health and wellness across Dorset, Hampshire, and London
BH Live, a registered charity and social enterprise, is a leading operator of sports and leisure centres, theatres, and event venues.
BH Live (Enterprises) Limited is a wholly owned trading subsidiary of the parent organisation, established to manage the non-charitable activities, primarily relating to Conferences and Exhibitions.
Our vision is to create sustainable and inspiring opportunities, deliver great experiences for our communities, and improve health and well-being.
With a strong commitment to accessibility and community engagement, BH Live continues to enhance the quality of people’s lives, health and wellbeing in the communities it serves.
BH Live was established in 2010. Local authority partners include BCP Council, Portsmouth City Council, Croydon Council, and Southampton City Council.
We are at the heart of the UK’s growing social economy. Together with our partners we are helping to change lives and make a positive impact in the community.
For more visit bhlive.org.uk.
Get social with us:
LinkedIn – BH Live
Facebook – @SocialEnterpriseBHLive
Instagram @bhliveuk
Head office address: Bournemouth International Centre, Exeter Road, Bournemouth, BH2 5BH, DORSET
BH Live is a leisure and cultural trust, established in 2010 as a ‘non profit distributing organisation’ (NPDO) for public benefit to promote participation in leisure and cultural events. BH Live is a Company Limited by Guarantee and Registered Charity. Charity No: 1138311. Company No: 07092112. VAT Reg No: 108 2248 37. BH Live (Enterprises) Ltd, is a Private Company Limited by Shares and a wholly owned subsidiary of BH Live. Company No: 07175626. VAT Reg No: 108 2248 37. Registered Office: Bournemouth International Centre, Exeter Road, Bournemouth, BH2 5BH. Registered in England and Wales.
About Portsmouth Tennis Centre
Portsmouth Tennis Centre is owned by Portsmouth City Council and is operated in partnership with registered charity and social enterprise BH Live.
Situated in the north of Portsmouth (Hilsea) next to Mountbatten, Portsmouth Tennis Centre is a welcoming and accessible hub for players of all ages and abilities. The centre features an impressive range of facilities, including four indoor courts and six floodlit outdoor courts, enabling year‑round play whatever the weather.
Visitors can enjoy a comprehensive coaching programme designed to support progression at every level, including first‑time tots picking up a racket, juniors developing their skills, and adults returning to or advancing within the sport. Sessions also include popular variations such as cardio tennis and touch tennis, offering fun and dynamic alternatives for fitness and skill development.
As part of BH Live’s commitment to creating accessible, community‑focused facilities, Portsmouth Tennis Centre also provides inclusive opportunities for under‑represented groups and disability tennis, further strengthening its role as a key sporting destination in the region.
Supported by HAF (Holiday Activities and Food Programme) funding, Portsmouth Tennis Centre provides free sports camp spaces including hot meals and activities during school holidays for children from low socio-economic backgrounds.
The centre additionally runs accessible sessions in partnership with local community groups such as Headway and DS Active and is home to ACE Academy, a tennis programme for children aged 5-16 taught alongside the LTA’s youth learning framework.
For more information, visit bhliveactive.org.uk/tennis-centre.
Get social with us:
Facebook – @PortsmouthTC
Instagram – @PortsmouthTennisCentre
Address; Portsmouth Tennis Centre, Alex Way, Portsmouth, PO2 9AD, HAMPSHIRE