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Former bowls club to be transformed into ‘active community hub’
Some of the team behind Bristol’s biggest music festivals are taking on a former bowls club in the middle of their local park.
Team Love – behind Love Saves the Day, Forwards and Simple Things, and the Love Inn on Stokes Croft – and friends hope to open the St George Bowls & Social Club in May.
Bowls will be brought back to St George Park with future plans for the site from a newly established community interest company (CIC) including a sauna, cold tub and cafe.
The space will also be used as an activity and event venue for community groups, including sessions such as tai chi and yoga.
The last bowls were rolled in anger at the former St George Bowls Club & Omnibus Club in October 2022.
The new community interest company say they are “committed to the regeneration and development of the club with community connection and sustainable action driving the project into realisation”.
The directors of the St George Bowls & Social Club CIC are Dave Harvey, Patrick Rudland, George Sandilands, Hannah Sandilands and Penelope Warner.
Team Love are currently advertising for a general manager and duty manager for the new space.
St George Bowls Club & Omnibus Club closed in October 2022 – photo: Martin Booth
A sign at the entrance to what will become the St George Bowls & Social Club says: “For years, this green has stood quiet.
“Once home to St George Bowls Club and Omnibus Club, it was a place where friends met, matches were played and the community came together.
“Sadly both clubs closed due to rising costs, and the space fell out of use.
“We’re a group of local residents who live around St George Park.
“Together we’ve formed a community interest company – an organisation formally committed to bring this space back into community use.
“Over the past 18 months, we have been working in collaboration with the council and local groups so that we can deliver on our mission of returning the bowls club to its past glory and transforming the space into an active community hub.”
Team Love hope to open the St George Bowls & Social Club in May – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo: Martin Booth
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