Expert-led pickleball facility opens in historic Weedon Depot, expanding CIC's reach to three venues
An award-winning female entrepreneur and a highly qualified team of community volunteers have officially opened the doors to a unique, seven-day-a-week sports facility. ‘The Court Yard,’ located within the historic Weedon Royal Ordnance Depot, pairs a rustic, industrial setting with elite, accessible fitness for the entire community.
The opening marks a major expansion for West Northamptonshire Pickleball CIC, which now operates across three distinct venues in the region. Spearheaded by Kate Vincent—a Business teacher at local secondary school DSLV, a qualified Personal Trainer, and a dedicated academic currently undertaking four Master's degrees across sport and health-related disciplines—the CIC caters to every level of play, from absolute beginners to competitive DUPR matchplay.
While the new Weedon building retains its unpretentious, historic charm, the coaching delivered inside is top-tier. The Court Yard boasts an expert coaching team featuring two fully qualified Personal Trainers, two certified Zumba instructors, four Level 1 Pickleball instructors, and six Pickleball-qualified leaders who actively compete in regional and national tournaments.
To ensure this high-level coaching is accessible to everyone, the CIC has secured major funding to launch two 100% FREE community programmes at The Court Yard:
- Free 'PickleBound' Courses: Supported by Sport England and The National Lottery, this six-week programme combines a section of rebounding (mini trampolines), a short circuit training section and the remainder of the session is dedicated to pickleball for a fully funded, high-fun session. It focuses entirely on the social joy of the game, completely removing the intimidation and costs associated with traditional gyms.
- Free Junior Academy: Funded by the Northamptonshire Community Foundation, this completely free academy ensures young people receive expert coaching in the UK’s fastest-growing sport without any financial barriers.
"We are proving that accessible community sport does not mean compromising on coaching quality," said Kate, Director of West Northamptonshire Pickleball CIC. "Operating across three venues allows us to build a true pathway for players. A resident can start in our free, beginner-friendly PickleBound sessions at The Court Yard and progress all the way to our competitive DUPR leagues. We intentionally embraced the rustic character of this historic warehouse to create a welcoming, unpretentious environment. This expansion is a testament to the tireless hard work of my fellow directors and our exceptional volunteer team."
The Court Yard is now fully operational seven days a week. An official ribbon-cutting ceremony by Stuart Andrew MP is scheduled for Friday, 17th April 2026.
Local residents can view the expanding timetable and claim their 100% free PickleBound or Junior Academy spots directly at www.WestNorthantsPickleball.com