Top 5 Curling Clubs in the UK
10 May 2024
Though curling is classed as a winter sport, with the competition seasons running from roughly September to April, the use of inside ice rinks means players can keep up their practice through the year. In the UK there are many ice rinks that host curling. Some have dedicated curling rinks, whereas others use a shared rink for a variety of ice sports. Many of these rinks have clubs attached, whereas other clubs hire out shared rinks for their own use.
The age at which players can join, and the capacity for a club to take on new players, will vary from club to club, and will sometimes change depending on the season. It's therefore always a good idea to get in touch with the club directly to ask some of these questions.
Below are some of the best curling clubs in the country. This isn’t an exhaustive list, and you’ll find more near you by visiting the homepages of Scottish Curling, The English Curling Association and The Welsh Curling Association. It’s worth noting that the opportunities for joining a club will vary a lot depending on where you are in the country. For example, Scotland has over one hundred clubs, whereas there are none in neither Ireland nor Northern Ireland.
South of England Curling Club - Fenton’s Ice Rink, Kent
This is a well-established club that’s always open to taking on new members and running fun and exciting events to help people get a taste of what the sport is like. The club runs its own leagues and competitions - “bonspiels”, which are tournaments over a few days at a weekend, and “funspiels”, which are quicker, more laid back competitions - meaning that players can really get stuck in and enjoy the sport from the get-go.
Preston Curling Club - Flower Bowl Entertainment Centre, Lancashire
Flower Bowl Entertainment Centre has a dedicated curling rink which is used by Preston Curling Club. This club has been around for over 100 years and shows no signs of slowing down. It’s open to old and young, experienced and novice, and has a real sense of community at its core. Flower Bowl Entertainment Centre runs a variety of coaching courses and lessons, and it's a prerequisite for joining the club that you complete at least the Beginners Curling Coaching Course.
The Royal Caledonian Curling Club (RCCC)
This isn’t so much a club as a governing body. With so many curling clubs in Scotland, The RCCC works as a centre point for members of the hundreds of clubs in the country, meaning that this is a good place to go if you want to find a club near you, enrol in a course, become a member, or find a taster session.
Greenacres Curling Club - Howwood, near Glasgow
Again, this is more of a hub for smaller clubs that use the club’s rink to practise and enter competitions. Anyone can become a member, with the club open to junior, ladies, men, and mixed categories. You can book one-on-one and small group coaching sessions, join clubs and take part in competitions (bonspiels). The club hosts many events and certainly makes new members feel welcome.
Welsh Curling, Queensferry
Sadly, the opportunities to join a curling team in Wales are few and far between, but there are plenty of eager curlers across the country who do their best to provide the opportunity to others. Welsh Curling is an association that has in the past met at the Deeside Leisure Centre in North Wales. Since the pandemic, the club has struggled to find a permanent rink, but it’s worth keeping an eye on their website to see if they manage to return to the area.