St Ives

Tennis along England’s Cornish Coast

Courts shaped by tide and town

On England’s Atlantic edge, tennis in St Ives unfolds within sight of harbour, sand and shifting tide. The town curves around its small bay, fishing boats resting on the seabed at low water and floating again as the sea returns.

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Internationally known for its beaches and artistic heritage, St Ives stands among England’s most celebrated coastal towns. Whitewashed cottages cluster around the harbour, narrow streets wind between galleries and small independent shops, and pubs and seafood restaurants spill gently onto the waterfront. The atmosphere is intimate and lively at once, shaped by a long maritime history. Yet beyond the harbour front and cobbled lanes, St Ives is also home to some of the most beautifully located tennis courts in Cornwall.

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St Ives Tennis Club in Cornwall

Tennis innovation meets coastal charm

Upon arriving, we unexpectedly ran into two stalwarts of the club: treasurer Jane Liddicote and her husband, Jim Brown, the men’s team captain and the driving force behind the club’s new artificial clay courts. Warm, welcoming and passionate about their local tennis community, they shared the story of how these courts came into being.

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Installed in September 2020 to replace the traditional clay, the artificial clay courts were part of a £100,000 project co-funded by the club and Sport England’s Community Asset Fund. The first of their kind in Cornwall, these synthetic tennis courts, recently supplemented with a new portable floodlight system, have sparked a surge in new memberships. The flawless artificial clay surface, built on a porous base and topped with a carefully engineered layer of textured artificial turf and fine silica sand, delivers the most consistent bounce we’ve encountered on our entire European tour. Designed to replicate the playability of traditional clay while ensuring superior drainage and durability, this innovative surface allows for smooth sliding, controlled footwork and a true ball response in all weather conditions.

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Above Porthminster Beach, the courts offer great views of the golden sands, the Caribbean-like turquoise waters and a few palm trees swaying in the breeze. Yes, this really is England and the club is often regarded as home to some of the most distinctive seaside tennis courts in UK.

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Every now and then the scenery is enhanced as the nostalgic dark-green carriages of the St Ives Bay Line train, opened in 1877 to transport fish from the harbour to markets nationwide, pass below. After a sweaty match, regular members tend to cherish a refreshing dip in the sea and a meal at one of the beachfront restaurants. Few tennis courts in England feel so fully embedded in the beach and the vibrant life that surrounds it.

Tregenna Castle

From railway hotel to iconic landmark

Originally built in 1774 as a private residence, Tregenna Castle was transformed into a luxurious railway hotel in 1878 by the Great Western Railway (GWR) company, establishing itself as the “jewel in the crown” of their hotels. Its stunning, almost commanding position on a hilltop location overlooking St Ives Bay, combined with its grand granite architecture and lush botanical gardens, has made it an attractive destination for travellers, artists and world leaders. A G7 summit was held here in 2021, and the resort has also welcomed British icons such as Judi Dench and David Bowie.

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For visitors today, Tregenna’s blend of history, nature and recreation, including the two all-weather hard courts open to non-residents, offers a compelling and well-rounded tennis experience.

So why play tennis in St Ives?

Defined by Tide, Light and Town

Tennis in St Ives is defined less by facilities and more by atmosphere. On Cornwall’s coast, the harbour, the tide and the close-knit town shape the experience as much as the courts themselves, making St Ives one of England’s most characterful and beautifully located seaside tennis destinations. It can be traced to a few essential elements:

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A harbour that breathes with the tide

‍At low tide, boats rest on sand and visitors cross the exposed seabed. At high tide, the harbour fills and light shifts across the water, gulls crying overhead and masts clinking in the breeze. Few tennis courts in Britain sit in such close proximity to a living coastal landscape.

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‍Maritime air and changing skies

Sea breeze and Atlantic light create subtle variation throughout the day. Conditions evolve, and so does the mood of the match.

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Where match and seaside life meet

In St Ives, a match often gives way to a sea swim, a relaxed dinner overlooking the bay or a slow wander through narrow streets filled with galleries, small shops and welcoming pubs. The rhythm of the town carries on long after play ends, woven into a broader pleasant Cornish

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On Location Story By The Tennis Travels

St Ives, Cornwall, 2024

Photography by Torben Eskerod.

Text by Jakob Roed

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‍A version of this story is also featured in the coffee-table book, "The Tennis Travels - Europe", which explores more than 50 European outdoor courts open to guest play. Further details on the book can be found here.

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