Club News (1) - updated to Thur 18 June

Posted on 27th Mar 2020

 

• ​Communications below are from 9th March to 18th June inclusive.  To read communications from 24th June onwards, please click here.  The page below is page 1 of 2.​
• View our latest opening hours by clicking here.
• We have a range of online classes for you to enjoy - click here to see what's on offer! 

 

18th June 2020 - Did you cancel your membership with us after 21st March 2020?  If so, you are now welcome to re-join as a Full member.

 

Our members had several membership options as we entered lockdown. Some chose to cancel their membership which we entirely understand.  If you cancelled your membership after 21st March 2020, we are re-opening our Full membership category to you with immediate effect.

 

Which facilities can I access?
 
Our outdoor tennis and padel tennis courts are currently open.  At time of writing, preparations are underway to open more facilities once we have Government approval but we do not have a date for this yet.
 

 
How do I re-join?

 

Click here to email our Membership Team who will advise next steps.  The team are responding to emails Monday to Friday, from 10am to 2pm.

 

Alternatively, speak to our Membership Team in person at the Club on the days and times stated below.  Social distancing measures will be in place so please report to Reception when you arrive and they will direct you to a waiting area.

 

Mon 10.30am-3.30pm / Wed 10.30am-5.30pm / Fri 10.30pm-5.30pm / Sat 10.30am-12.30pm

 

When you re-join you will be asked to complete a new Direct Debit form, pay one full month's fees plus a full joining fee. We will not be making any exceptions to this. We apologise if this is disappointing news however this is our standard policy and we are dealing with an entire membership so will be applying it to be fair and consistent to everyone.

 

It may be worth noting that, as standard, we waive the joining fee for those who pay their annual memberships upfront so this is an option for you to consider.

 

If you paid a monthly fee during the period of Club closure, this 'credit' is valid until 31st December 2020 (subject to extension depending on the pandemic outcome) and will be applied after you have been back with us for one calendar month.  Once you have re-joined, no further 'lieu' time can be accrued.

 

You will have immediate access to the Club following payment.
 

 

Other Membership Categories
 

We are unable to open our fitness or social categories yet to re-joiners as we have not yet been given permission by the Government to open the relevant facilities.  Once these re-open, access will be given to existing members whilst we manage capacity and ensure we are operating safely to a high standard.  Please keep checking our this page and our social media channels for the latest updates.

 

Please note we are not able to accept brand new members to the Club, or those that cancelled before 20th March 2020, at this time but we are making plans to welcome this group soon.
 

If you have any questions relating to the above, please do not hesitate to email me.  If you have a specific question about membership or wish to re-join, please email our Membership Team.
 

Myself and the team look forward to welcoming you back.

 
Best wishes,
 
Peter D Elviss
Chief Executive
 

 

11th June 2020 - How we are preparing to open more facilities

If you have been to the Club since 18th May, you will have noticed a number of changes we have introduced to keep members and staff safe.  My team have been busy behind the scenes preparing to re-open other areas of the Club, once we have the Government's approval, and we wanted to share an overview of our plans with you. 

 

Please note we do not have a date for re-opening these facilites but are keeping a close eye on the Government announcements.

 

Studios and Indoor Courts
Indoor Tennis Court 4 will become our studio, offering 500 square metres of floor space - five times the size of our studio!  There is ventilation from adjacent doors and windows, and we can provide separate entry and exit routes.

 

We also have the option of using a lawn area next to Indoor Court 4, which is weather dependent but offers 200 square metres of open-air space.

 

Once we are able to offer the above, we will also open indoor court bookings for members who want to play tennis. 
 

Gym
We have moved some equipment into the upstairs studio, to extend the gym and create more space between machines.

 

To manage capacity, and encourage safety,  hour-long gym bookings will be available online and via Reception.  We can safely accommodate 16 members in each hour-long session.   There will be a 15-minute gap between session times to allow your safe exit/entry via dedicated routes.

 

You can book your session one-week in advance and visits will be capped to four hours per week so all members can enjoy time in our gym.  This will be subject to review and demand. 

 

If you are an off-peak member, your usual access times apply.
 

Personal Training
If you already have personal training, your trainer will be in touch with the provision we are arranging.  We will not be able to accommodate any new PT clients initially.
 

Changing Rooms
Please note these will not be accessible to members so remember this before your visit.  Toilets will be available.  We apologise for any inconvenience but we are trying to keep all surfaces as hygienic as possible and minimise time spent in the Club for the safety of all members and staff.
 

Swimming pool, Squash courts, Creche, and Club Shop
These are unlikely to be re-opened in our next phase, but we are busy planning how these areas could run smoothly and safely.  We will, of course, keep you updated.
 

Bar & Catering
In the first instance, members will be able to use our patio area and we will limit service to drinks only.  
 

When you return to the Club for the first time
Please note the markings on the entrance floor which guide you to stand at a social distance from other members.  We have a reduced team in place so ask for your patience whilst they deal with a high volume of queries and calls.

 

Please remember to bring your membership card and tap in on arrival.  This will help us monitor capacity and demand so that we can make any necessary adjustments.  Our Reception Team are being asked to enforce this so please help them by bringing your card on each visit.

 

Keep updated with our news
We will share more details on the above as we get closer to re-opening so please keep checking your emails, our website, and social media channels.  Thank you, once again, for your support whilst we navigate this strange period - the safety of our members and staff is at the forefront of our decision making.  If you have any questions on the above, please do not hesitate to email me.

Best wishes,

Peter D Elviss
Chief Executive

 

1st June 2020 - Doubles permitted and Padel coaching returns

Have you heard the latest LTA guidelines? 
 

You can now enjoy a game of doubles with players from other households!

Therefore, with immediate effect we will open bookings for doubles play.  Our outdoor court mandate remains in place, click here to view, but we are so pleased we can now extend your options so you can enjoy a game of doubles with your Club friends.

 

Padel Tennis Update
 
Court Bookings
 
Our padel court is enjoyed by so many which has been wonderful to see.
 
We will continue to cap play to 2 hours per person per week, whether this is singles or doubles.  As with tennis, our Reception Team will need all player names to secure your booking.
 
If you are unable to play your booked slot, please let our Reception Team know as this will free up a valuable space for another member to play.  Similarly, if you have advance booked more than two weekly hours, please release court time so your fellow members can enjoy a game of padel too.
 
 

Padel Coaching returns at selected times from Tuesday 9th June
We are pleased to confirm our padel coach Nick Macey will be available for lessons at the times listed below, catering for all levels and those looking for new players to arrange games with.

• Tuesdays: 4pm to 7pm
• Thursdays: 10am to 1pm

For members who can currently access the Club, it is £8 each per hour with a maximum group size of three plus one coach.  Please note, the hours spent in a lesson count towards your allotted two hours play per week (as detailed above).

To book onto a coaching session, please speak to our Reception Team on your next visit or by calling 01202 519455.  Their phone lines open at 10.30am every day.  You can book your place one week in advance and please note, if you are in the Club, the team can only accept contactless payments at the moment. 

 

Extended Opening Hours
 
A reminder that our weekday opening hours are being extended from today.  Please note the updated hours below.
 
Court Availability
Monday - Friday, 10am-7pm (last court booking 6pm)
Saturday - Sunday 10am-4pm (last court booking 3pm)
 
Reception phone lines open (court bookings only)
Monday - Friday, 10.30am-4.30pm
Saturday - Sunday, 10.30am-3pm
 
 

Thank you
 
Our phased re-opening is working well so thank you for your support and co-operation.  We hope to welcome back more members very soon so please keep checking your email, this page, and social media channels for updates.   If you have any questions regarding the above, please do not hesitate to contact me.  If you have a question relating to your membership, please email our Membership Team.
 
Best wishes,
 
Peter D Elviss
Chief Executive

PS. Have you tried one of our live online fitness classes yet? Click here for more details!
 

 

28th May 2020 - Court access for fitness/off-peak members and a new online class!

 

Further to our email sent on Tuesday, we are delighted to share some more good news today!

 
Welcome on court - fitness and off-peak members
 
Our new procedures continue to run smoothly so we would like to invite fitness and off-peak members, who have continued to pay their usual fees, to use our courts after 11.30am at weekends.  You can book up to one week in advance so call Reception today on 01202 519455.  Their phone lines open for bookings at 10.30am every day. 
Before you use our courts, please familiarise yourselves with our current opening times and procedures which can be viewed by clicking here. You must bring your own racket and marked tennis balls although new balls are available to buy from Reception (contactless payment only).
 
 
 

New class added to our online timetable!
 
Proving popular are our live fitness classes and we are adding a Tuesday morning Body Pump class to our timetable.  We know some daily schedules are changing, so this morning class will start at 9.30am, led by the experienced Jo G.  Look out for the registration email in your inboxes this Saturday for all of next week's classes.  Sign up for them all to work out with us five days a week! 
 
 
 

Les Mills On Demand - reminder
 
Remember, if you have signed up to the '60 days for free' scheme offered by Les Mills, depending on when you registered, your free period may soon end.  For those that registered on the first day, 4th April 2020, your 60 days expires on Tuesday 2nd June.  You now have two options:

 

(1) Cancel your subscription by contacting Les Mills On Demand directly - click here.  You can do this at any time before your 60 days ends.  You may also find their FAQ page helpful.

 

(2) Simply continue with your subscription at a discounted rate of £7.95 per month.

 

Remember, you also have access to our weekly live class timetable mentioned above plus 30+ additional workouts for all to enjoy on our website at any time.
 

Thank you
 
We appreciate your ongoing support and we will keep you updated with any further news so please check your inbox, our website, or social media channels regularly. 
 
As always, if you have any questions on the above, please do not hesitate to contact me.  For any membership queries, please email our team who are working remotely Monday-Friday from 10am-2pm.
 
Best wishes,
 
Peter D Elviss
Chief Executive

 

26th May 2020 - Court access for more plus updates on Padel and Les Mills on Demand

We re-opened our outdoor tennis and padel courts on Monday 18th May and we are pleased to say our initial trial phase has been a huge success!   Eligible members have been enjoying court time in glorious sunshine and we feel confident that our new procedures are working well to keep everyone as safe as possible in the circumstances.  Thank you to all those that have visited and been supportive of our changes.

 
We can now invite more members back on court!

As part of our phased re-opening plan, we are now able to welcome more members back to our outdoor courts!

 
From today, we would like to welcome back Full or Rackets members who downgraded to our social category after 20th March 2020.   Our courts are now available to you with immediate effect - our phone lines open for bookings at 10.30am everyday.  

We are also pleased to confirm there will be no change to the monthly membership fee we are collecting from you at the moment.  Before you return to our courts, please familiarise yourselves with our new opening times and procedures which can be viewed by clicking here. 

 
As before, as part of our phased approach to re-opening, we hope to soon open up to other categories once we can deliver a safe and efficient service for our members.

 
At the moment, for those who cancelled their memberships we are not able to re-activate your membership at this time.
 

Extended Opening Times from 1st June

 
More good news - we are extending our opening times!  Please note the new times below, effective from Monday 1st June.
 
Court Availability
- Monday - Friday, 10am-7pm (last court booking 6pm)
- Saturday - Sunday 10am-4pm (last court booking 3pm)
 
Reception phone lines open (court bookings only)
- Monday - Friday, 10.30am-4.30pm
- Saturday - Sunday, 10.30am-3pm
 

Padel Court Bookings - an update

 
Our padel court has been enjoyed by many of our returning members which has been wonderful to see. 

We currently only have one court, and due to it's popularity we will be capping play to 2 hours play each week per person which will hopefully allow all keen players time on court.  Our Reception Team will need the names of all those playing to secure your booking.

As with all our courts, we continue to monitor and review demand.
 

Les Mills On Demand

 
If you have signed up to the "60 days for free" scheme offered by Les Mills, depending on when you registered, your free period may soon end.  For those that registered on the first day, 4th April 2020, your 60 days expires on Tuesday 2nd June.  You now have two options:

(1) Cancel your subscription by contacting Les Mills On Demand directly - click here.  You can do this at any time before your 60 days ends.  You may also find their FAQ page helpful.

(2) Simply continue with your subscription at a discounted rate of £7.95 per month.

Remember, you also have access to our weekly live class timetable which is exclusive for members, plus 30+ additional workouts for all to enjoy on our website at any time.
 

Thank you
 
It has been wonderful to see so many familiar faces back on our courts and we would like to thank you all again for your ongoing support.   We are looking forward to welcoming more members back next month!

 
As always, please contact me directly if you would like to discuss the above further.  If you have any questions relating to your membership, please continue to email info@westhants.co.uk - our team are responding remotely Monday to Friday, 10am-2pm.
 

With best wishes,
 
Peter D Elviss
Chief Executive
 

 

13th May 2020 - Outdoor tennis and padel courts open on Monday with a phased approach

 

Following the Government's announcement regarding outdoor tennis, we are now able to activate one of the plans we had in place for this eventuality.

 
As always, the health of our members and staff is of paramount importance and is at the forefront of our decision making so we thank you in advance for your understanding and patience whilst we start to re-open.  Please read the information below carefully.

 
Although we cannot wait to welcome everyone back, we feel it is in the best interests of us all, and the wider community, to adopt a phased and measured re-opening of our courts.  We are also following the guidelines set by the LTA which can be viewed by clicking here.

 

When will the outdoor courts re-open?
 
Monday 18th May at 12pm to selected groups initially - more details below.

Our clay courts are in excellent condition and if you are planning to use them, please bring your own gloves and hand sanitiser as you will be expected to drag them. 
 

Who can access the courts?
 
We value all our members but we will be limiting access to allow us to trial a phased re-opening of the Club, to ensure we are offering a safe place for everyone moving forward. 
 
Therefore, for this initial period of re-opening, court access will only be given to 'Full' and "Rackets" members who have continued to pay their full fees during the period of closure. 
 
Once we are confident we can support the current Government guidelines, and care for staff and members on-site, we will then open up to other member groups. This is, of course, subject to Government changes and the success of our initial trial period.  We will keep you updated on this.

Upon re-opening, we will be adopting a strict 'no card, no entry' rule so please have your membership card each time you visit.  Please be respectful of our Reception Team who will be under strict instruction to enforce this policy which will help us control numbers and monitor demand. 
 

 

Will the padel tennis court be open?
 
Yes and the same booking process below applies.
 
 

What time will courts be available?
 
10am-6pm Monday to Friday (last booking is 5pm)
 
10am-4pm Saturday and Sunday (last booking is 3pm)
 
 

When and how will bookings open?
 
Bookings will open on Monday 18th May at 10.30am.
 
Bookings can only be made by phoning Reception on 01202 519455.  You can do this 10.30am-4.30pm Monday to Friday and 10.30am-3pm on Saturday and Sunday.
 
You may book courts up to 1 week in advance.
 
Each person will be allowed one hour on court per day, although this could be reviewed subject to demand.  
 
 

How will my membership fees be affected?
 
We will be re-opening the courts 'free of charge'.  This means, for full members who have continued to pay their membership, you will still be owed this time even if you use the courts during our 'trial' re-opening.
 
If you downgraded your membership, for administrative reasons I am afraid we will not be able to upgrade you at the moment.

Similarly, if you cancelled your membership we are not able to re-activate your membership at this time.
 
 

Can I bring someone from my household who is not a member?
 
We will not be allowing any non-member guests or spectators at this time.  There will be no exceptions to this rule. 
 
Current 'Full member' children aged 17 and under can use our courts, but must be accompanied by their member-parent.   
 
 

Will the Clubhouse be open?
 
Only for entry and exit purposes.   We plan to wedge our doors open and there will be no access to toilets, refreshments (including water), or furniture to minimise contamination so please bear this in mind when you visit. 
 
 

Can I have a coaching session?
 
We will not be offering this during our initial re-opening but, if this first stage is successful, we hope it won't be long before we see our coaches back on court.
 
 

Thank you
 
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all again for your ongoing support during this uncertain period.   We are looking forward to welcoming everyone back but need to approach this very first stage with caution and care so we appreciate your understanding.

 
As always, please contact me directly if you would like to discuss the above further.  If you have any questions relating to your membership, please continue to email info@westhants.co.uk - our team are responding remotely Monday to Friday, 10am-2pm. 
 
With best wishes,
 
Peter D Elviss
Chief Executive
 

12th May 2020

 

Our Clubhouse and courts remain closed whilst we finalise our preparations - we will share any announcements on here, by email, Facebook, and Instagram so please keep checking!

 

11th May 2020 

Following the Prime Minister's announcement last night, we are now awaiting clarification from the Government regarding outdoor tennis court usage.  We are reviewing our options and making preparations.  As always, the safety of our members and staff is of the utmost importance and leads our decision making, especially at this time.

 

Club updates will continue to be shared on our social media channels, email, and this page so please keep checking.

 

7th May 2020 - Member Newsletter from our Chief Executive, Peter Elviss (also sent via email)

 

I would like to start by thanking you all for continuing to pay your subscriptions on both an annual and monthly basis. It is really encouraging that so many people have supported the Club throughout these difficult times. I would also like to reiterate the point that the club is a non-profit making private members club and we are in the process or repaying an interest free loan to the Lawn Tennis Association.  Once this is repaid the freehold reverts back to the membership. Your help in securing the Club’s future is greatly appreciated.

More importantly I hope you are all keeping well as everyone is experiencing uncertain times.  We are anticipating a relevant Government announcement on Sunday 10th May and at this point it would not be sensible to speculate but we are making preparations to open in a timely fashion whilst respecting any regulations. The safety of everyone is our highest priority.

Membership

During this period of forced closure we have been asked many questions but the most frequently recurring is “when will I get my free months back?”.   Until I know exactly when we can re-open, in what capacity, and the impact of these on cashflow, it is impossible to confirm this however I am happy to share my current intentions.

• Annual payers.  Those with 1st April and 1st May renewal dates.  Your current year will be extended by the period that we are closed and your renewal date will change accordingly next year.
• Annual payers.  Those with a renewal date of 1st June onwards.  Your invoice will be adjusted to reflect the period we are closed with your renewal date staying the same next year.
• Direct Debit payers.  Once we have reopened you will pay the first month in full and future months will be reduced by 50% until you are fully repaid. This will allow us the time to make the necessary adjustments as two-thirds of our members pay monthly.

I personally believe we will be allowed to re-open on a phased basis and whilst I appreciate people have resigned for a variety of reasons my priority will be to provide our current members with a safe Club in which to play sport and exercise.

 

Online Classes

 

• Live Class Timetable - We were proud to launch our new 'live class timetable' recently.  Currently, there are two weekly classes (Body Pump and Body Balance) but from the 11th May 2020 we will be extending this to four classes, all led by faces you will recognise from the Club.  Details of how to register for next week's four classes will be emailed separately to you this weekend (9th/10th May) so please keep checking your inbox.  Our next class is Body Pump this Saturday at 10am with Jo G - click here and register before 2pm on Friday (8th May)!
• Pre-recorded sessions  - Whilst we have been closed, we have shared a number of pre-recorded fitness classes and workouts featuring our instructors.  These have been shared at 8am every weekday on our Facebook page and website, and are accessible to everyone at all times.  
• Les Mills On Demand - We are also able to offer members free access to Les Mills On Demand for 60 days.  If you have not yet claimed this, please click here for more details.  

 

Thank you
 
I would like to close this update with another thank you for your continued support and patience with the small team who remain working, it is enormously appreciated. 

We are committed to our members and strive to deliver the service you are used to, despite the challenges of the current situation.  We are busy preparing plans for a safe re-opening - be assured that the members who have remained with us will be given priority access.  Of course we, like many others, are awaiting Government instructions and guidelines so until we are given the green light we cannot confirm our re-opening plans but the health and safety of our members and staff is at the forefront of our decision making.

 
We cannot wait to welcome everyone back to the Club but in the meantime we hope you are well in the circumstances.  Please feel free to contact me if you wish to discuss anything further.

 
Best wishes,
 
Peter D Elviss
Chief Executive

PS. If you use Facebook or Instagram, keep in touch with us by following our pages!

 

 

22nd April 2020 - Live online classes via Zoom launched - click here for details

 

 

2nd April 2020 - A Club update from our Chief Executive, Peter Elviss

 

April Update and the latest regarding Les Mills On Demand

 
I am aware that everyone is currently adjusting to these uncertain and worrying times, but I feel it is important to keep you all informed regarding what is happening at the Club. I would also like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the many members who have taken the time to write, email and show support towards the Club in these challenging times. It is greatly appreciated by myself and the whole West Hants Club team.

 
The West Hants club was established in 1926 and during its long history there have been events to rival the current pandemic. This should provide hope to us all that the Club will be back in full swing soon. The West Hants Club is a member’s club and the Directors strive to provide ample sporting and fitness opportunities to all members and guests. It is a non-profit making business and no director receives any kind of payment or dividend. They constantly provide expertise and guidance voluntarily due to their passion and belief in West Hants and what it provides to you. Please take this as reassurance that the club, your health and its first-class service are our number one priorities.

 
Our Team

I am fully determined to re-open, when the Government allows, on a strong footing and I would like to make you aware of the actions I have taken regarding my staff.  As from April 1st, all but 5 employees have been furloughed. The Club will be paying the remaining 80 furloughed staff and will be reclaiming this from HMRC, while this is positive it will create a significant lag in cash flow as we do not have a timeline for repayments. The 5 remaining staff will ensure the club stays operational, safe and secure, ready for reopening in a timely fashion. This action also allows us to retain all remaining staff so we can instantly provide the same services as before. At this time, it is impossible for me to predict any timescale or on what basis we will be allowed to reopen but we will keep you informed.

 
Membership Payments
I know there are many questions about membership and I would like to address them through division into 2 areas. While finalising all decisions I will be adhering to certain principles; the major principles being fair and consistent treatment towards every member. Everyone will be treated equally while simultaneously trying to adhere to Club policy and show our immense appreciation for the continued support the West Hants Club receives.

 
Area 1 - The Members Who Pay By Direct Debit

 

• If you have continued to pay your membership we are incredibly grateful. It really helps with our cash flow and will contribute largely to our positive reopening. If possible we ask you to keep paying and know that you will receive additional months for the exact period we are closed.
• If you have downgraded to social, then you will be allowed and encouraged to upgrade to any membership category without a joining fee upon reopening. We thank you again for your loyalty towards the Club
• If you have cancelled without any notification, then you will be liable for a re-joining fee. I very much respect your decision and personal circumstances but I must be consistent and fair to other members. Regardless, we look forward to warmly welcoming you back
• If you would like to cancel, we are kindly asking members to honour our standard one-calendar-month notice period in writing. Please email this to info@westhants.co.uk.  When we re-open you will be credited with a free month's membership.

 
Area 2 – The Members Who Pay Annually

 

 

• If you have already paid your membership, please be reassured that you will be given an extension for the entire period we are closed.
• If you are due for a payment and are able to pay, we would really appreciate you doing so. This will equally give huge support to the club and it’s future reopening. You will also receive additional months for the period we are closed.

 
Advanced Payments

Any member who has paid in advance for any service will be entitled to a full refund or future reduction on the next term's courses. Regretfully, this will have to wait to be sorted when we reopen due to the uncertain timeline of the next few months
 

 
Les Mills On Demand – FREE for members – Coming Soon
 
On a positive note, we are pleased to provide our members with FREE access to Les Mills On Demand for 60 days.  In addition to this, our instructors are learning the special royalty free releases that have been provided so far, with more to come as Les Mills endeavour to react to the Covid-19 situation and provide their licenced clubs with options for their members. 

As previously communicated, details on how to access this will be sent by email either tomorrow or Saturday so please keep checking your inboxes.  Thank you in advance for your patience, we will send this information as soon as we can.

 
There is usually a subscription fee for Les Mills On Demand but you will soon be able to access and enjoy the following for free!

• All-access to 800+ online Les Mills workouts - find the right workouts to match your fitness level.
• No equipment is needed to start - choose workouts with or without weights and other exercise equipment.
• 15+ workouts added every month, you can mix it up or try something new!
• Stream from your TV, laptop, mobile or tablet. Download workouts on iOS and Android. Compatible with Chromecast and Airplay.

 

We cannot wait to share this with our members and in the meantime, there are a number of pre-recorded classes on our website for all to access.

 

I mentioned earlier that 5 staff would not be furloughed, and their details are shown below:

• Peter Elviss, Chief Executive - peter.elviss@westhants.co.uk
• Mark Daley, Operations Manager - mark.daley@westhants.co.uk
• Claire Edwards, Administration and HR Manager - claire.edwards@westhants.co.uk
• Jo Green, Membership and Marketing Manager - info@westhants.co.uk 
• Christa Mills-Render, Communications Assistant - christa.mills-render@westhants.co.uk

 
Finally, I would once again like to thank all members for their continued support. I understand that everyone is having to make difficult decisions during this time but all support is greatly appreciated.

I encourage you to make use of all the free online fitness content my staff are providing and hope it contributes to maintaining some positivity and sense of community for you all. Most importantly, I hope everyone stays safe and healthy and on behalf of all the staff we look forward to welcoming you back to the Club.
 

Yours sincerely,
 
Peter D Elviss
Chief Executive

 

2nd April 2020 - Les Mills On Demand - coming very soon!

 

Your unique Les Mills On Demand log-in details are being prepared and we plan to send these to our members tomorrow or Saturday so please keep checking your inboxes!

A Club update from our Chief Executive is also due to be sent to members later today.

With continued best wishes

The West Hants Team

 

 

27th March 2020 - Les Mills on Demand and from your favourite instructors - FREE for members, click for details

 

 

26th March 2020 - Tennis Courses

 

A message from our Tennis Team: For those who were attending a current course, we will be applying a credit towards your next course programme.  As soon as we have a likely date where we can re-start the courses, we will be in touch.

 

 

23rd March 2020

A message from our Chief Executive, Peter Elviss, and his Management Team:

 

Outdoor courts

In Friday's Government announcement regarding the closure of gyms and leisure clubs, they indicated that physical exercise at a safe distance is something that can continue at this time.  The Department of Culture, Media and Sport specifically advised the LTA that tennis is one of the best examples of social distancing in practice, and so should be encouraged as long as the guidance permits.

However, our Management Team have reached a decision to keep the Club closed.  We feel a moral responsibility to fully endorse the Government's Guideline for social distancing, and the health of our staff, members, loved ones, and community is of the utmost priority to us.  We have faced some challenging questions in the last few days and we hope you support our decisions.

How you can contact us

With immediate effect, our phone lines are closed but our Membership Team will be answering emails Monday-Friday from 10am-2pm. 

Please send all queries or correspondence to info@westhants.co.uk as this is the only email address we are monitoring.

As always, we will respond to all queries and messages but ask for your patience at this particular time.

Online support - keep in touch

Our dedicated teams plan to deliver online classes, workouts, and tennis drills during this temporary period.  Please regularly check our website's Event page to view these.  Please also continue to check our News page for any club announcements.

We also intend to communicate with you regularly so please check your emails, Instagram, and this Facebook page.

Please follow the advice to stay at home if you can and we cannot wait to re-open our doors and welcome everyone back.

With continued best wishes,

Peter D Elviss
Chief Executive
 

 

21st March 2020

Since last night's Government announcement to close certain social spaces, including gyms and leisure clubs, it seems they also indicate that physical exercise at a safe distance from others in a safe environment is something that can continue at this time.  The Department of Culture, Media and Sport has specifically advised the LTA that tennis is one of the best examples of social distancing in practice, and so should be encouraged as long as the guidance permits.

Therefore, our Management Team are currently making arrangements to open our outdoor tennis and padel courts to members of all categories next week.   We will email you again on Monday morning, at approximately 10am, to confirm if we have a plan to offer you this opportunity whilst continuing to respect Government guidelines.

We would also like to confirm that our front of house team will be available to take your calls and emails Monday to Friday, from 10am-3pm.  As always, we will respond to all queries and messages but ask for your patience at this particular time.  The only email address that will be regularly monitored is info@westhants.co.uk so please use this for any queries or correspondence.

The health and well-being of our members and staff continue to be of utmost importance to us and we intend to communicate with you regularly so please check your emails, this page, Instagram, and our Facebook page.

 

With continued best wishes,

Peter D Elviss

Chief Executive
 

 

20th March 2020

In line with Government guidelines, we will be closing the Club after tonight until further notice.

 

Our community of members, friends, and staff have been asking if the Club is open as normal tonight and it is so if you were planning to join us, our door is still open.

 

After today, please continue to check our channels for updates and news from our wonderful team.

 

With continued best wishes, The West Hants Team

 

19th March 2020

Operational Changes - a message from our Chief Executive, Peter Elviss

I am writing to give you an update and advise you of some operational changes. As you are aware the Government is giving ‘Advisory’ protocols to businesses like us regarding social distancing.  This is a complex and important matter and we are now having to put into place new additional safety initiatives and directives within our Club as outlined below. It is important for the Club to implement ‘safeguarding’ measures for all of our members and staff. I am sure you are aware that is my intention to stay open as long as possible, but on any day the Government will potentially close down all public establishments.  We will keep you updated.

It is critically important that if any member does have a fever, cough, or a cold that they do not visit the premises for at least 14 days after the event.

The Gym
Our Gym will remain open. We strongly advise members to follow the hand hygiene rules – wash hands and disinfect equipment before and after use. We will also reserve the right to limit the numbers of members in the gym at any one time.

Studio Classes
These will remain in place but we will reduce the capacity to 10 people.

The Creche
As from Friday 20th March we have to follow Government guidelines and regretfully the creche will be closed.

Bar & Restaurant
The following measures will be put in place:

• We will be removing some of the furniture to create more distance between tables.
• In addition to the hygiene measures in place, we no longer be providing the newspapers and changing to a cashless service wherever possible. This is to further mitigate the risk through touching surfaces. 

Membership Payments
The West Hants Club is a private members club but, like any business, our priority is to ensure the safety of both members and staff.

The great area of unknown is how long we may have to close for, and I have to ensure the future success of the Club whilst retaining the services of the staff who offer an excellent service in various areas of the Club.

Members of the Club pay monthly by Direct Debit and annually. In these unprecedented times it is hoped members will continue to pay their subscriptions. In the event that the Club is closed, your membership will be extended for the same length of time that the Club is closed.

Due to these uncertain times the fees will not increase on the 1st May 2020 but we will still honour the commitment of free indoor court fees.

This is certainly a challenging time for everyone and I hope the request mentioned above is acceptable and gives you the confidence without the fear of losing out and protects the long term future of the Club.

If anyone has any questions please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

Thank you in advance for your continued support of the Club.

Best wishes,

Peter D Elviss, Chief Executive and Edwin Bessant, Club Chairman
 

16th March 2020

Following the latest statement from the Government, our Senior Management Team are agreeing the next steps.  We will update our website and social media channels as soon as we can, likely to be tomorrow or Wednesday. 

 

In the meantime, the Club remains open and we thank you for your understanding and support of the Club and its staff in this unprecendated situation.  The health and well-being of our members and staff remains of utmost importance to us.

 

With continued best wishes, The West Hants Team

 

13th March 2020

We would like to give you another update on the Coronavirus situation. Firstly, be assured, we do not currently have any immediate concerns about the presence of Coronavirus in the Club. However, in light of the fast moving situation, we will give you as much notice as possible of any changes and will communicate via:

 

• Facebook 
• Instagram
• Email
• This news page!
• Club Notices
• We will call you if we cancel an event, course, or class with less than 24 hours notice. For classes, please also check your emails for automated messages about cancellations.

 

Please ensure your email is correct on the ESP portal and sign up for the newsletter if you haven’t already done so. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

 

This is an unprecedented situation and therefore we would like to thank you in advance for your patience and understanding. A decision to make changes, cancel events, or close the Club will not be taken lightly and we will make every effort to keep Club life running as normal whilst prioritising the health of our members, visitors and staff.

 

Until this health situation eases, please help us by checking one of the above channels regularly. Please also check the official Government guidelines.

 

Best wishes, The West Hants Team 

 

9th March 2020

Here at The West Hants Club, the health and safety of our members, staff, and visitors is always of the utmost importance to us.  I must reassure you that we currently have no concerns here at the Club.  

 

We know there is increasing concern regarding Covid-19 (coronavirus) following the confirmation of two local cases yesterday and would like to advise the following:

 

Personal Hygiene

Washing with soap and warm water is the medical “gold standard” of preventing the spread of any infection, including coronavirus.   Our soap dispensers are continually topped up so please ensure you use them and follow these general principles:

 

• Wash your hands often – with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in a bin.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in the home.

 

Gym Protocol

Hand gel is currently available in our Gym and we encourage gym visitors to use this before and after using equipment, in the immediate absence of water and soap.  You will be aware that supplies of hand gel are low countrywide and we will do our very best to have a supply.  Please remember that soap and warm water is highly recommended – it is the medical “gold standard”.

 

We have increased availability of cleaning products in all areas of the Club.  We would politely ask Gym and Studio users to support us and fellow members by wiping down equipment after you have used it.  We are fortunate to have a dedicated Gym Team who regularly clean this area of the Club however your help at this time would be appreciated.

 

We have asked our instructors to ensure there is enough time at the end of group exercise classes to clean down.  This may mean classes finish a few minutes earlier but I am sure members will understand the reasons for this and co-operate.

 

Our Cleaners

Our cleaners, as always, focus on areas that are most touched – door handles, toilet flushes, etc – but at this time they taking extra time and care in their processes.   

 

Let’s Work Together

Please do not come to the Club if you feel unwell and please adhere to the recommended hygiene procedures as detailed above and in line with current Government guidelines – keep scrolling to read these.

 

If you are concerned that you have encountered the virus, whether in this country or elsewhere, please follow the Government advice and self-isolate in the first instance.  It is also recommended that you call 111 for medical advice.  It would also be incredibly helpful to us and fellow members if you discreetly share this information with us so we can take the appropriate steps to ensure the Club can take appropriate protective steps.

 

Once again, I must reassure you that we currently have no concerns here at the Club.  We are regularly checking guidance from the Department of Education and Public Health and will update you if necessary.

 

Best regards

Peter D Elviss (CEO)

 

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Government Guidelines

 

Along with many others, we have been closely following updates on the Coronavirus situation.  At the current containment stage, everyone should take appropriate responsibility for their own health in line with the following official Government advice which was correct at time of writing.  For the very latest Government information, please click here.

 

Latest News Coronavirus COVID-19 Advice

 

The Government is closely monitoring the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and is taking action at home and abroad. The risk to individuals remains low. However, we understand that people may be concerned where there are children, students or staff returning from specific areas affected by Coronavirus.

 

Yesterday, the Chief Medical Advisor for England updated advice for travellers returning to the UK from specific areas affected by Coronavirus, which you can find here.

 

If you have returned from the following specific areas since 19 February, you should call NHS 111 and stay indoors and avoid contact with other people even if you do not have symptoms:

• Iran
• Specific lockdown areas in Northern Italy (Bertonico, Casalpusterlengo, Castelgerundo, Castiglione D'Adda, Codogno, Fombio, Maleo, San Fiorano, Somaglia, Terranova dei Passerini, and Vo)
• Special care zones in South Korea
• Hubei province

 

If you have returned from the following areas since 19 February and develop symptoms, however mild, you should stay indoors at home and avoid contact with other people immediately and call NHS 111:

• Northern Italy (defined by a line above, and not including, Pisa, Florence and Rimini)
• Vietnam
• Cambodia
• Laos
• Myanmar

 

If you have a cough, or fever or shortness of breath and have visited any of the following areas in the last 14 days, stay indoors and call NHS 111 informing them of your recent travel:

• China, apart from Hubei province
• Thailand
• Japan
• Republic of Korea, apart from special care zones
• Hong Kong
• Taiwan
• Singapore
• Malaysia
• Macau

 

If you have travelled anywhere else, there is no need to avoid normal activities unless you have had contact with a confirmed case. Anyone who has had close contact with a confirmed case should contact NHS 111 for further advice. Based on current evidence, novel coronavirus (COVID-19) presents with flu-like symptoms including a fever, a cough, or difficulty breathing. The virus can cause more severe symptoms in those with weakened immune systems. 

 

To prevent the spread of infection make sure you follow these general principles to prevent spreading any respiratory virus:

 

• Wash your hands often – with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or an alcohol-based sanitiser if soap and water aren’t available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in a bin.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces in the home.

 

If you’re worried about your symptoms, please call NHS 111 – don’t go directly to your GP or other healthcare environment.

 

Please be reassured we continue to keep the Club clean to prevent the spread of any virus and we would encourage everyone to follow the general principles stated above.

 

I must reassure you that we currently have no concerns here at the Club.  We are regularly checking guidance from the Department of Education and Public Health and will update you if necessary.

 

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