Latest news
£10m surfing centre planned
A new leisure company called Surfdome has secured UK licensing rights to build Europe’s first indoor surfing centre.
The £10m Surfdome, which will accommodate between 60 and 100 surfers at a time, will include a 250ft (75m) surfing wave pool, training pools and extreme sport attractions such as waterface rock climbing walls and flowriders.
The complex will cater for everyone from beginners and families through to professional surfers, with 1ft to 8ft waves released every 10 seconds.
The pool’s Verareef floor can be programmed to replicate numerous natural sea reefs to provide a variety of wave shapes.
The complex will also include restaurants, bars, cafés, nightclubs, shops and a hotel.
Although the first Surfdome is expected to be located in the south east of the UK, the company is also exploring overseas sites for further expansion.
Surfdome’s managing director Justin Stone has said that the Stratford City development being constructed next to the 2012 Olympic Park is a serious contender for the new venture.
Wave pool technology developer Artificial Surfing Reefs, architects S&P, property developer Rugby Estates and US-based waterpark designer the Aquatic Development Group are all involved in the project.
The company expects to generate £5m a year from the surf centre alone – £1m more than its anticipated running costs.
One- and two-hour surfing sessions will cost around £25 and £35 respectively and Stone said the complex could also host professional competitions, exhibitions and training as well as live surf and music events, corporate entertainment, product launches and fashion shows. Details: www.surf-dome.com