Quick Answer
Yes, David Lloyd has submitted plans for a new club in Tunbridge Wells, on a 21 acre site at Colebrooke Park (Colebrooke House). The plans, announced after an eight year search for a suitable Kent location, include indoor and outdoor pools, air dome tennis courts, a gym, a spa garden, a child's play area and lounge facilities.
The site is going through public engagement and planning in 2026. There is no published opening date yet, and the timeline depends on Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's planning decision.
What is planned at Colebrooke Park
| Element | What the plans show |
|---|---|
| Site size | 21 acres at Colebrooke Park, with a 19th century mansion on the grounds |
| Pools | Indoor and outdoor, in line with the standard David Lloyd format |
| Racquets | Air dome tennis courts plus outdoor courts |
| Gym | Full Technogym fit out, in line with refurbished sites |
| Spa | Spa garden concept rather than the standard Spa Retreat |
| Family | Child's play area and lounge facilities |
Why Tunbridge Wells has taken so long
The chain has searched for a Tunbridge Wells location for roughly eight years. The blocker has been the combination of a 20 acre plus footprint, a residential catchment within a short drive, and Green Belt and conservation considerations across most of the borough. Colebrooke Park solved that mix by combining a heritage mansion building with extensive grounds for the racquets and parking footprint.
What happens next in the planning process
- Public engagement. Dedicated website at consultwithyou.co.uk and consultation events open to local residents.
- Planning application. Submitted to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, with feedback from the engagement period feeding into the design.
- Decision. Council planning committee reviews and decides, typically four to nine months after submission.
- Build. Once approved, David Lloyd's typical site build runs 12 to 18 months.
- Opening. Realistic earliest opening on a successful path is 2027 to 2028. The chain has not published a target date.
How to register interest in advance
- Submit an enquiry through the consultwithyou.co.uk Colebrooke Park page to be added to the project's update list.
- Email David Lloyd's corporate enquiries team to be added to the future Tunbridge Wells members list.
- Watch the Kent Online and Kent Live local coverage for planning committee dates.
- Consider a 3 month flexible membership at the nearest existing club (Sevenoaks or East Grinstead area) if you want to start now and switch on opening.
What founder cohort rates usually look like
When a new David Lloyd opens, the launch cohort typically gets a waived joining fee, founder pricing that locks the monthly rate for the first 12 months, and priority class booking in the first quarter. Tunbridge Wells should follow this pattern given it would be a flagship Super Tier site at a 21 acre footprint.
FAQ
Has the planning permission been approved?
Not at time of writing. The plans are in the public engagement and submission stage in 2026.
When will the Tunbridge Wells club open?
No published target date. Earliest realistic opening on a successful planning path is 2027 to 2028.
Will it be a flagship Super Tier club?
Almost certainly yes, given the site size, the spa garden concept, and the air dome tennis facility.
Related reading
More on David Lloyd coming to Tunbridge Wells and what it means for the catchment
The bigger picture beyond David Lloyd coming to Tunbridge Wells is that Kent currently has limited premium racquets and family club provision relative to the catchment population. The Colebrooke Park site, if approved, would be the most complete premium club between Sevenoaks and the South Coast and would reshape the local leisure market.
The combination of indoor and outdoor pools, air dome tennis (which makes the racquets timetable weather proof in winter), a Spa Garden concept, a child's play area and lounges puts the site in the Super Tier band from day one. Members across Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Crowborough and the wider Weald would be the natural catchment.
Practical playbook while planning is ongoing
- Register interest at the official Colebrooke Park engagement site to receive updates on the planning timeline.
- Watch local council planning portals for the formal submission and committee dates.
- Read the Kent Online and Kent Live coverage for the most current public information.
- Consider a 3 month flexible membership at the nearest existing club if you want to start training in the David Lloyd format ahead of opening.
- When membership opens, push for founder cohort rates; flagship launches typically include a 12 month price lock.
If planning is approved, the build phase will run for 12 to 18 months. A 2027 or 2028 opening would put the site in the next wave of new flagship clubs after Colliers Wood.
Final word
Yes, David Lloyd is coming to Tunbridge Wells, subject to planning. The Colebrooke Park site is the right shape for a flagship build and the chain has been clear about its commitment. Register interest now, watch the planning timeline, and target the founder cohort discount when the club opens its membership book.
