New year, new goals, new you!
January is the perfect time to focus on feeling fitter, stronger, and more energised — and Nairn Sports Club, who we are featuring as our member of the month, is here to help you every step of the way.
Whether you’re getting back into exercise, trying something new, or pushing towards a new fitness goal, you’ll find a welcoming community, great facilities, and plenty of ways to get moving. Make this the year you invest in yourself and start your fitness journey with the Nairn Sports Club.
Set up as a charity, Nairn Sport Club’s aim is to provide opportunities for the community of Nairnshire to participate in sport and wellbeing activities.
They provide a packed programme of classes and activities for all ages and abilities during the day and in the evening.
There is a gym with free weights, resistance machines and cardio equipment and the club boasts three floodlit tennis courts, one floodlight MUGA and two squash courts along with a large sports hall set up to accommodate badminton, table tennis, pickle ball, and indoor football.
As well as the facilities, there are 38 activities on offer each week including Yoga, Pilates, Spin, Circuits, Free weight classes, Racket sports. Along with a Junior Racket Sports Coaching Programme.
The Nairn Sports Club is run by manager Pauline Barron along with a board of trustees. There are five members of staff and 12 self-employed instructors.
Pauline explained that the intention for the Club is for it to be as accessible as possible.
“We offer a wide range of activities, and we have over 1000 members. Some of our members are in their nineties and our youngest being four years old. There is a huge range of activities and because of that there is something for any age or ability.
“We recently started a number of classes for women of all ages, focussing on weights. We found many women preferred to learn correct techniques, gain confidence, increase strength in a female environment and it’s working really well.”
As well as the 3 outdoor tennis courts and floodlight MUGA, refurbished in 2022, there is a huge amount of indoor space which is well used.
“We have two squash courts, along with squash, we run classes and table tennis. We also have the main hall for classes, racket sports, football etc. The hall can also be hired out. It really is a versatile club.”
Nairn Sports Club was first founded in 1980 with just two squash courts. Over the years the building has continued to be extended. However, in 2017, it went under a £280,000 refurbishment incorporating a new modern gym, changing room upgrades and the creation of a new social space inside a glass-fronted entrance to the building.
That part of the development was officially opened in March 2018 by Olympic Gold medallist rower Heather Stanning.
The facilities are open to members and non-members with single adult membership being just £31.12 a month. The club is accessible from 5am till 10pm at night.
“We have tried to be a flexible as possible both with our pricing but also when we are open. The most popular racket sport right now is pickleball. That’s really taken off, this can be played indoors or on our floodlight MUGA, which is also popular for outdoor football. There are also drop-in sessions for badminton tennis, squash and table tennis.
“What is great to see is that everyone looks out for each other. In the gym for example, you can often have different generations using the facilities, but everyone chats to each other and helps each other. It’s a really friendly place to be.”
The club offers gym inductions to all our new members and during peak times there are staff around to give a helping hand.
To find out more you can visit the website.
