'Lifeline' ping pong venue temporarily re-opened

A popular free table tennis venue labelled as "a lifeline" before it closed last year has temporarily reopened in the same shopping centre.

The Grafton Ping Pong Parlour in Cambridge was run by the city council and Table Tennis England, but closed in November to make way for the redevelopment of the shopping centre.

Six tables have been set up in a different part of the centre for the next three months but its long-term future is unclear.

Barney McCullagh was one of the users at the centre when it reopened on Friday, and said "it's like our spiritual home has been given back to us".

"Playing table tennis is not just about the sport, it's about keeping fit, it's about keeping well," he added.

"I have Parkinson's Disease so this actually helps my mobility quite a lot."

A fellow player, Liz Hill, said she hoped the reopening indicated "a real serious intent to find somewhere permanent for this space, which is exactly what this community in Cambridge needs".

Liberal Democrat councillor Tim Bick said it was a "fantastic development", but warned "don't let's get overexcited, it's still a temporary period".

He said the reopening was as a result of "talking, pressure, community interest and obvious demand that everyone has seen".

"We were told by Table Tennis England, who have provided the tables for this exercise, that this was one of the most successful examples of this sort of exercise they've done anywhere in the country," he added.

The Gratfton complex, once home to Mothercare, Debenhams and a cinema, is set to become laboratory space, offices, a new hotel and a reduced shopping experience.

"The Ping Pong Parlour was a very popular space, and we know a lot of people were disappointed when it had to close last year," said Subjit Jassy of Pioneer Group, which is behind the Grafton redevelopment.

"We are pleased that, working with local ward councillors and Table Tennis England, we have been able to find an alternative location for ping pong tables."

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