The Grafton centre owner urged to find home for popular Ping Pong Parlour in Cambridge
Councillors are urging The Grafton centre owner Pioneer to provide a permanent home for the popular table tennis parlour, which is set to close next month.
The free parlour, a temporary fixture in the centre since 2018, has attracted a diverse community but will close as part of redevelopment plans.
Cllr Tim Bick, who leads the Lib Dem opposition on Cambridge City Council, praised the parlour for its popularity and community value, noting how it grew from three to 10 tables under the support of centre owner Pioneer.
“It has drawn a huge number of people, young and old and from right across the community. It has been a great favourite and proven a real need,” he said.
Cllr Bick is urging Pioneer to consider including a permanent parlour, which shuts on 3 November, in its future plans, especially given space changes following the closure of the Vue cinema.
The shopping centre and neighbouring Abbeygate House are due to be partially demolished and redeveloped into life science laboratories, alongside shops, restaurants, a hotel and leisure facilities. The cinema, like the gym on site, was due to remain.
Pioneer Group won permission last year to convert the bulk of the centre into laboratory and office space for start-ups, small businesses and established companies. A public square will also be created.
Cllr Bick said: “Though there is no argument that this was always going to come to an end, there is still real sadness now that time has come.
“So, wouldn’t it be great if there could be a rethink and it could be provided permanently?
“We have put this back to Pioneer, with whom we have maintained a very constructive dialogue on lots of aspects of their future plans. Couldn’t they find a space in their big redevelopment scheme to provide a permanent home for a ping pong parlour?
“It may be unavoidable that there’ll be a break for now, while building work goes on. But as that happens, how about considering a permanent home – especially now the closure of the Vue cinema is anyway prompting a rethink about some of their space. What a brilliant way it would be to embed the new centre in the local community.”
Subjit Jassy, of Pioneer Group, said: “The Ping Pong Parlour was a very popular space, so we kept it open as long as possible even while the rest of The Grafton centre closed around it.
“The current phase of demolition and strip-out work will be coming to an end, and the Ping Pong Parlour is the last shop unit to close in the eastern end of the mall.
“We understand the desire to bring ping pong back once The Grafton centre has been regenerated, and local ward councillors have called on us to do so. We are currently exploring the future of leisure and community spaces here, and will work with them to find opportunities for future table tennis provision.”