Thirty-seven courts. Wigan in the west, Marple in the south east, and everywhere in between.
We book coaching at all of them, so this is the stuff you actually want to know before you turn up. How many courts. Where to park. Whether there are female changing rooms. And how you get through the door, because seven of these are member clubs and most of those need a fob.
You do not need a membership for any of it. Your coach sorts the door. One price covers the coach, the court and a small Courter fee, and there is nothing to pay when you get there.
The eleven are genuinely different from each other. Start here.
Which venue suits you
1. Sugden Sports Centre, Manchester city centre
Best for: a date, Friday evening or the weekend
Six courts, five minutes from Oxford Road, and the busiest venue we work with. It is a public centre rather than a club, so there is a reception desk and nothing to join. Walkable from Oxford Road and Piccadilly, with public car parks close by. Dedicated female changing rooms. Your coach meets you at reception.
Worth knowing: sessions run early morning through the afternoon on most weekdays, and Friday goes right through to the evening. Weekends run to early evening. If the price creeps up later in the day, that is the venue's peak court rate rather than us.
Coaches here: Alessia Osborne, Rellie Randall, Sally Archibald
2. Moss Side Leisure Centre, Hulme
Best for: getting started in something new with an active community at the weekend
Three courts on Hulme High Street, inside a full leisure centre with a pool, gym and studios. Nothing to join and nobody asking questions. Limited parking on the street outside, plus free parking in the Hulme High Street underground car park. Dedicated female changing rooms. Public reception, so your coach meets you there. The times here are wide open, which matters when you need a particular slot rather than whatever is left.
Coaches here: Alessia Osborne, Rellie Randall, Sally Archibald
3. Hough End Leisure Centre, Chorlton
Best for: adding something different to your exercise calendar early in the week
Two courts on Princess Road with free parking right outside the door. Weekdays only here, which makes it the obvious swap for the midweek gym session you have gone off. Monday and Tuesday run into the evening, so it works after work as well as before it. Forty minutes on court is harder than most classes and a lot more interesting. Dedicated female changing rooms, no membership, and a cafe for afterwards. Meet your coach at reception.
Coaches here: Rellie Randall, Sally Archibald
4. The Northern Lawn Tennis Club, Didsbury
Best for: a weekday morning somewhere smart
Six courts at one of the best known racquets clubs in the North West, right in the middle of Didsbury. Weekday mornings only, which sounds like a catch until you play at half nine on a Tuesday and have the place to yourself. It is a private members club, but you do not need to be a member to book a Courter session. Free parking by the entrance, add your registration at reception. Female changing rooms and showers. Head to reception and your coach will find you.
Coaches here: Alessia Osborne
5. Cheetham Hill Squash Club, Cheetham Hill
Best for: friends who want cheap with a good vibe
Three courts, and one of the most active squash clubs in the North West, so there is a proper club buzz around you rather than an empty corridor. It is also one of the cheapest on this list, which makes it the one to pick when you and a friend want this to become a habit. Free parking on site. The door is fob access and no, you do not need one: look for the Cheetham Hill Squash Club sign, keep going to the blue door, and your coach will let you in. Changing rooms are in the building next door.
Coaches here: Alessia Osborne, Amina Helal, Sally Archibald
6. Abraham Moss Leisure Centre, Crumpsall
Best for: learning something new with friends at the weekend
Two courts, and one of the easiest places on this list to reach without a car. The Abraham Moss Metrolink stop is on the doorstep, so nobody has to drive, park or coordinate. Most of the availability is at the weekend with a couple of midweek evenings, which makes it a good Saturday morning with two or three friends who have never picked up a racket. Free parking too if you do drive. Dedicated female changing rooms, nothing to join, and your coach meets you at the desk.
Coaches here: Sally Archibald
7. Bury Sports Club, Bury
Best for: when you want more flexible times
Two courts inside a multi-sport club that also does rugby, cricket and chess. Monday, Friday and Sunday all run from half eight in the morning to quarter past nine at night, so this is the one for a week that will not sit still. There is no court charge here either, which puts it among the best value on the list. Plenty of free parking, and a clubhouse if you want to stay. Entry is through the red Bury Squash Club door where your coach meets you, membership or not. Female changing rooms and showers right by the courts.
Coaches here: Amina Helal, Kara Lawrenson, Sally Archibald
8. Rochdale Sports Club, Rochdale
Best for: friends who want something social
Four courts at a properly social squash club, with other sports on site and a clubhouse people actually use. If you and a few friends want somewhere you might end up staying, start here. Free parking next to the club. Walk along the cricket seating to reach the courts. The door is on swipe card access, so your coach lets you in and your booking covers you for the session. Female changing rooms with showers.
Coaches here: Amina Helal, Kara Lawrenson, Sally Archibald
9. Markland Hill Racquets Club, Bolton
Best for: the whole family on court
Two courts at a racquets club that also runs tennis, badminton and pickleball, so nobody has to love squash for the day to work. Weekends run all day here, which is what makes it the family pick. Member-run, with profits going back into the club, and no membership needed on your side. Free parking on site. Your coach meets you at the entrance. Female changing and shower facilities.
Coaches here: Charlie Cummins, Kara Lawrenson
10. Wigan Sports Club, Wigan
Best for: a great family vibe and transport links
Four traditional hot courts, walkable from Wigan bus station, Wallgate and North Western, so a group can arrive from three directions and nobody has to drive. Around 100 active squash members, an active women's group, and other sports on site. Free parking off Parson's Walk if you do drive. Saturdays are evenings, Sundays are daytime. Fob entry, and your coach meets you at the door, so there is nothing to join. Dedicated female changing rooms with showers.
Worth knowing: Kara and Charlie are the club coaches here, so the court comes free with your session. That puts Wigan in the cheapest three on this list.
Coaches here: Charlie Cummins, Kara Lawrenson
11. Marple Squash Club, Stockport
Best for: family time after school
Three courts at a club with over 150 squash and racketball members, league teams, a junior pathway and social squash evenings, so a child who catches the bug has somewhere to go next. It also has the widest availability of anywhere on this list: five in the morning until half nine at night, seven days a week. After school is easy here. Free parking on site. Swipe card entry, so your coach meets you at the door, and your booking covers the access. Female changing room and showers.
Coaches here: Sally Archibald
Still not sure
Pick whichever has a time that suits you. All eleven have qualified female coaches. All eleven hand you a racket and a ball. All eleven include the court in the price. That is the whole decision.
If it comes down to money, look at Bury, Cheetham Hill and Wigan. None of those three charge for the court, and the saving lands in your session price.
We are Courter, and this is our list
We work with venues to open up courts that usually sit behind a membership, and our coaches give your court time some shape. One booking covers the coach and the court. Nothing to sort with the club, nothing to pay on the door.
Ready to play? Find a session near you
Common questions
Do I need to be a member to play at these venues?
No. Four are public leisure centres with nothing to join, and at the seven member clubs your Courter booking covers your access for the session.
What am I paying for?
One price, three parts: the coach, the court, and a small Courter fee. Nothing to pay at the club.
Do I need my own racket?
No. Your coach brings a racket and a ball.
Are there female changing rooms?
Yes, at all eleven.
Which venues are best for a family?
Markland Hill in Bolton, Marple in Stockport, Cheetham Hill in Manchester, Rochdale and Wigan. They all have afterschool and weekend slots.
Are some venues cheaper than others?
Yes. Bury, Cheetham Hill and Wigan do not charge for the court, so sessions there cost less. Every session includes the court either way but the price varies from venue to venue.