Chippenham - Sport and Leisure

Sport and Leisure

Chippenham is well served with sports clubs and leisure facilities. The Olympiad Centre opened in 1989, after replacing an outdoor pool, which closed in 1984. It caters for a wide range of interests and has a variety of swimming pools and full gym facilities. It also plays host to many events including the popular annual CAMRA beer festival.

Chippenham Sports Club, located on the Bristol Road, is a members sports club. Its facilities include a two storey pavilion that overlooks the six hard surface floodlit tennis courts and the cricket square and field. A recently built bowls pavilion accompanies the best bowling green in the county which plays host to the Wiltshire Middleton Cup Team. The all weather hockey pitches support thriving Ladies' and Men's teams. Due for completion in May 2009, an all year round, indoor sports inflated dome that will provide much needed amenities including netball, cricket nets plus a 5-a-side football league.

Chippenham has two football clubs, Chippenham Town F.C., and Chippenham Park F.C.. Chippenham Town was formed in 1873, and have played in the FA Vase 2000 Final, where Chippenham lost 1-0 to Deal Town F.C., they currently play in the Southern Premier League. Chippenham Park F.C. are a newly formed football team, they were formed in 2012. The club will play in the Western League, they will play their Hardenhuish Park.

Chippenham Rugby Club is on the western outskirts next to the A350 bypass. Chippenham Golf Club is situated on the A350 as it leads North from the town. The club, formed in 1896, is currently undergoing construction of a new clubhouse and redeveloped course.

Chippenham has a small cinema, the Reel Astoria, on the A420 West of the town centre. The town has been identified as an ideal location for a multiplex cinema which could serve an area covering Calne, Melksham, Corsham and Malmesbury, towns currently devoid of cinemas, eliminating the need for travel to congested Bath or further-afield Swindon.

The Severn and Thames cycle route (part of Route 4) of the Sustrans National Cycle Network passes through the town.

There is a variety of night life: including clubs E11vens and Karma (currently awaiting the outcome of an appeal against closure), Jax Landing, a wine bar, and pubs including The Brunel, The Bridge House, The Pheasant Carvery, The Rose & Crown and Little George, although many people prefer to travel to nearby Bath, Swindon or Bristol.