Football arena closure leaves council owed £375k

A hybrid football arena hailed as a "game changer" when it first opened has now closed down after two-and-a-half years, owing £375,000 to a Surrey council.

KickX, an entertainment arena with different football-themed games, opened in 2023 at Addlestone One in Station Road, Addlestone, and was seen at the time as a major win for Runnymede Borough Council.

The business has now closed, but the council says it "remains committed to Addlestone One as a regeneration project".

The closure leaves the Addlestone One development nearly half empty at 52% occupancy, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A council spokesperson said: "It [Addlestone One] has created more than 200 new apartments, and opportunities for new businesses, including a cinema, hotel, and dentist along with a number of restaurants.

"The council is currently reviewing our strategy for the development, and remains fully engaged with our commercial tenants, but we're unable to specify details of individual discussions."

KickX offered five different activities across 11 indoor courts, including Padbol, Jorkyball, Teqball, Panna, and KickX VR.

Speaking at the time of its launch, former council leader Tom Gracey said the business "will be a game changer for Addlestone which is already attracting interest from near and far".

Addlestone One was built by the council in 2017 and 2018 and includes a Premier Inn hotel, Waitrose supermarket and cinema.

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