Press Release 30 September 2026
Cambrian Community Centre Decamps for Winter Refit
Building work for the refurbishment of the Cambrian Community Centre will start on Monday 26 October and is set to continue until the end of February 2027. This will transform the Centre into a modern, accessible, better designed community space.
Scheduled activities will mostly continue at the Centre until building work begins.
The Centre’s Gym and community activities will continue throughout the four-month refurbishment period in accessible venues nearby.
“We know that the Centre’s wellbeing and leisure classes and the Gym are important for many in our community. That’s why we’ve made every effort to continue our activities in nearby venues while our building is being refurbished,” says Sue Pendle, Chair of Trustees.
“We hope Centre users will be able to maintain their active engagement with the Cambrian Community Centre. We will continue to welcome new people during this period,” Ms Pendle says.
Temporary relocation of the Centre’s flagship community gym lies at the heart of its “dispersed” activities. The gym will be installed in a great space at St Matthias Church at the top of Church Road during the building works. This is well served by the 371 bus.
The gym equipment will move there and, most importantly, the Centre’s specialist gym instructors Vicki, Sarah and Becky will be on hand every weekday from 9am to 3pm (5.00 pm on Thursdays) and Saturdays from 9am to 1pm to provide guidance and encouragement so that Centre users need not interrupt their exercise programmes.
Additional venues include the Grove Gardens Chapel (home of The Fixery) in Lower Grove Road, a short walk from the Centre, which will host Drawing, Choir and Pilates classes on Mondays. The nearest 371 bus stop is Park Road.
Gentle Yoga will continue at its usual time of 10am on Monday at Richmond Library Annexe in Quadrant Road in Richmond town centre. The Gentle Weights class keeps its Thursday 12.30 to 1.30pm slot in Ham Library Annexe in Ham Street, served by the 371 bus. The Dickson House Atrium, facing Cambrian Square, will host Cardiac classes on Friday 1.30 to 2.30.
The Wednesday café will be paused while the Centre’s kitchen is out of use. But the Food Hub will offer supermarket surplus and donated food including fruit, vegetables and pastries in Cambrian Square just behind the Centre. A visit to the hub can be combined with a cup of tea at our social space at Grove Gardens Chapel on Wednesday lunchtime.
“We look forward to welcoming you to the renewed, improved Centre in the spring, and to joining us in developing exciting new projects for the year ahead,” says Sue Pendle.
We will post regular updates on how the work progresses. Full details of alternative locations are on the Centre’s website, cambriancentre.org
The Centre is grateful to Richmond Foundation and Richmond Council for funding the refurbishment and seeing it through.