Teddington's new community Hall, The Elleray Centre is set to open on Thursday, 27 November at 5pm – the same day as the Christmas Lights Up event.

The plan is that the Elleray Centre will become the new home of Elleray Community Association (ECA), the local charity that provides a weekday service to help keep its members fit, healthy, well-fed and entertained.

The Elleray Centre will become the new home of Elleray Community Association (Credit: ECA)

But even when this activity is in full swing, the new centre will have space available for use by tutors, instructors and group leaders to hold their own classes and meetings.

The vision is that the new centre will become a social asset for the entire community, a place where virtually everyone living in and around Teddington will find something to enjoy.  

This will be people's first opportunity to see just what a splendid facility this centre is going to be.

Among the attractions on offer will be pony rides from Park Lane Stables, a festive choir, refreshments, craft and gift stalls, home-made Christmas cakes, music and face painting.

The new centre will feature at Teddington's Christmas Lights Up event (Credit: ECA)

The Elleray Centre will open again at 9.30am on Monday, 1 December. ECA members will then be able to resume their enjoyment of their classes, activities and of course, lunch in the modern, comfortable and warm environment of this exciting new centre. 

ECA's last day at the existing Elleray Hall was Monday, 10 November and it is now permanently closed.

Over the next few weeks, ECA will transfer everything it needs from Elleray Hall to the new Elleray Centre and get it ready for opening.

During this time, ECA's members will be able to take advantage of the facilities available at Linden Hall in Hampton on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Katy Richards, an Elleray Community Association trustee, said: "We are so pleased that the new Centre will be opening for Teddington Lights Up! There will be pony rides, refreshments, cakes, crafts and gifts, face painting, a festive choir and more.

"But it will also be everybody's first chance to see around this wonderful new building and hear about our plans for 2026!"

Michael Hill, another ECA trustee, added: "Because of uncertainty about precisely when the new centre was going to be ready, other users of the centre will not be running their own activities and classes there until January.  

"Discussions with several tutors and groups are ongoing, but we are very confident that in January we will be the new venue for a class for ukulele players, a piano class, an art class for adults (this one is dependent on the tutor securing funding guarantees, an art class for children and a Needles and Pins club.

"There should also be new yoga classes and classes for other health and wellbeing disciplines. During December a full programme should be published on the centre's web site and notice boards. The centre is also open for bookings for children's parties.

"So, Teddington's new Elleray Centre has been a long time coming, but we are just about there! Roll on 2026!"

On Christmas Day, Churches Together in Teddington is hosting a traditional Christmas lunch for anyone who is alone on Christmas Day.

On Christmas Day, Churches Together in Teddington is hosting a traditional Christmas lunch for anyone who is alone on Christmas Day (Image supplied)

It will be an occasion full of festive cheer, entertainment and plenty of fun.

If you would like to go along as either a guest or a volunteer, you can do so by calling 020 8977 7733 or 07802 531 843 or sending an email to [email protected]