We proudly opened our first-ever London Ping Hub at the Ilford Exchange in Redbridge earlier in the year! Despite the challenges of navigating the Elizabeth Line closures and carrying a heavy table tennis robot through a packed Central Line, the launch was a fantastic experience. It was inspiring to see so many people—from league players to complete beginners and returning enthusiasts—engage with the new space.

What is the Ping Hub?

The Exchange Ping Hub is a free-to-play, fully accessible table tennis space open to the public. Located in The Loft area of The Exchange Shopping Centre, it features:

– Four permanent table tennis tables
–  Free access to bats and balls
 – A welcoming space for players of all ages and skill levels

This initiative was made possible through a partnership and funding from Table Tennis England, The Exchange Shopping Centre, and Ilford BID.

A Vision for Table Tennis in London

With London set to host the 2026 World Team Table Tennis Championships, the Exchange Ping Hub is just the beginning. It marks the first of many planned social impact initiatives aimed at bringing table tennis to local communities across the city. Our goal is to provide more opportunities for people to play, watch, and experience the sport.

What’s Next?

You might be saying, but Johnathon, this opened in January, this is old news…. But over the coming months, I wanted to share with you our plans to introduce:

 – Coaching sessions
–  Social play & community events
–  Competitions & leagues
–  School activities and Well-being sessions

This initiative is a huge step forward, and I’m personally excited to be involved in growing the game and expanding our local table tennis community in the area. At the launch event, we had many new players that we signposted with local clubs and leagues and I want to do more to not only help them discover more ways to get involved in table tennis but also make a difference to the community, by providing more ways to get active and have fun playing our sport!

Want to Play?

To learn more or book a table, visit:
🔗 Exchange Ping Hub Website

For any questions or inquiries, feel free to reach out at:
[email protected]