Lakeside Paddlesports Club

Everyone is welcome...

We are a family orientated and friendly club located at the picturesque Thurlby Lake near Witham St Hughs. Our emphasis is on getting you out on the water in whatever form be it canoeing, kayaking or standup paddle boarding.

You will always find an enthusiastic and friendly club member at the lake along with plenty of hire kit available to get you started. No matter what your skill level when you first visit us, we will help you advance in any way we can.

Become a member and you will get to enjoy family open days, regular day river trips for all abilities and overnight trips for our more experienced paddlers.

We work closely with Paddle UK (Previously British Canoeing) enabling us to offer first class coaching. We hold regular, weekly open sessions on Sundays throughout the year, please see the booking link for up to date information.

Taster Session

The Taster Session allows you to take to the water and try out a kayak, Canoe or Standup Paddleboard.

The availability is limited to 24 guests on the water for the session. The club does not have wetsuits for use at the sessions so you will need to bring your own clothes or wetsuit that you don’t mind getting wet and can use for this session.

If you would like to book please click below.

Book Session

Spring / Summer

During daylight savings in Spring and Summer our Taster Session runs from 2pm-4pm.

Autumn / Winter

During Autumn and Winter our Taster Session runs from 1pm-3pm.

About Us

Established in 1991 by a small group of friends gathering for Sunday paddles, Newark Canoe Club initially faced challenges in securing a suitable venue in Newark. The search led them to an old quarry in Thurlby, leased in 1994 from RMC (now part of the Cemex Group). By 1997, the Club secured a 10-year lease, allowing for long-term planning and development.

Facing financial hurdles in the early years, the Club's resilience paid off in 1998 with grants enabling the construction of a landing area, a disabled ramp, and the acquisition of a storage container. The membership surged from 30 to 120 between 1997 and 2003, prompting the introduction of an annual fee in 2003 for sustainable self-financing.

Investments in 2006 resulted in a clubhouse with amenities, and in 2008, additional grants facilitated the purchase of storage containers, boats, and paddling equipment, expanding the Club's offerings. A notable achievement came in 2017 when the Club was honored as the Newark & Sherwood District Sports Club of the Year. The 25th-anniversary celebration in 2019 marked a milestone at Thurlby Lake, celebrated with an Annual Open Weekend featuring a memorable party and fireworks.