TheLakeside Leisure Complexis a hotel, conferencing, entertainment and associated leisure complex inFrimley Greenin westSurrey,England. It hosted the open/men's and women'sBDO World Darts Championshipevery January from 1986 to 2019.[1]
History
edit
The complex was established in 1972, when Bob Potter bought Wharfenden House and the surrounding grounds and lake.[2]He soon doubled the hall to 1,000 seats principally for hosting comedians and musicians, including North American and internationally acclaimed acts. Lakeside was almost completely destroyed in a fire in November 1978,[3]but was subsequently rebuilt, reopening in October the following year.[4]
During the 25th year of hosting theWorld Darts Championship, in 2010the lake had largely iced over by 7 January. That day the body of a man, a hotel guest for the competition week, was found.[5]Landowner-managers,Bob Potter Leisure Limited, were fined £85,000 for health and safety violations.[6]
Bob Potter died on 14 April 2023, at the age of 94.[7]
Events
editThe Lakeside became the venue of the World Darts Championship in 1986.[8][9]The Club sponsored the event from 2004 to 2019. It has hosted the newWDF World Darts Championshipsince 2022.[10]
The venue has hosted acts such asTommy Cooper,Morecambe and Wise,Sammy Davis Jr,Frankie VaughanandBob Monkhouse.[11][12]
The 'Small Business Bureau Conference', held in 1987, was claimed by the organisers to be the largest business conference in Europe.[13]
Facilities
edit- Grand venue
The largest venue is the Main Cabaret Suite which has a capacity of 1,170 with conference and banqueting facilities.
- Others
- the Canal Suite (capacity 350)
- the State Suite (capacity 100)
- Bob's Bar
- the Sharman Suite
- the Wine Bar
It is a mixed members' club, hotel and selection of restaurants withsnooker,pool, darts, ten-pin bowling, squash, bars, an events nightclub and well-equipped gym. Near the village, boats can be hired for day trips along theBasingstoke Canal.The borough and adjoiningWentworth/Sunningdalearea has a number of golf courses.
Heyday as a club
editDarts commentator and personalitySid Waddelllooked back on the early darts era when Lakeside was "arguably the best club in Britain":
Tom Jones, Jim Davidson and other stars packed the joint, while Margaret Thatcher herself said it was one of her favourite places for Tory jollies. "[14]
Potter claimed that he and his facilities inspiredPeter Kay's comedic business sagaPhoenix Nights,whose character is named Brian Potter.[15]
References
edit- ^"Lakeside Set To Host Biggest Ever BDO World Championships".UK Darts Magazine.23 October 2013.Retrieved13 January2014.
- ^"Bob Potter, king of darts who owned Lakeside, venue for decades of world championships – obituary".The Telegraph.27 April 2023.Retrieved16 October2023.
- ^"I'll rebuild - Lakeside boss".Farnborough News and Mail.No. 4241. 28 November 1978. p. 1.
- ^"Lakeside's night of the stars".Farnborough News and Mail.No. 4331. 26 October 1979. p. 26.
- ^Darts spectator found dead under ice in Surrey lakebbc.co.uk
- ^Edmondson, Nick (5 July 2013)."Company admits safety breaches over frozen lake death".GetSurrey.Retrieved13 January2014.
- ^"Obituary – Bob Potter OBE".Darts World. 14 April 2023.Retrieved17 April2023.
- ^"Darts".The Glasgow Herald.4 July 1985. p. 23.
- ^"Bristow left in the dark".The Glasgow Herald.6 November 1985. p. 22.
- ^"Darts is Coming Home! Lakeside World Championship 2022".DartsWDF.World Darts Federation.6 June 2021.Retrieved23 July2021.
- ^Irwin, Justin (2008).Murder on the Darts Board.Anova. pp. 4–5.ISBN9781906032043.
- ^Rutter, Jason (September 1997)."Stand-up as interaction: Performance and Audience in Comedy Venues"(PDF).University of Saford, Institute for Social Research, Department of Sociology (PhD thesis). p. 102 (pdf p. 117).
- ^"Mrs Thatcher would always ask after our town".Hull Daily Mail.31 January 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 16 January 2014.Retrieved16 January2014.
- ^Waddell, Sid (2009).Bellies and Bullseyes: The Outrageous True Story of Darts.Random House.ISBN9781407030449.
- ^Keogh, Frank (6 January 2004)."Phoenix flights".BBC Sport.Retrieved13 January2014.