Lakeside Leisure Complex

History

The complex was established in 1972, when Bob Potter bought Wharfenden House and the surrounding grounds and lake. 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, but was subsequently rebuilt, reopening in October the following year.

During the 25th year of hosting the World Darts Championship, in 2010 the lake had largely iced over by 7 January. That day the body of a man, a hotel guest for the competition week, was found. Landowner-managers, Bob Potter Leisure Limited, were fined £85,000 for health and safety violations.

Bob Potter died on 14 April 2023, at the age of 94.

Events

The Lakeside became the venue of the World Darts Championship in 1986. The Club sponsored the event from 2004 to 2019. It has hosted the new WDF World Darts Championship since 2022.

The venue has hosted acts such as Tommy Cooper, Morecambe and Wise, Sammy Davis Jr, Frankie Vaughan and Bob Monkhouse.

The 'Small Business Bureau Conference', held in 1987, was claimed by the organisers to be the largest business conference in Europe.

Facilities

;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 with snooker, 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 the Basingstoke Canal. The borough and adjoining Wentworth/Sunningdale area has a number of golf courses.

Heyday as a club

Darts commentator and personality Sid Waddell looked back on the early darts era when Lakeside was "arguably the best club in Britain":

Potter claimed that he and his facilities inspired Peter Kay's comedic business saga Phoenix Nights, whose character is named Brian Potter.

References

References

1. (October 23, 2013). "Lakeside Set To Host Biggest Ever BDO World Championships". UK Darts Magazine.
2. (27 April 2023). "Bob Potter, king of darts who owned Lakeside, venue for decades of world championships – obituary". The Telegraph.
3. (28 November 1978). "I'll rebuild - Lakeside boss". Farnborough News and Mail.
4. (26 October 1979). "Lakeside's night of the stars". Farnborough News and Mail.
5. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/8446647.stm Darts spectator found dead under ice in Surrey lake] bbc.co.uk
6. Edmondson, Nick. (5 Jul 2013). "Company admits safety breaches over frozen lake death". GetSurrey.
7. (14 April 2023). "Obituary – Bob Potter OBE". Darts World.
8. (4 July 1985). "Darts". [[The Glasgow Herald]].
9. (6 November 1985). "Bristow left in the dark". The Glasgow Herald.
10. (6 June 2021). "Darts is Coming Home! Lakeside World Championship 2022". [[World Darts Federation]].
11. Irwin, Justin. (2008). "Murder on the Darts Board". Anova.
12. Rutter, Jason. (September 1997). "Stand-up as interaction: Performance and Audience in Comedy Venues". University of Saford, Institute for Social Research, Department of Sociology (PhD thesis).
13. (31 January 2012). "Mrs Thatcher would always ask after our town". [[Hull Daily Mail]].
14. Waddell, Sid. (2009). "Bellies and Bullseyes: The Outrageous True Story of Darts". Random House.
15. Keogh, Frank. (6 January 2004). "Phoenix flights". BBC Sport.