Map of ping pong tables in Bristol for Ping!

Bristol is set to go ping pong mad this summer.

Using £280,000 of National Lottery funding, Sport England are currently putting up 46 table-tennis tables around the city to encourage more people to play the sport.

They will be available for anyone to use – free of charge.

The fund has been created in response to the success of ‘Ping!’, a London-wide initiative which saw 100 tables placed across the capital.

Last year ‘Ping!’ went to Birmingham and Hull and this year it’s the turn of Bristol, Liverpool and London again.

Locations in Bristol include Queen Square, Bristol Zoo, College Green and Ashton Court.

Each table will have a volunteer “monitor” who will be in charge of bats and balls, to make sure that some are available when people want to play.

But people can also take their own along.

The tables will be up for four weeks for everyone - from complete novices to seasoned table tennis players - to enjoy.

Ping! Bristol is produced in association with the city council who have organised a programme of ping-pong events and activities.

"We are delighted to a part of the national Ping! Initiative," says Bristol’s executive member for festivals and communities, Councillor Guy Poultney. "We want to get people taking up and playing sport more regularly. Table tennis appeals to lots of people of every age and background. And there will be the chance to play in some of Bristol’s best-loved parks and city centre spaces."

Ping! Bristol launches with a ping pong bonanza on Friday (June 29) from 12pm to 6pm at Anchor Square.

There will be table tennis show matches, dressing-up fun and prizes.

Speaking about Ping! Sport England Chair Richard Lewis, said: “Ping!

has proved one of our most successful sports participation projects, attracting over 150,000 participants to date. Moreover, our research shows that once people start playing they don’t want to stop. We hope Bristol will build on this.”

The idea is reminiscent of the “play me” piano project that took place in Bristol three years ago, when pianos were placed in public places across the city for people to enjoy for free.

Although many did, a number were destroyed by vandals – the first city where that had happened despite the project previously taking place in Sydney, Sao Paulo, Birmingham and London.

Here is a full list of the locations (some have more than one table) and an interactive map of where to find them:

These tables have bats and balls available from the side of the table:

1. Ashton Court Estate

2. At-Bristol’s Millennium Square

3. Blaise Castle Estate

4. Bristol and Bath Science Park

5. Bristol Cathedral

6. Bristol Zoo Gardens

7. Broadmead

8. Castle Park

9. City Centre Fountains

10. Clifton Down Water Tower

11. College Green

12. Colston Hall

13. Hengrove Plaza

14. Knowle West Health Centre

15. M Shed, Princes Wharf

16. Portland Square

17. Quakers Friars

18. Queen Square

19. ss Great Britain

20. The Bear Pit

21. The Canteen (Stokes Croft)

22. The Communications Tower (Lockleaze)

These tables are here to stay long after Ping! Bristol has ended (Find out where bats and balls are located):

1. Canford Park

2. Dame Emily Park

3. Easton Community Centre

4. Eastville Park

5. Gaunts Ham Park

6. Greville Smyth Park

7. Hillfields Park

8. Montpelier Park

9. Netham Park and Pavillion

10. Redcatch Park

11. St Agnes Park

12. St Andrews Park

13. St George Park

14. The Bear Pit

15. The Dings Park

16. Victoria Park