Lakeside Leisure Complex
A hotel, entertainment, conferencing and leisure complex in Frimley Green, Surrey, best known as a long-running venue for major darts championships.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Lakeside Leisure Complex is a mixed-use hospitality, entertainment and sporting venue in Frimley Green, west Surrey, England. The site combines a hotel, members' club, restaurants, bars, conference and banqueting rooms, live-entertainment facilities, and recreational amenities. Its identity has been closely associated with both popular entertainment and televised darts, particularly the British Darts Organisation (BDO) World Darts Championship. The complex began in 1972 after Bob Potter acquired Wharfenden House, its surrounding grounds and the lake. Potter developed the property into a substantial leisure destination and expanded its principal hall to approximately 1,000 seats. In its earlier entertainment-focused period, Lakeside hosted comedians, musicians and other public performers, including Tommy Cooper, Morecambe and Wise, Sammy Davis Jr, Frankie Vaughan and Bob Monkhouse. The venue became known as a large-scale club capable of combining dining, social membership, live shows and special events. A major fire in November 1978 destroyed much of the complex. It was rebuilt and reopened in October 1979, marking an important turning point in the site's history. The rebuilt operation retained its entertainment and hospitality orientation while adding or developing facilities for conferences, private functions and recreational activities. Lakeside's strongest specialist association is with darts. It became the venue for the BDO World Darts Championship in 1986 and hosted the men's and women's competitions each January through 2019. The club sponsored the event from 2004 to 2019, reinforcing the association between the Lakeside name and the championship. From 2022, the venue also hosted the World Darts Federation (WDF) World Darts Championship, extending its role in international darts after the end of the BDO event's Lakeside run. The complex's principal event space is the Main Cabaret Suite, which can accommodate approximately 1,170 people and is configured for conferences, banquets and entertainment. Other named spaces include the Canal Suite, State Suite and Sharman Suite, alongside Bob's Bar and a wine bar. Recreational facilities have included snooker, pool, darts, ten-pin bowling, squash and a gym, while the surrounding lake and nearby Basingstoke Canal support boating and leisure activities. The wider Surrey location also places the venue near several golf destinations. Lakeside has been used for business gatherings as well as entertainment. The Small Business Bureau Conference held there in 1987 was described by its organisers as the largest business conference in Europe. In cultural commentary, the complex's busy club atmosphere and its proprietor's public persona have been linked to the inspiration for Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights, although that connection is best treated as an anecdotal association rather than a formal corporate relationship. The venue also experienced a serious health-and-safety incident during the 2010 darts championship period. After a hotel guest died at the site in January 2010, Bob Potter Leisure Limited was fined £85,000 for health-and-safety violations. This remains a significant negative episode in the complex's public record. Bob Potter, the founder and long-time figure associated with the business, died on 14 April 2023 aged 94. Lakeside nevertheless remains identified as an operating leisure and events venue, with its most distinctive market position coming from the combination of hospitality, live entertainment, conference facilities and championship darts.
History
Lakeside Leisure Complex was established in 1972 when Bob Potter purchased Wharfenden House, the surrounding grounds and the lake at Frimley Green in Surrey. Potter developed the property as a broad leisure and entertainment operation rather than a single-purpose sporting venue. One of the early expansion projects was the enlargement of the main hall to around 1,000 seats, enabling the site to accommodate comedians, musicians and touring performers. During its entertainment heyday, Lakeside presented or hosted prominent acts including Tommy Cooper, Morecambe and Wise, Sammy Davis Jr, Frankie Vaughan and Bob Monkhouse. The club's mixture of live shows, hospitality and social facilities helped make it a notable entertainment destination in the region. Later recollections by darts commentator Sid Waddell characterised Lakeside's earlier period as one in which it was arguably among Britain's leading clubs. The site was also associated with political and corporate hospitality, including a 1987 Small Business Bureau Conference that organisers described as Europe's largest business conference. A severe fire in November 1978 almost completely destroyed the complex. Reconstruction followed, and the rebuilt venue reopened in October 1979. The reopening allowed the business to continue its development as a combined club, hotel, entertainment venue and leisure destination. Its facilities came to include restaurants, bars, a nightclub, conference and banqueting rooms, hotel accommodation and indoor sports and leisure amenities such as snooker, pool, darts, ten-pin bowling, squash and a gym. The lake and nearby Basingstoke Canal also contributed to the site's recreational offer. The most important later chapter began in 1986, when Lakeside became the venue for the BDO World Darts Championship. For more than three decades, the men's and women's championships were held there each January, making the venue internationally recognisable within darts. Lakeside also sponsored the tournament from 2004 through 2019. Its name consequently became strongly linked with the championship's distinctive atmosphere and annual television coverage. After the BDO championship's Lakeside period ended in 2019, the venue continued its relationship with elite darts by hosting the WDF World Darts Championship from 2022. The complex's largest event space is the Main Cabaret Suite, with a stated capacity of approximately 1,170 for conferences and banquets. The Canal Suite, State Suite and Sharman Suite provide additional spaces of differing sizes, supported by bars and other hospitality areas. This configuration allows the site to serve private functions, business meetings, entertainment programmes and sporting events. Lakeside's record also includes a serious safety-related incident. During the 2010 championship week, when the lake was substantially frozen, the body of a hotel guest was found. Bob Potter Leisure Limited was subsequently fined £85,000 for health-and-safety violations. The episode is an important qualification to the venue's otherwise entertainment-centred history. Bob Potter remained the central public figure behind Lakeside until his death on 14 April 2023 at the age of 94. Anecdotal accounts have also connected the complex and Potter's club persona with Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights, although this is an influence claim rather than an identified business relationship. The venue's historical significance rests on its longevity as a Surrey leisure complex and on its distinctive role in British and international darts.
- 2023
Bob Potter dies
[1]The founder and long-time proprietor died on 14 April at the age of 94.
- 2022
WDF World Darts Championship begins at Lakeside
[1]Lakeside hosted the WDF World Darts Championship, renewing its position as a major darts venue.
- 2019
Final BDO championship at Lakeside
[1]The complex's hosting and sponsorship association with the BDO World Darts Championship ended after the 2019 event.
- 2010
Health-and-safety fine follows hotel-guest death
[1]Bob Potter Leisure Limited was fined £85,000 after a hotel guest's body was found during the championship period and health-and-safety violations were established.
- 2004
Lakeside begins sponsoring the BDO championship
[1]The club became a sponsor of the BDO World Darts Championship, a role it retained through 2019.
- 1987
Major small-business conference takes place
[1]The Small Business Bureau Conference was held at the complex and was promoted by organisers as Europe's largest business conference.
- 1986
BDO World Darts Championship begins at Lakeside
[1]Lakeside became the annual venue for the men's and women's BDO World Darts Championship.
- 1979
Rebuilt venue reopens
[1]The reconstructed complex reopened in October, restoring its hospitality and entertainment operations.
- 1978
Major fire damages the complex
[1]A fire in November almost completely destroyed Lakeside and led to a substantial rebuilding programme.
- 1972
Lakeside is established
[1]Bob Potter acquired Wharfenden House, the grounds and the lake at Frimley Green, creating the foundation for the leisure complex.
Products and positioning
A destination leisure and events complex combining hospitality, live entertainment, conferences, social-club facilities and specialist sporting events, with a particularly strong association with championship darts.
Hospitality
Hotel accommodation
The complex includes hotel accommodation integrated with its entertainment and leisure operations. The hotel supports visitors attending conferences, private functions and sporting events, including championship darts. Its proximity to the venue's restaurants, bars and event rooms makes Lakeside a combined stay-and-entertainment destination rather than a standalone hotel.
Events
Conference and banqueting facilities
Lakeside provides conference, meeting, banquet and private-function space across several named suites. The Main Cabaret Suite is the largest, with a stated capacity of approximately 1,170, while the Canal Suite, State Suite and Sharman Suite offer additional configurations for smaller or differently formatted events.
Entertainment
Live entertainment
Live entertainment has been central to Lakeside since its early development. The enlarged hall was designed to accommodate comedians, musicians and touring acts, and the venue has been associated with performers including Tommy Cooper, Morecambe and Wise, Sammy Davis Jr, Frankie Vaughan and Bob Monkhouse. The entertainment offer has also included nightclub and cabaret-style programming.
Recreation
Leisure and club facilities
The complex operates as a mixed members' club and leisure destination with restaurants, bars and indoor recreational amenities. Facilities described for the venue include snooker, pool, darts, ten-pin bowling, squash and a gym, supplemented by the lake and access to boating opportunities along the nearby Basingstoke Canal.
Sporting events · 1986
BDO World Darts Championship hosting
Lakeside hosted the men's and women's BDO World Darts Championship every January from 1986 through 2019. The long association made the complex one of the best-known venues in professional darts and connected its hospitality and event infrastructure with a recurring international sporting property.
Sporting events · 2022
WDF World Darts Championship hosting
From 2022, Lakeside hosted the World Darts Federation World Darts Championship. The event continued the site's role as a specialist championship venue after the end of its BDO World Championship hosting period.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2022
Host the WDF World Darts ChampionshipProduct launchBackground
The complex's BDO World Championship hosting period had ended in 2019, but the venue retained its specialist darts infrastructure and reputation.
Action taken
Lakeside began hosting the WDF World Darts Championship.
Aftermath
The decision continued Lakeside's role in major darts competition under a different governing organisation.
1986
Adopt the BDO World Darts Championship as a recurring event propertyStrategyBackground
Lakeside already had a large event space and a history of entertainment programming.
Action taken
The complex became the venue for the annual BDO World Darts Championship.
Aftermath
The booking created a long-running association between Lakeside and international darts, lasting through the 2019 tournament.
1972
Develop the site as a mixed leisure complexStrategyBackground
After acquiring Wharfenden House and its grounds, Bob Potter had the opportunity to operate the property as more than a conventional hotel or club.
Action taken
The property was developed into a combined hotel, members' club, entertainment, hospitality and leisure destination, including an enlarged performance hall.
Aftermath
The mixed-use model became the foundation of Lakeside's subsequent identity and enabled it to host entertainment, conferences and sporting events.
Recent events
- 2023
Bob Potter dies aged 94[1]
Leadership change
Bob Potter, who established the complex after acquiring Wharfenden House and its grounds in 1972, died on 14 April 2023.
- 2022
Lakeside begins hosting the WDF World Darts Championship[1]
Product launch
The World Darts Federation World Darts Championship was staged at Lakeside from 2022, continuing the venue's role in international darts.
- 2019
Lakeside's BDO World Championship hosting period ends[1]
Other
The complex's run as host of the men's and women's BDO World Darts Championship concluded after the 2019 tournament; Lakeside had also sponsored the event from 2004.
- 1987
Small Business Bureau Conference held at Lakeside[1]
Other
Lakeside hosted a major business conference that organisers claimed was the largest business conference in Europe at the time.
- 1986
Lakeside becomes venue for the BDO World Darts Championship[1]
Other
The complex began hosting the BDO World Darts Championship, establishing its most enduring association with televised competitive darts.
Sources2 sources
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