October 13th 2026
A new purpose-built pétanque pitch is under construction at Beccles Quay, bringing a little piece of France to the town and creating a permanent leisure facility for residents and visitors to enjoy.
Led by the Beccles Twinning Association, the project celebrates the town’s long-standing friendship with Petit-Couronne in Normandy and will provide a dedicated space for the popular French game of pétanque, also known as boules.
Work on the new pitch begins on 12 October, just days before a group from Petit-Couronne arrives in Beccles for this year’s twinning visit. Visitors can see the new facility during their stay, with a special moment planned for Saturday 24 October, when the Mayor of Beccles will plant the first Escallonia ‘Red Dream’ alongside the new pitch to mark the occasion.
Beccles has been twinned with Petit-Couronne since 1978, and generations of residents from both towns have forged friendships through regular visits and exchanges. Pétanque has become part of that relationship. In 2019, Beccles Town Council granted the Twinning Association permission to use a tarmac area at the end of Beccles Quay for games. In 2022, the town of Petit-Couronne presented Beccles with several sets of boules.
However, the existing playing area has become increasingly vulnerable to flooding and flood damage, prompting the Twinning Association to develop plans for a sustainable, purpose-built pitch.
Michelle Golding of Beccles Twinning Association said: “Pétanque is the perfect blend of competition and camaraderie, and, importantly, it can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities. It has long been part of our friendship with Petit-Couronne, so we’ve wanted to create a proper, sustainable place for people to play in Beccles.”
“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped make the new pitch possible. It feels especially fitting that our friends from Petit-Couronne will be here to see the finishing touches during their visit in October. We hope the pitch will be another reason for people to enjoy the wonderful space at Beccles Quay, whether they’re experienced pétanque players or simply fancy a go.”
The project has been supported by a National Lottery-funded Sport England Movement Fund Award and ‘Enabling Communities’ grants from East Suffolk District Council, with additional support from Beccles Townlands Trust, Waveney and Yare Housing Association, a Suffolk County Council community grant, and a grant from Beccles Helping Hands.
The project has also received support from Beccles U3A, along with numerous other Beccles organisations and individuals who have helped the Twinning Association bring the plans to fruition. Beccles Town Council funded the plans and surveys for the new pitch, and the Broads Authority has also supported the project.
The new pitch will add to the range of things to see and do at Beccles Quay, offering another activity in one of the town’s most popular leisure areas.
Paul Cunningham of Beccles Town Council said: “The new pétanque pitch will be a welcome addition to the facilities at Beccles Quay. The area is already a popular leisure space for residents and visitors, and the new pitch will offer another reason to come and enjoy this unique part of Beccles.”
“It’s great to be working with the Beccles Twinning Association on a project that will further enhance the Quay and provide another facility for the local community to enjoy.”
Local company Willow Tree Landscapes and Design will construct the pitch. Creating a purpose-built pétanque surface involves preparing and levelling the ground, then building up the appropriate layers and finishing with a granular playing surface. Proper compaction helps ensure the pitch plays well and remains durable over time.
Craig Andrews of Willow Tree Landscapes and Design said: “We’re really pleased to have been asked to build the new pétanque pitch at Beccles Quay. It’s a slightly different project for us, and it’s been great to be involved in creating a permanent facility for the local community to enjoy. Projects like this are especially rewarding because we’re not just creating a garden or landscape for one client; we’re helping to create a space that the wider community will enjoy for years to come.”
The Mayor of Beccles, Cllr Joe Athorn, said: “We are delighted to welcome our friends from Petit-Couronne to Beccles once again and to celebrate the enduring bond between our two towns. Pétanque reflects our French connection perfectly, and this new facility at Beccles Quay will stand as a lasting symbol of the friendship between Beccles and Petit-Couronne. I’d like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to make the project possible, and I look forward to seeing people from across our community enjoying the new pitch.”
As part of the October twinning visit, residents are also invited to enjoy ‘A Taste of France in New Market’ at the Beccles Friday Market on Friday 23 October, from 8am to 1pm.
Visitors will be able to meet twinners from Beccles and Petit-Couronne, buy produce from Petit-Couronne, and learn more about the town’s twinning relationship and the new pétanque pitch.
And the October visit will mark only the start of celebrations around the new facility.
Plans are already underway for La Fête de Beccles, a French-themed community celebration at Beccles Quay in April 2027, when the whole town will be invited to come together to celebrate the new pétanque pitch and Beccles’ friendship with Petit-Couronne. The event aims to bring a taste of France to the Quay, with pétanque games and opportunities to have a go, French music and food, French-inspired picnic boxes, and other activities for all ages.
Further details about La Fête de Beccles will be announced in the new year.
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