Skate Haven, a community skatepark operating inside the Decathlon flagship store in Surrey Quays for nearly three years, has been told to leave by the end of October. The store plans to replace the skate ramps and rails with additional indoor pickleball courts, a move that co-founder Ricardo says will destroy something 'much more valuable' to London.
Ricardo, 33, told MyLondon: "It doesn't seem like they've thought about it all and just gone 'yeah, let's make more money'. Is that really all those kids are to you? You can't put a price on community." He emphasized that the skatepark provides a safe, supervised environment for children, especially during winter, where they can skate with peers and adults, including neurodivergent young people whose parents have found a rare activity their children love.
Affordable Sessions and Community Impact
Skate Haven offers low-cost sessions priced at £6-£9, with occasional free sessions and £2 gear rental, making skateboarding accessible to families who might otherwise be priced out. Ricardo estimates that between 200 and 300 people have participated since 2024. The social enterprise was founded by Ricardo and his co-director Miguel to address social inequality they observed while teaching private skateboarding lessons, and it relies heavily on grants and donations.
Ricardo expressed concern that the new pickleball courts target a different demographic. "I don't want to sound like I'm against pickleball itself but it is mostly played by retirees and middle class folk. Skateboarding is very social, but with these sports you're just standing behind a net, hitting a ball to each other. I don't see why it's such a good idea," he said.
Broader Skateboarding Community Under Pressure
The eviction is part of a wider trend in London, where several skateparks have faced closure or threats in recent months. In April, Bermondsey's Hop Kingdom indoor skatepark had its locks changed amid a rent dispute; owner Ben Hopkinson claimed his attempts to arrange a repayment plan were ignored for six weeks before lease termination. Additionally, skaters campaigned against the construction of padel courts at Barking Skate Park, which was funded by the community.
GLL, which operates Better leisure centres, said the Barking decision followed a "25 per cent" drop in visitor numbers and that the skatepark had made "a financial loss every year." Despite over 4,000 people signing an online petition against demolition, the plans proceeded.
Petition and Next Steps
In support of Skate Haven, parents and locals have launched a petition that has garnered more than 900 signatures. The petition argues that removing the sessions contradicts Decathlon's mission of making sport accessible to all and calls for retaining the facility or providing an equivalent alternative space.
Ricardo is now focused on relocating, though he feels the odds are against him. "If they let us have this space until the end of the year, that would at least give us more time to sort things out. It seems a little unfair that we've only been given two months," he said. He added: "I'm really just putting all my energy into relocating because I really feel we are losing the battle." Decathlon has been approached for comment, and the petition remains open on Change.org.
