40 ping pong tables to appear across the city this summer

If the mere thought of playing table tennis brings you out in school-PE-lesson-flashback sweats, you’d better bloody get over it. Because ping pong’s cool again.

Once relegated to embarrassing retro sport hell, table tennis has had somewhat of a resurgence over the past few years: sales of tables and bats are up year on year, clubs are seeing an increase in members, and New York even has it’s own achingly hip ping pong bar.

In a new initiative - partly to celebrate “Olympic fever” (we think we brought that back from Thailand once) and partly to get people active across the city - there’s going to be 40 ping pong tables set out across Liverpool for anyone to use, free of charge.

Bats and balls are supplied, and there’s also going to be a bunch of master-classes, competitions and free activities coming up at certain locations throughout the next couple of months.

The current list of the free-to-use tables, including Liverpool ONE, Clayton Square, Camp and Furnace and loads more, is up on the Ping! Liverpool website. We’re told more are to be added in the coming weeks.

If the idea of playing is just too much for you, they’re also looking for volunteers to help out and assist throughout the four weeks: helping out with events, greeting players and all sorts of other stuff. Drop ‘em a line if you’re interested.

Ping! Liverpool
Various locations across the city
29 June - 26 July
Free