Trent Bridge pavilion development nears completion

The redevelopment of Trent Bridge's pavilion is on course to be completed this year.

Rushcliffe Borough Council approved plans to partially demolish and extend the Members' Pavilion in 2024.

The first phase of works was completed in time for fans to use the new seats to watch England's defeat to New Zealand, in what proved to be captain Ben Stokes' final match.

Richard Kenyon, chief executive of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, said it should be fully open in time for next season and will help to keep Trent Bridge as a venue for the national team.

"The pavilion's not far away from being completely finished," Kenyon said.

"I think it's more realistic now that we'll hold the full opening of it next season, which obviously is a year when we'll have a test match back here, and it'll be really exciting because it's an Ashes Test next summer.

"The pavilion looks fantastic already. It's probably a couple of months away from being fully complete, but it's great that we've had members sitting in front of it for the duration of this Test.

"The members who've sat in there have really, really enjoyed it. I've been out and chatted with them [and] they've given us great feedback.

"Obviously we know it's going to be a sensational view from there, but we've put additional features in there - all the seats are padded, some of them have cup holders and things.

"It's a special experience already, and it will be even more special when it opens fully."

With the recent Test match starting during a heatwave, Kenyon said ground staff "put a lot of measures in place" to keep spectators safe.

While the result was not what the hosts had in mind, he said the news about Stokes stepping back from international cricket, which broke during the match, was a historic moment.

"It was an amazing afternoon, and for Trent Bridge to be the stage for something so dramatic like that was incredible," he said.

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