Free fun day at Sir Francis Barker Recreation Ground on Monday 31 August, 12.30pm to 6.30pm, raising money to rebuild the Chessington clubhouse lost to fire.

A free community fun day on Sir Francis Barker Recreation Ground on Bank Holiday Monday, 31 August will raise money to replace the Chessington clubhouse destroyed by fire in June. It runs from 12.30pm to 6.30pm.

The council’s event listing names the organisers as Parkside FC, the Keeping In Mind project, Kingston Community Football Team and Chessington Cricket and Sports Club. It lists:

  • children’s fair rides
  • a football match
  • local vendor stalls
  • street food
  • live music

Entry is free. The ground is on Leatherhead Road, Chessington, KT9 2NB.

What happened in June

London Fire Brigade was called at 5.31pm on Monday 15 June. Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters attended. The single-storey clubhouse and about 20 metres of fencing were destroyed, and the fire was under control by 8.53pm.

Nobody was hurt. Crews cooled and removed 21 gas cylinders of 22kg each, because cylinders can explode when heated. Firefighters came from Surbiton, New Malden, Sutton, Twickenham and Mitcham.

The Brigade says the fire is believed to have been caused by a bonfire spreading out of control.

The club’s own statement puts the fire at 5.30pm and says the building was empty at the time. It records that “the mainly wooden clubhouse and all the contents inside have been lost”, and that there was no foul play. The committee also wrote of losing “the club’s physical history and many memories contained within”.

Timeline showing the Chessington clubhouse fire on 15 June 2026, the Rebuild Our Clubhouse appeal launched on 17 June, and the free community fun day on 31 August 2026, with key figures: six fire engines, 40 firefighters, 21 gas cylinders cooled and no injuries
From the fire to the fun day. Graphic by Kingston Wire, from London Fire Brigade, the club's own statement and the council's events listing.

The club, and what it lost

Chessington Cricket and Sports Club describes itself as a multi-sport club running since 1880, covering cricket, football, darts and social membership. The council’s sports club directory lists it as playing at Sir Francis Barker Recreation Ground, affiliated to the England and Wales Cricket Board, holding the ECB Club Accreditation Mark, and taking juniors from 7 to 16 and seniors from 17 to 75.

The club’s own site says its ground hosts adult football through Parkside FC and West Banstead FC, both of which use the pitches and clubhouse as their home base.

Cricket did not stop. In an update published a week after the fire, the committee wrote that players, parents, junior cricketers and volunteers came together “to ensure that both adult and junior cricket must go on”, and that the following Saturday brought two home wins, a barbecue and an honesty bar.

The Rebuild Our Clubhouse appeal was launched on 17 June. The club says the aim is not simply to replace what was lost but to build “a modern, inclusive and sustainable clubhouse”. We could not reach the appeal page today to confirm how much has been raised so far, so we are not quoting a total.

What it means for you

If you want to help, there are two straightforward routes. Turn up on 31 August, where the money goes to the rebuild, or donate to the appeal directly. The fun day is free to attend, so what the club raises comes from the stalls, the food and donations on the day.

There is a wider point in the Brigade’s account. A bonfire that got out of control took a building generations of Chessington families had used. London Fire Brigade asks people to consider whether a bonfire is necessary at all, and if you do light one:

  • build it well clear of buildings, sheds, fences and hedges
  • never use flammable liquids to start it, and never burn aerosols, paint tins, foam furniture or batteries
  • never leave it unattended, and damp it down thoroughly with water before you go
  • check for wildlife and pets hiding nearby first

For other things happening across the borough over the bank holiday, see our things to do in Kingston page. If you are driving to Chessington, the roadworks and travel page has the current closures.

Sources