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University of Essex homepage Life Colchester Campus Facilities Sport and social
Colchester Campus Facilities

Sport and Social

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Get fit, have fun and make lifelong connections

Our Colchester campus is a thriving self-contained community with all of the sports and social facilities you need to enjoy life in between your studies, right on your doorstep. 

Sports facilities

Our sports facilities include a gym, multi-purpose Sports Arena, indoor courts, outdoor pitches, a climbing wall and a disk golf course. Go to our Essex Sport Facilities page for a full detailed round-up.

Essex Sport is a community of the courageous, competitive and curious, so whether you're a first timer at fitness, or an experienced gym goer, you'll find a home here at our Colchester campus. To find out more about our membership and activities, visit Essex Sports.

Gym

Our gym is home to over 160 fitness stations, on-site parking, machines with TV and audio systems and 300 fitness classes every month.

Climbing wall 

Take your fitness levels to the top with our 250-metre climbing wall with bouldering and top roping facilities.

Indoor and outdoor courts

We have over 20 indoor courts including basketball, volleyball, squash, netball and futsal.

Our 40 acres of outdoor sports space includes an 18-hole disc golf course, cricket pitch, tennis court, jogging routes, two rugby pitches and five football pitches.

Essex Sport Arena 

Our £12 million Essex Sport Arena is a multi-purpose space, used for exhibitions, sporting and dance events. It is home to our elite basketball and volleyball teams, known as the Essex Rebels. 

Disc golf

We have 200 acres of parkland on campus for walking, jogging or meditating and an 18 hole disc golf course.

Swimming

For swimmers, nearby Colchester Leisure World has a 25 metre fitness pool, and a leisure pool with wave machine and water slide.

Sports Therapy Clinic

The School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences contains a fully equipped treatment and rehabilitation centre, catering for the sporty and non-sporty alike.

The Clinic can help with:

  • Sports injury treatment
  • Sports injury rehabilitation
  • Neck and shoulder pain
  • Occupational repetitive strain
  • Low back pain
  • Muscle/ligament sprains
  • Arthritic joint pain management
  • Foot and ankle pain

Our third year undergraduate Sports Therapy students assess, treat and undertake rehabilitation and management of sports injuries, joint and muscular pains.

The clinic is open for staff and students during term time, find out more and book a consultation appointment.

Image of the inside of the sport arena

Essex Sport Arena

Two people climbing a climbing wall, one on the wall, the other guiding from below.

Got a love for heights? See how high you can get on our indoor climbing wall.

Two people enjoying a personal training session in the gym

Personal training sessions at the gym help to keep you motivated

Four women doing yoga

Four women doing yoga

Man playing tennis

Man playing tennis

Essex Sport Mens Football team

Essex Sport Mens Football team

Meet like-minded people or try out something new with our Students' Union's 165 sports clubs and societies

Meet like-minded people or try out something new with our Students' Union's 165 sports clubs and societies

Social facilities

Our Students Union venues are the perfect place to relax, have fun, connect with your Essex tribe and create memories to last a lifetime. We have flexible spaces for hobbies and games, bars for relaxing with friends and clubs hosting the latest DJs and everything in between.  There is no need to leave our Colchester campus to meet up with like-minds or get your nightlife fix.

The SU Bar

The SU Bar is the heart of the student community and a fun and affordable place for catching up with friends, making new connections and feeling at home.  Its a place to kick back and relax before, between and after lectures - we're open all day! Come and eat, drink, play ping pong, watch sports on a big screen, or even exercise your vocal chords at a karaoke night.

 

Students relax in the Colchester campus SU bar)
Students relax in the Colchester campus SU bar

Top Bar

Fancy a more laid back vibe, a quiet tipple and cosy chat with friends? Top Bar is for you. With pool tables and darts, Wine Wednesday and Fizzy Fridays, our SU family will always be on hand to prepare your favourite drink.

Students enjoy a drink and a game of pool in Top Bar)
Students enjoy a drink and a game of pool in Top Bar

Sub Zero

Sub Zero, our on-campus club is the space to really let your hair down and dance the night away. We host live music nights and chart-topping DJs in a safe environment just a few steps from your accommodation.

A rap artist on stage to a large crowd at Sub Zero)
A rap artist on stage to a large crowd at Sub Zero

The Inbetween

The In-between is the place to go for students that want more than a bar, but less than a club. It's a fun, safe and intimate space to enjoy your night and caters for smaller communities, hosting quizzes as well as LGBT and international nights.

International students hit the dance floor at The In-Between)
International students hit the dance floor at The In-Between

The Atrium

The Atrium is your space to make your own, whether you want to join a workshop, plan an event or have a games night.

Students play games in the SU Atrium Colchester Campus)
Students play games in the SU Atrium Colchester Campus
Students sitting on the square
Students' Union

When you join Essex, you’ll automatically gain over 11,000 new brothers and sisters – your Students' Union family. This lot won’t steal your clothes, tell on you, or fight you for the TV remote – they’re here to support you, make sure you get your voice heard, and help you make the most of your time at Essex.

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  • Wivenhoe Park
  • Colchester CO4 3SQ

 

 

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