Summerleaze Ltd has invested £1.25 million in making comprehensive improvements to the watersports facilities at Bray Lake, which the company first opened in 1990.
The enhanced facilities were formally opened on Wednesday by Nate and Anya Prior, aged nine and six, representing the future generations who will enjoy everything Bray Lake has to offer. As the great-grandchildren of Summerleaze founders Robin and Ruth Prior, they also symbolise the continuation of a family legacy.
The redeveloped facilities are dedicated to the memory of the founders of Summerleaze Ltd. Their vision, enterprise and commitment laid the foundations for the company, whose investment has enabled Bray Lake and other local facilities to continue serving future generations.
The investment includes a new extension to the clubhouse, providing additional space for an expanded kitchen, a dedicated first aid room and a larger lecture room used for training, coaching and educational sessions. The ladies’ changing facilities have also been significantly enlarged, while improvements to the car park have made the site more accessible for the thousands of people who visit each year.
Sustainability has been at the heart of the improvements. The new facilities incorporate both solar photovoltaic and solar thermal energy systems, together with an on-site water treatment works. Collectively, these measures mean that the building will generate more than 50 per cent of the energy it uses over the course of a year from the sun’s energy, significantly reducing its environmental impact and helping to secure the long-term future of the facility.
Owned by Summerleaze, Bray Lake has become an important hub for the local community, welcoming families, schools, clubs and community groups to enjoy sailing, paddle sports, windsurfing, open water swimming and a wide range of outdoor activities.
Peter Prior, CEO of Summerleaze, welcomed the improvements, saying:
‘Bray Lake is a good example of a community facility that has continued to evolve to meet the needs of its users. Thanks to the investment made by Summerleaze and the Bray Lake team, these improvements will provide better facilities for members, visitors and local organisations, while ensuring the site is more sustainable for the future. It is an investment not only in buildings, but in the community that relies on them.
‘Projects like this are only possible when businesses have the confidence to invest in their facilities and in the communities they serve. Free enterprise creates the opportunity for successful companies such as Summerleaze to reinvest in projects that deliver lasting benefits, not just for their business, but for local people too.
‘In today’s economic climate, investments of this scale have become increasingly difficult. That makes it even more important that facilities like Bray Lake are designed to be financially and environmentally sustainable, enabling them to stand on their own feet for generations to come.’
Monday 17th August 2026, 1:12pm
