About

John Nike, a Devonian, came to Bracknell (England) in 1964, acquiring 60 acres of land on the western edge of the town in 1969. With no specific thoughts of development – just a vision of replacing the existing brickworks ruin and old clay pits with an aesthetic parkland setting, a reclamation scheme was outlined.

By 1974 a redevelopment strategy had been formalised. During the next decades the scarred land was reclaimed and construction of Bracknell’s first privately owned major leisure facility commenced for John Nike Leisuresport Limited. 1984 saw the opening of Berkshire’s only outdoor dry ski slope, and in 1986, the first International & Olympic Ice Skating Rink in Great Britain was completed. The linked complex provides skiing, ice hockey, ice karting, figure skating tuition, health & fitness, food & beverages, corporate events – all for the home and business community.

By 1992, a business park and hotel in a landscaped setting was completed for the Nike Group – A Founder Member of the Berkshire Community Trust. The 205 bedroom Coppid Beech Hotel won the coveted AA South East Region Best Hotel Newcomer of the Year award, and is a recognised Investor in People company.

This reclamation of the old Binfield Brickworks site was accepted in 1996 as an eligible project for the Millennium Marque challenge.