Tucked down a winding country lane in the heart of Kent, where you’d expect to meet farmers rather than international sports stars, is England’s only dedicated curling rink.

When I told people I was visiting a curling rink, everyone did the same thing – imitate the furious sweeping which curlers do on the ice.

If you’ve ever wanted to find out why they do that, or wanted to have a go at doing it, Fentons Rink near Tunbridge Wells is the place to go.

It’s one of the county’s best kept sporting secrets – unless you’re into curling, of course, and then you’ll know it’s not only the No.1, but England’s only dedicated ice curling rink.

Curling may be a niche sport but it’s also incredibly popular.

So much so that the rink, which opened for its 15th season this month, is fully booked until Christmas.

So who does it?

"Everyone and anyone," said Tracey Brown, coach and supervisor, who herself got into the sport as a PE teacher, taking her pupils from school in Cranbrook there regularly. Four years ago she made the break and went to work at the rink full time.

"We’re packed out evenings and weekends. I’m trying to get people up for bookings in December and it’s impossible. If you google curling because you want to have a go, you’ll just find us."

The biggest market is for people who have never tried it before and just want to try something different, although anyone over the age of 11 can have a go. A group of eight people usually works best.

"We get a lot of corporate groups. It’s a team thing and within 20 minutes of arriving you can be throwing a stone on the ice."

How easy is it to learn?

The first thing beginners have to do is watch a safety video first. After that they’re given a specialist coach who takes them through all the aspects of curling. Like 10 pin bowling, you have to wear special shoes. These allow you to walk on the ice without slipping.

"It’s a game of strategy rather than strength," said Tracey.

"Curling is a gentleman’s sport – there’s etiquette. You must shake hands before and after the match.

"You mustn’t insult the other team. And you have a drink together afterwards."

And what of that furious sweeping?

"You sweep because it warms up the ice momentarily which then makes the stone curl gently along the ice.

"By sweeping in front of the stone, it will glide along a bit further. It doesn’t travel dead straight."

Some of those who come along for a one-off get bitten by the bug. Fenton’s also runs a schools programme.

"It’s very important to us. They are the future curlers,” she added.
"You’ve got to try it to really know – get seven friends together and come down."

THE ICE

The game is played on an ice pad.
It takes several weeks to get the pad ready for the season.
The court is painted on concrete underneath and the lanes are marked out with wool. The ice is then frozen over the top in a series of layers, until there are 25, although in total they are only two inches thick.
The ice is then prepared each morning with tiny bubbles of water showered over the top and then the top is shaved off.
Ice skating is not allowed on the pad as the blades leave marks on the smooth surface.

THE RULES

The object of the game is to get a stone closer to the centre of the circle than the other team. Only one team can score.
Each team of four has eight stones, two each.
Each player throws a stone towards the circle, followed by the long slide along the ice as it goes. As their stone reaches the circle, two sweepers brush the surface to heat it up, thereby making the stone curl.
The skip is the last person to throw their stones.
If a stone is touched by the brush it will be classed as a burned stone and removed from play.

DETAILS
Fentons Rink is at Dundale Farm, Dundale Road, near Tunbridge Wells and is open seven days a week from 10am to 10pm. The season runs from October to April.
It costs £112 for eight people including coaching. For details visit www.curlinginkent.co.uk or call 01892 826004.