Question 1

Can I have a BBQ or Picnic

Accepted Answer

BBQ
There is a communal BBQ for all our members to use. This is a shared BBQ and is free to use for groups of 6 and under.

You will need to bring everything you need for the BBQ as these are not provided.

You cannot use disposal BBQ’s here.

We have an affordable café here and the profits from it help the running of the lakes.

Redbridge Lakes is a place to chill out and its unfair on your fellow members if you are partying whilst they are there to relax.  So please be mindful and don't disturb others.

Members should remind their guests that we have a ZERO litter policy at the lakes.

If you want exclusive use of a BBQ there is one in the side garden - this can be booked in advance and comes with the use of the side garden.

The fees are –

Sharing the communal BBQ area
Member and up to 6 guests – adults only 
BBQ free of charge
Non member guests - £5 each

Exclusive use of BBQ and side garden - £50
Non member guest - £5 each

Rules
BBQ food must be prepared and eaten in the side garden (if hired) or BBQ area only.
Alcohol and drinks must be purchased from the cafe
The furniture in and around the cafe must not be moved or used to sit eat your own food at.
The BBQ and surrounding areas must be left tidy ready for the next member to use and put all rubbish in the main car park bin.
Please book if you are going to have a BBQ for over 6 people.

Picnics

You can have a picnic in the swim you are fishing in (as long as it isn't outside the cafe area), or you can bring a blanket and have a picnic at the end of the nature trail.

We don't object to angling members bringing a bite to eat with them whilst fishing or people with special  dietary needs.

You must not order in Take Aways.

Question 2

Can members bring guests

Accepted Answer

Members are encouraged to bring family and friends with them.
It is your responsibility as a member to check your guests are abiding by the rules and you should always be present so you can let them in and out of the front gates, shop and café .

Please don't expect our staff to allow access to your guests if they call on the gate intercom.

Between the months or April and September, any additional guests will need to purchase a £5 guest pass each for the day. These are available from the tackle shop and can be returned at the end of the day in the box by the front gate or back in the tackle shop.

Members can bring along anglers as guests  The Fishing fee for Guests is  £3 per hour or £15.

We would expect your guest to become a member if they enjoy their day and would like to come again.

Please also see Answer to Picnics and BBQs above.

Members should remind their guests that we have a ZERO litter policy at the lakes.

Question 3

Do I need to be a member to visit

Accepted Answer

Yes you need to be a member in order to gain access.

The membership covers the member, one extra adult and upto two children under 16 years of age.

Any extra guests are classed as additional guests and will need to purchase a £5 guest pass if visiting between April-September.

If you know a member, you could ask them to bring you along as a guest.

Question 4

Can I take a look around before I join

Accepted Answer

It would be great if we could afford to employ someone to  show people around before they join, yet this is not commercially viable.

We do have the occasional open days and you could always ask a member to bring you along.

Please look through the website and if there is anything you are unsure about, please drop us an email and we will do our level best to answer your questions.

Or you can simply join up and if you don't like what you see when you first visit, we can refund you on that day.

Question 5

How much does the fishing cost

Accepted Answer

Fishing costs have remained the same now for over 10 years.

Members fishing rates are just £10 for a full day or £2 for an hour.

We don't restrict you to just one rod, you can have another if you wish.

Children under 16 ( Max TWO ) don't pay for fishing, so long as they are sharing a swim with a paying adult.

We have poles and Nets here that you can hire for FREE. you just need to purchase a rig and bait.

Rigs cost £6 and are reusable. Allow about £2. for bait.

Fishing Guests Pay £3 per hour or £15 per day.

Question 6

I want to bring my children to learn how to fish

Accepted Answer

That's fine, if you are not an angler yourself, you may wish to email us to check if there will be any extra team members on who can show you the basics and help you to set up,
or if you check out the videos on this site, you will find lots of useful tips .

Beginners are encouraged to stay close to the café, there are plenty of fish around here and you will normally find a member who can help if you get into trouble.

Children under 16 years of age must be with an adult and supervised at all times

Question 7

What discounts are there for senior citizens and disabled

Accepted Answer

Everyone pays the same here, it keeps things simple.
We will make some concessions for disabled groups and the like, so long as one of the group becomes a member.
Please email us and agree in advance.

Question 8

what fish are in the lakes

Accepted Answer

Predominantly we are what is know as silverfish lakes.
We do have some nice carp in Lake Daisy yet we don't consider ourselves as a carp fishery.
Roach
Rudd
Ide
Hybrids
Chub
Bream
Tench
Crucians
Brown fish
Gold Fish
Gudgeon
Eels
Perch
Commons
Mirrors

Question 9

How do the fishing competitions work

Accepted Answer

Generally, our fishing competitions are on Sundays and Wednesdays and they are restricted to Members and the occasional guest.

Unless we send out a newsletter telling you the lakes are full, you will always find space to leisure fish.

Its great to get involved in competition fishing, you will meet lots of other competitive , yet friendly anglers here who will be more than willing to give you tips on how to improve your fishing.

We normally meet up in or around the café in the morning around 8am and arrange where everyone will fish. The start time is generally 10am and we stop fishing on the whistle at 4pm.

Your fish are kept in the keepnet during the day ( we can loan you one at first ) and we weigh them just after the final whistle to see who has caught the most.

We encourage anglers of all abilities to join in. Don't worry being humiliated by a great angler who catches more than you. its a great way of learning and there is lots of fun and banter at the same time.

Your day ticket costs the same £10 and there is an additional fee of £10 that goes into the prize fund.

Wednesday is the team competition, which involve you joining into opposing teams and the winning team shares the prize equally between them, so even if you only catch a tiddler, you could be in the winning team and share a prize.

Sundays is the individual match where the fishermen with the top weights can win so money, how much depends on how many anglers are and if there are sections for that days events.

You may wish to join our Match anglers Facebook group called :  Redbridge Lakes Anglers. 
Here you will see lots of information about the competitions and photos of the fish that have been caught and you can ask any questions you need answered.

Don't be afraid, come and join in the fun, you will enjoy it.

Question 10

Where does the water come from

Accepted Answer

The water is mostly road run off from Roding Lane North and some that seeps through from the Claybury hills.

Its filtered naturally through the silt trap, more commonly know as the King Fisher pool and through reeds on the islands where it finally gets pumped back to lake Cuthbert.

You will be amazed how many pipes are under the landscape.

Question 11

How deep are the lakes

Accepted Answer

The two main lakes (Daisy and Cuthbert) lakes are about 60cm near the bank and 150cm in the middle, this is consistent across and around both lakes.
Lake Joy is much deeper at around 15 foot or 4 and a half metres.

Question 12

Disability access

Accepted Answer

Access for those with difficulties has been taken into consideration and you will find we have appropriate disabled toilets and ramps into the café and other areas.

We have built a hard pathway that leads around the nature trail and up to the bee hives.

Access to the bankside for fishing is available in many spots and should not be challenging.

We do not recommend wheelchairs or mobility scooters crossing over the bridge to Lake Joy as the bridge is quite steep.

Question 13

What are your opening times

Accepted Answer

Opening time vary throughout the year depending upon the daylight conditions.

As a rule of thumb, we open at at around 7am and close 30mins before sunset.

We send out regular newsletters by email with lots of current information including open and closing times.

The Café is staffed 3 days a week Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday til 1pm, where you can be served with a cooked breakfast or lunch.

At all other times the café is open with a self serve facility

Question 14

Can I use a keepnet

Accepted Answer

Fish welfare is of a major concern, so we only allow keepnets to be used by the match anglers on match days.

At all other times, fish must be returned straight away after gently being unhooked.

Question 15

What are the bait restrictions

Accepted Answer

We don't have restrictions on baits.

Yet we do ask you to use common sense and not introduce masses of boilies and other strange concoctions into the water

More importantly, Please don't throw your unwanted bait into the lake or on the banks at the end of the day. This only encourages Vermin and stagnates the water causing oxygen deficiencies and harm to the ecology.

Question 16

What is the difference between a barbed and barbless hook.

Accepted Answer

A barbed hook has a barb near the tip which is much more difficult to remove from a fishes mouth and can cause untold damage, where as a barbless hook is much kinder and is easily removed.

BARBED HOOKS MUST NOT BE USE HERE.

Question 17

Can we swim in the lakes

Accepted Answer

Absolutely NO Swimming.

Unless a prearranged open water swim is booked with our management team

Question 18

Can I feed the ducks

Accepted Answer

Feeding the wild foul is not so good apart perhaps in the winter when the lakes are frozen.

At other times the birds have plenty of natural food to eat here that is much better for them.

Bread left on the bankside can encourage a vermin problem, so we do ask you to refrain from feeding the birds.

Question 19

How to Photograph a fish

Accepted Answer

If you catch a nice fish and you want to take a photo:

1. Remove the hook and place the fish into a landing net and keep it in the water whilst you are getting your camera set up.
2. Ideally Big Carp should be held low to the ground upon or close to an unhooking mat.
3. Other species can be held over the landing net and close to the ground.

Please don't let us see a photo of you holding a fish whilst standing up, or swinging from a line.
Fish welfare is of major importance, they give you lots of pleasure, so please treat them with respect and make sure they returned to the water unharmed.

Question 20

Do you hire out equipment

Accepted Answer

We have poles and landing nets here that you can borrow for FREE.

You will need to purchase a rig costing around £6 that you can use again on another occasion.

Please also see our Rule : The environment and wildlife preservation.

Question 21

Can we book the lake for an event

Accepted Answer

Yes, So long as your activity does not restrict the other members, we will always try and accommodate you.

Email us with a date and more info

Question 22

What are those broken shells on the bank

Accepted Answer

Mink and Otters are probably the only swimming creatures tough enough to break the fresh water muscle shells.
We don't have any Otters here, but we do have a few Mink

Question 23

Can a club book the lakes for fishing

Accepted Answer

So long as one person in the club is a member, we can arrange in advance for clubs to book a number of swims.

Question 24

How long have the lakes been here

Accepted Answer

We built the lakes in 2008. From some disused football pitches

There are photographs of the build are outside the tackle shop.

Question 25

Can I purchase the lakes honey

Accepted Answer

Occasionally we do have some Honey for sale normally from July to around September.
Get in quick as it sells out very quickly

Question 26

What is the recycle shop

Accepted Answer

The recycle shop originated from the friends group to raise funds for the development and upkeep of the Nature Trail, that is now available for use by schools and community groups upon request.

Members bring along items they wish to donate and others leave a cash donation for the item they wish to take.

Question 27

Can I bring my Dog

Accepted Answer

Dogs are allowed, so long as they are kept on a lead and don't cause a nuisance to members.

You must be in possession of a doggy bag - if you have forgotten to bring some, there are some near the tackle shop in the dispenser.

Your dog must be insured.

We don't allow dogs in the café

Question 28

What is your policy with Children and Vulnerable adults.

Accepted Answer

We encourage all guardians of  Children and Vulnerable adults to take notice of our Health and Safety documents.

We are essentially a natural environment which comes with its natural risks.

Guardians must carry out their own risk assessments and take all steps to insure the safety of people under their supervision.

Question 29

Have you a price list for your wellbeing rooms rental and other spaces and activities

Accepted Answer

Redbridge Lakes: Embracing Wellbeing and Community
Redbridge Lakes: Our Journey and Vision
Originally established as a family fishery dedicated to nature conservation, Redbridge Lakes has significantly evolved over the years. Recognizing the increasing number of individuals and groups utilizing the venue for general wellbeing, we founded Wellbeing@TheLakes to support this growing demand. This initiative, although in its early stages, is rooted in over 15 years of experience.
Redbridge Lakes Ltd and Wellbeing@TheLakes: A Collaborative Effort
Wellbeing@TheLakes unites over 20 Member Organizations (MOs), including individuals, charity groups, and commercial entities. Our goal is to foster a collaborative environment where these groups can share experiences and support one another.
Membership and Benefits
Becoming a Member or Member Organization costs £30 to enroll, with an ongoing monthly fee of £7.50 for members or £5 for member organistions. 
Membership benefits include:
 • A key for access to the front gate, café, and shop.
 • Use of the green space, known as the Nature Trail, for outdoor  activities at no charge.
 • The ability to invite guests or clients to the venue, with  members responsible for their guests' entry and exit.
 • Discounts on member organizations' events and business   activities.
Available Spaces for Rent
In addition to the Nature Trail, we offer several spaces available for rent:
1. Meeting Room
 • Ideal for small groups and meetings, this space can be sealed      off from the café area and has its own entrance.
 • Rates:
    • Full day or evening: £40
    • Half day (up to 4 hours): £30
    • Per hour: £10
2. Massage Room
 • Fully equipped and sound-insulated, suitable for treatments or      one-on-one consultations.
 • Rates:
    • Full day or evening: £35
    • Half day (up to 4 hours): £20
    • Per hour: £15
3. Treatment Room
 • Commonly used by a beautician, available for various      treatments.
 • Rates:
    • Full day or evening: £40
    • Half day (up to 4 hours): £30
    • Per hour: £15
4. Private Side Garden and BBQ
 • Suitable for small family events or gatherings, accommodating  upto  40 people
 • Rates:
    • £50 + £5 per adult (children negotiable)

5. Lake Joy
 • Rates:
    • Exclusive use: £120 for all day or all night, includes the hut.

Redbridge Lakes continues to be a hub for community and wellbeing, offering various spaces and opportunities for members and their guests to enjoy and benefit from. Join us in fostering a supportive and collaborative environment.

Lakes - Nature reserve - Cafe

Open 7 days a week.

Members only

Everyone is welcome to join our community .........