Fairlop Oaks Playing Fields is home to Power League Fairlop — a 3G astroturf football centre operating since the early 2000s that draws local teams, casual kickabouts, birthday parties, and junior leagues through its gates. Whether you’re chasing promotion in a Saturday league or looking for a kids’ party venue that actually holds 200 people, here’s what you need to know before you book.
Pitch sizes available: 5-a-side, 6-a-side, 7-a-side, 11-a-side ·
Surface: 3G astroturf ·
Location: Fairlop, Ilford, East London ·
Facilities: Function room, kids’ parties, camps ·
Leagues: Weekly with promotion/relegation ·
Contact: via Powerleague.com
Quick snapshot
- 5-a-side and 7-a-side football on 3G astroturf (Playfinder)
- Weekly leagues with promotion and relegation (Playfinder)
- Function room holds 180–200 guests (Tagvenue)
- Exact number of pitches not published
- Full pricing requires online booking step
- Opening hours vary; contact venue directly
Key facts about the venue at a glance, drawn from venue listings and user reports.
| Detail |
Information |
| Location |
Fairlop Oaks Playing Fields, Forest Road, Ilford IG6 3HJ |
| Surface |
3G astroturf |
| Pitch sizes |
5, 6, 7, 11-a-side |
| Leagues |
Every week, multiple divisions |
| Kids activities |
Parties, camps, skills training |
| Facilities |
Function room, changing rooms, parking |
| Nearest stations |
Hainault and Fairlop (10-minute walk each) |
| 5-a-side rate |
Approximately £44.55–£59.50 per hour |
| 7-a-side rate |
Approximately £94.50–£202.80 per hour |
What is Power League Fairlop?
Power League Fairlop sits inside Fairlop Oaks Playing Fields on Forest Road, Ilford — part of a network of 41 football centres operated by Powerleague across the UK, Ireland and Netherlands (Trustpilot). The venue runs 5-a-side and 7-a-side football on 3G astroturf pitches, with evening slots typically running from 18:00 to 23:00 (Playfinder). It’s not just about league football: the venue also hosts kids’ parties, holiday camps, and a function room that can accommodate up to 200 guests (Tagvenue).
What makes Power League Fairlop unique?
- A junior league specifically for ages 12–18 launched at Fairlop in January 2026, running Fridays from 5–7pm — a sign the venue is investing in youth football (Powerleague Fairlop Facebook)
- Free on-site parking, though spaces are limited and weekends get busy (Playfinder (7-a-side))
- Floodlit pitches extend playability through winter evenings
What to watch
Powerleague signed a £4.5 million partnership with SIS Pitches in 2023 to upgrade surfaces at over 25 locations nationally, including new bespoke 3G pitches. Whether Fairlop is included in that rollout is not publicly confirmed — but the existing astroturf already attracts teams from across Redbridge and east London.
The implication: the venue punches above its weight for a suburban East London site, combining league structure with family events that typically require much larger venues.
Who operates Power League Fairlop?
Powerleague Group runs the Fairlop site as part of its national chain. The company is headquartered in Fitzrovia, London, and standardises booking terms, league rules and cancellation policies across all its venues. The cancellation notice of 48 hours for full refunds and the block-booking rearrangement rule (one slot per 10 games, added to the end of the block) come directly from Powerleague’s published Terms & Conditions (Powerleague Terms & Conditions).
What facilities does Power League Fairlop offer?
The venue splits its offering between football pitches and event space. For players, there are changing rooms described as “smart, spacious and well-maintained” with toilets and a communal changing area (Playfinder). For families and event hosts, the function room is a significant draw — large enough for 180–200 guests with a bar, dance floor and seating (Tripadvisor).
What pitch sizes are available?
- 5-a-side: the most popular format; pitches start from approximately £44.55–£59.50 per hour (Playfinder)
- 6-a-side and 7-a-side: larger formats for more tactical play; 7-a-side pitches cost roughly £94.50–£202.80 per hour depending on time slot (Playfinder (7-a-side))
- 11-a-side: available for full-size matches
All football formats use the same 3G astroturf surface. Floodlighting means evening games run year-round, even in the darkest winter months (Playfinder).
What this means: the venue’s one-surface model keeps maintenance consistent and pricing simple — but you won’t find different surface options here.
Is there a function room for hire?
Yes. The function room at Power League Fairlop holds approximately 180–200 guests depending on layout, with prices starting from around £100 for hire (Tagvenue). Tripadvisor reviewers have described it as having a “fair sized hall with bar”, a dance floor, tables and comfortable seating — making it a practical option for birthday parties, work events and community gatherings (Tripadvisor (UK)).
Are kids parties and camps hosted there?
Kids’ parties are a core part of what Power League Fairlop offers. Birthday packages are available through the venue, and holiday camps run during school breaks targeting ages 12–18. The January 2026 launch of a dedicated junior league on Fridays 5–7pm for the same age group shows the venue is actively expanding its youth provision (Powerleague Fairlop Facebook).
Upsides
- No membership required — pay-as-you-play booking works for casual players (Playfinder)
- Block bookings lock in the same pitch and time each week
- Free on-site parking
- Function room large enough for 200 guests with bar and dance floor
- Junior league and holiday camps for ages 12–18
- Refereed league matches
Downsides
- Parking spaces limited; weekends get crowded (Playfinder (7-a-side))
- Tripadvisor reviews mention occasional cleanliness issues and poorly lit parking areas (Tripadvisor (UK))
- Social environment on Monday and Wednesday evenings has drawn negative reviews
- Opening hours not standardised; contact venue for off-peak availability
- Exact pitch count not published — you can’t guarantee your preferred format until booking
How do I book at Power League Fairlop?
Booking is handled entirely online through the Powerleague website. There is no membership requirement — the system operates on a pay-as-you-play basis, meaning you can book a single session or commit to a weekly block (Playfinder).
Can I book online?
Yes. Go to powerleague.com, select Fairlop from the venue list, and choose your pitch type and time slot. For league teams, split payments are available — meaning team captains can share the cost of a booking with squad members rather than covering it upfront alone (Powerleague Shoreditch Facebook).
What are the opening hours?
Football bookings on Playfinder show slots from 18:00 to 23:00, seven days a week (Playfinder). However, opening hours are not standardised on Powerleague’s own site and can vary. The venue does not list specific daytime availability — if you need a morning or early-afternoon slot, you will need to contact Fairlop directly.
How do I contact Power League Fairlop?
The primary route is through the Powerleague location page at powerleague.com. You can also reach the venue through its Facebook page. For league enquiries, block bookings or function room hire, using the contact form on the Powerleague website is the most reliable approach.
The upshot
Team captains booking block slots should note the fine print: only one game per block of 10 can be rearranged, it must be moved to the end of the block, and you need to give at least 7 days’ notice. The 48-hour cancellation window applies to single bookings — miss it, and you pay in full (Powerleague Terms & Conditions).
Bottom line: The catch: online booking is the only official route, so if you prefer phone or in-person enquiries, you’re out of luck — the system is built for digital-first captains.
Booking steps
Three routes into a game at Power League Fairlop, depending on how often you want to play.
- Pay-as-you-play: Visit powerleague.com, select Fairlop, choose your format (5-a-side or 7-a-side), pick an available slot, and pay online. No account or membership needed.
- Block booking: Ideal for teams that want the same time and pitch every week. Book 10 sessions upfront; you can rearrange one slot per block (added to the end), with at least 7 days’ notice.
- Join a league: Register your team through the Powerleague website. Matches are fully refereed, run weekly, and include promotion/relegation across multiple divisions.
The catch
Prices shown on Playfinder (£44.55–£59.50 for 5-a-side, £94.50–£202.80 for 7-a-side) are approximate and time-dependent — peak Friday and Saturday evenings will be at the higher end. Book early to secure the cheaper slots.
Confirmed facts vs. rumours
Three things you can rely on at Power League Fairlop, and three areas where details remain vague.
Confirmed
The venue offers 5-a-side and 7-a-side football on 3G astroturf. It runs weekly leagues with promotion and relegation. Kids’ parties and camps are regular offerings. The function room accommodates 180–200 guests. Contact and booking are handled through powerleague.com. Hainault and Fairlop Underground stations are each roughly a 10-minute walk away (Tripadvisor).
What’s unclear
The exact number of individual pitches on site is not published. Full pricing transparency requires completing the online booking flow — no standalone price list is available. Opening hours outside the 18:00–23:00 evening window are not standardised on official channels. Parking capacity is not specified.
What players and guests say
“We booked the function room for my son’s 14th birthday — held up to 200 people with a dance floor, bar, tables and comfortable seating. The staff member Tia at the front desk was amazing and extremely helpful.”
— Tripadvisor reviewer (Tripadvisor)
“The changing rooms are smart, spacious and well-maintained with toilets and a communal changing area. The powerful spotlights make evening play during cold and dark winter months perfectly feasible.”
— Playfinder venue listing (Playfinder)
“Powerleague runs leagues where matches are 40 minutes weekly on 3G floodlit pitches and all equipment is provided — the standard model across their network of 41 centres.”
— Park Sports league description (Park Sports)
Negative reviews centre on cleanliness variability — some 2025 Tripadvisor reports mention “unacceptably dirty” toilets, while others say the facilities are clean. The social atmosphere on Monday and Wednesday evenings has drawn complaints about behaviour in the car park area.
Bottom line: Players and event guests get what they paid for at Power League Fairlop — reliable floodlit pitches, a function room that genuinely holds 200 people, and junior football options that most suburban venues don’t offer. The trade-off is that prices aren’t transparent until you start the booking flow, opening hours outside evenings aren’t confirmed, and the exact pitch count stays unpublished.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be a member to play at Power League Fairlop?
No. Powerleague operates a pay-as-you-play system — anyone can book a pitch online without a membership account (Playfinder).
How early should I book a pitch?
For peak evening slots (Friday and Saturday 18:00–23:00), book as early as possible — these fill quickly. Off-peak slots are easier to secure on shorter notice, but the venue does not publish a specific advance booking window.
Can I host a birthday party at Power League Fairlop?
Yes. Kids’ birthday parties are a regular offering, and the function room can accommodate up to 200 guests with a bar, dance floor and seating. Function room hire starts from approximately £100 (Tagvenue).
Are there changing rooms and showers?
Yes. The changing rooms are described as smart, spacious and well-maintained, with toilets and a communal changing area. Shower availability is confirmed for players using the facility (Playfinder).
What is the cancellation policy?
For single bookings, you must give at least 48 hours’ notice to qualify for a full refund. Refunds are processed within 5–7 working days. For block bookings, only one session per block of 10 can be rearranged, and the rearranged game is added to the end of the block — with at least 7 days’ notice required (Powerleague Terms & Conditions).
Is Power League Fairlop suitable for under-18s?
Yes. The venue runs holiday camps for ages 12–18, and a dedicated junior league launched in January 2026 runs on Fridays from 5–7pm for the same age group (Powerleague Fairlop Facebook). Kids’ birthday parties are also hosted regularly.
What are the league rules?
League matches are fully refereed. The Powerleague rulebook states the ball cannot be played over head height — the benchmark is approximately 6 feet, at the referee’s discretion (Powerleague League Rulebook).
Is parking available at Power League Fairlop?
Yes — parking is free on site. However, spaces are limited and weekends get particularly busy. The nearest Underground stations are Hainault and Fairlop, each roughly a 10-minute walk away, as an alternative route to the venue (Playfinder (7-a-side)).
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