Gurdwara Sahib Leamington and Warwick

Gurdwara Sahib Leamington and Warwick stands on Tachbrook Park Drive, Leamington Spa (CV34 6RH). Its own website says the sangat comes from Leamington Spa, Warwick, Kenilworth and the surrounding villages, and that all are welcome regardless of faith, colour or creed. It lists a wedding hall, classrooms, a library and a community centre, and streams Gurbani and kirtan live. It is a charity that relies on community donations.

The building: Wikipedia reports that construction began in March 2008 and took 18 months, that the 11 million pound cost was met entirely by the Sikh community, and that the four-storey, 44,000 square foot building has three prayer halls. Wikipedia calls it the third largest purpose-built gurdwara in the UK. The Lord-Lieutenant of Warwickshire's office calls it Warwickshire's largest Sikh temple. SikhNet reports a celebration on Sunday 25 October 2009 attended by about 6,000 people, with a core of about 180 volunteers and 90,000 pounds raised on the day. Jagtar Singh Gill was General Secretary then.

Key moments

• 25 October 2009: the new gurdwara is celebrated and opened at its present site.
• February 2015: David Cameron, then Prime Minister, visits (Wikipedia).
• 11 September 2016: police are called after reports that up to 30 men, some reportedly carrying swords, forced their way in, apparently angry about a planned mixed marriage. The Leamington Observer first reported 55 arrests. By 29 November 2016 it reported that no further action would be taken against 52 of those arrested, that a 28-year-old man had been cautioned, and that two men had been charged, one with religiously aggravated assault and one with religiously aggravated criminal damage, with hearings set for January. We found no report of the outcome.
• 4 September 2025: the Princess Royal visits, the first visit by a member of the Royal Family. General Secretary Jaswant Singh Virdee welcomes her.

Where it stands: it is a working gurdwara with daily programmes and a large community centre, and the main Sikh place of worship for the Leamington and Warwick area.