About us
You’ll find everything you want to know about the Deal & Sandwich Shooting School, our ground, our facilities, our coaches and gunsmith services. And if you don’t, just get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.
We are open for have-a-gos, lessons, gun fit sessions and open shoots.
Open shoots are held every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday - no need to book. Gates open at 10am for a 10.30am start. Last entry at 2pm.
We are also open by appointment on Monday, Thursday and Friday.
Our facilities
The Deal and Sandwich Shooting School is based at the 15-acre Lydden Ground, located between Deal and Sandwich near the Sandwich Estate and home to English sporting clays, two skeet layouts, Down The Line (DTL) and our Tiger tower.
Our dedicated Club hut provides a great place to meet and enjoy a hot drink and bacon, sausage and/or egg roll on open shoot days.
We are a School not a Club so no membership fee is payable - just pay for your shooting and cartridges if required. Loan guns are available on request for no extra charge and our parking is also free.
We hold open shoots every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, and are the ideal venue for full- and half-day events for your company, for stag and hen dos, and friend and club days.
Our coaches
Our team of CPSA-qualified coaches is led by Barry Gibb, one of the most experienced clay shooting coaches in Kent and the South East.
After a decade as a Double-Trap shooter in the 70s, Barry passed his first CPSA safety course and opened his first clay shoot back in 1989. He qualified as a CPSA Club Coach in 1990 and Senior Coach and member of the Institute of Clay Shooting Instructors in 1994 before founding the Deal & Sandwich Shooting School in 1995.
Our Resident gunsmith
We are lucky to have EH Gunsmiths as our resident gunsmith, providing gun servicing and repairs to keep your gun in tip-top condition but also gun-fit services, ensuring your gun fits you for optimal accuracy and comfort.
Our Cafe
Jen’s cafe is open every open shoot day with hot and cold drinks, snacks and Jen’s legendary all-day breakfast rolls - a tiger roll packed with bacon, sausage or egg (or any combination). Cash only.
Our cartridges
Buy your cartridges from us on open shoot days. Just ask in the clubhouse.
safetY
For your safety and that of all visitors and staff, everyone present on the Lydden Ground must follow our Ground Rules.
By entering the Grounds, you agree to abide to the Ground Rules and anyone not doing so will be required to leave the Grounds immediately when asked.
Ground Rules
When the siren sounds, all shooting must stop immediately and guns must be unloaded.
Personal Protection must be worn by shooters and guests, including ear and eye protection. If you do not have your own, they are available free from the Club House
Shotguns are to be empty of cartridges when stored on gun racks and open and safe while carried around the Ground
Guns must only be loaded when you are in the stand and pointing down range.
Semi-autos must have safety flags and be carried upright (safety flags are for sale in the Clubhouse)
No plastic wads are allowed
Cars must be locked. It is a legal requirement for your car to be locked when a gun is inside.
You must be able to produce your shotgun licence if requested by School staff
No alcohol may be consumed on the premises and anyone suspected to be under the influence will not be allowed to shoot and will be required to leave the Grounds.
Insurance & licences
The Deal & Sandwich Shooting School holds public liability insurance and CPSA insurance for its coaching activities.
We are a Registered Firearm Dealer (Kent 309) and we hold an 11(6) Exemption Police Certificate which enables those without a shotgun licence to shoot using one of our own shotguns.