The future of table tennis looks bright as Art of Ping Pong launches its Fluro Mini Art Tables

What began as a clever idea to keep a ping pong table in the home has gone on to become a game-changing product in the popular sport. Space is almost always in short supply in our homes. Whether in early adult life as you flatshare, or urban studio living as a young professional, or as your kids’ high chairs, scooters and bikes multiply like gremlins. So when forced to finally part with his beloved old ping pong table, founder Algy Batten was determined to find a way to keep the game going.

The synergy of art and ping pong has always been at the heart of his venture and so it was the catalyst for the idea of creating a mini table that hangs on the wall to embody art itself. In 2017, Algy worked closely with a recent design graduate to help him build the first version of the table. Two prototypes were added to that year’s Art of Ping Pong charity auction so he could test the idea and gauge the reaction. They were an instant hit.

"The playability of the tables is crucial," Algy said. "I wasn’t interested in creating a novelty product, you have to be able to have a super fun yet competitive game on these tables."

On visiting the exhibition fashion designer Nigel Cabourn immediately put in an order for a customised one for himself that he could play his grandson on. And avid ping-pong player and art lover Ray Kelvin, founder of Ted Baker, challenged Algy to a game as they looked so much fun.

"The first prototypes needed developing as they took a few minutes to erect and the spontaneity of play that I was ultimately looking for was lost," adds Algy. "At the start of 2018 I was introduced to a young product design agency, Morrama, and a small furniture manufacturer, Ayla, and between the three of us we came up with a new leg mechanism. The legs now fold out from the back of the table in one simple move and you go straight from vibrant wall art to ping pong table in seconds."

You can get your hands on a Mini Art Table via theartofpingpong.co.uk, starting from £495. Even better, Art of Ping Pong has a long-standing commitment to raising funds for great causes, so for every twenty-one tables sold they will donate a table to a care home or children’s hospital.