Padel Nation NEWS
Slazenger looking to “dominate” UK padel market with plans
Slazenger has announced ambitious plans to grow its presence and become “the leading name on the UK padel market”, with more than 10 new Padel Clubs set to open in 2026.
This would bring the total number of courts in its portfolio of clubs to 150. Slazenger Padel Clubs opened its third location in Blackburn, a multi-purpose destination, earlier this month. The 30,000 sq.ft club features nine panoramic padel courts, expert coaching for all levels, a Members Bar, social spaces, pro shop, equipment hire and, for the first time within the Slazenger Padel portfolio, two dedicated pickleball courts. In addition, Slazenger operates clubs in Leeds and Swindon. Confirmed future locations include Mansfield, Cardiff, Exeter, Hull, Liverpool, Newport, York, Gillingham and a second site in Leeds. Slazenger Padel Clubs is owned by Frasers Group, the retail giant which also owns Sports Direct, House of Frasers, Flannels and Game chains of outlets. In addition, Frasers Group also owns the Everlast Gyms chain and a number of branded apparel lines, including Everlast and Jack Wills.
“Padel has experienced an incredible trajectory over the past few years,” they said. “It’s a highly social sport and a relevant younger brother of tennis, appealing to a wide array of demographics making it a natural fit for our audiences.
“Slazenger has long been synonymous with elite racquet sports, and building on its heritage in tennis, padel represents a powerful next chapter for the brand.”
UK padel participation “more than doubled in 2025”
Participation in padel more than doubled in the UK during 2025, according to data published by Playtomic.
The number of players booking courts through Playtomic’s platform rose from 76,695 in January 2025 to 172,564 in December 2025 – representing growth of approximately 125% across the calendar year.
According to the data, new player acquisition also accelerated sharply during the year. The number of first-time players booking through the platform rose from 17,196 in January to 37,411 in December, an increase of approximately 117%. Regionally, London remains the largest market, followed by Manchester, Bristol, Leeds and Derby, demonstrating growth in urban centres.
Padel Nation NEWS
Hounslow Council to convert tennis courts into padel ones
Hounslow Council has approved plans to deliver six new padel courts at two of the council’s leisure centres.
At both Hanworth Leisure Centre and Isleworth Leisure Centre, two of the four existing tennis courts will be converted to three padel courts.
The estimated capital cost for the project is £950,000. The council estimates that the courts will generate around £1.4m of additional income across the two leisure centres.
Following the funding approval, the Council will now consult with local people and put the project to the planning team.
It is currently estimated that the new courts will be available for spring/summer 2027 and Council partner, Lampton Leisure, will manage the new offer on behalf of the council.
Councillor Salman Shaheen, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Public Spaces, said: “I’m proud we are investing nearly £1m to bring padel to our leisure centres, in Isleworth and Hanworth, for the first time. There can be no greater investment than in the health and wellbeing of our residents.”
The council estimates that the courts will generate around £1.4m of additional income
Iciar Montes joins LTA as International Coach
The LTA has announced the appointment of Iciar Montes as LTA Padel International Performance Coach. Montes brings a wealth of experience into the role and will be working closely alongside LTA National Performance Pathway Manager and Great Britain coach Libby Fletcher.
Montes, a former world number 1, will be joining the LTA Padel performance team, joining forces with Agustin Gomez Silingo who was appointed as LTA Padel International Coach last May ahead of the FIP Euro Padel Cup. Montes will focus on the GB Women’s National Team, with Silingo transitioning to the GB Men’s National Team.
In this role, Montes will support the preparation and activities of the Great Britain’s Women National Padel Team, contributing to team selection processes, travelling to FIP-sanctioned international team events, and providing comprehensive on-court support.
£4m centre with 11 courts planned for Nottingham
Plans have been submitted for a £4m, purpose-built padel centre and social hub in Nottingham. Called Swing, the proposed centre will have 11 courts and could help make Nottingham become a focal point for British padel.
Developed by ALB Group and designed by Leonard Design Architects, the proposed 30,000sq ft facility on the city’s Electric Avenue would feature eight indoor and three covered outdoor padel courts, a show court with arena-style seating alongside wellness and leisure spaces including sauna, physiotherapy and sports massage rooms and reformer pilates studios.
Padel Nation NEWS
Social value and ease of play top reasons why people play padel
Padel’s social aspect and “easy-to-learn” nature are among the key drivers of the sport’s rapid growth in the UK.
Research into player motivations, conducted as part of a partnership by Soul Padel and Loughborough University, shows that players appreciate the sport’s “fun” and “addictive” nature, with many saying they improved quickly enough to stay motivated. The research, titled Why Choose to Play Padel? A Study Exploring Motivations and Social Benefits of Tennis Padel Participation in the UK, was undertaken by Vasia Karvouni, an MA Sports Management student and elite Greek tennis player.
When asked about barriers, players frequently mentioned accessibility and cost. Some players had experienced courts priced up to £80 per hour, making padel feel exclusive in certain areas. Participants also highlighted equipment prices reaching £500 for some rackets.
Weather and limited court availability were also referenced as restricting regular play.
The research is part of the ongoing “Soul Padel on Campus” partnership between Loughborough University and Soul Padel – one of the UK’s leading padel operators.
Mark Hewlett, CEO and Founder of Soul Padel, said academic collaboration has been a core part of the programme from day one.
HEAD to sponsor National Championships
Padel tournament operator, UK Padel, has announced HEAD as the official ball sponsor of its UK Padel National Championships.
The three-year agreement ensures that every level of the UK Padel events pathway will be played with the HEAD Pro S+, a padel ball trusted across the game worldwide.
From U13, U15 and U18 National Schools and Universities Championships to the Masters Series and UK Padel County Championships, HEAD is the exclusive and official padel ball supplier for these events.
UK PADEL’s CEO, Nick Baker said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have a global powerhouse like HEAD behind us for the next three years. Their world-class ball elevates our competitions”
Padel Nation NEWS
Work gets under way on five-court Southport padel venue
Construction work has started on a new five-court padel venue in Southport which is scheduled to open in June 2026.
Site clearance and groundworks are under way at the Birkdale Padel Club development in Victoria Park, which is the first project by Sefton Padel. Planning permission was granted in December by Sefton Council, which said the scheme would be a positive addition to the character of the area.
Alongside the courts, the scheme will feature a grab-and-go coffee kiosk, vending machines for playing equipment, drinks and snacks, changing facilities, outdoor seating, cycle storage and an office for staff.
Sefton Padel founder and chief executive, Paul McComb, has leased the 3,600sq m site on a 15-year agreement with Sefton Council.
Birkdale Padel Club will be open daily from 7am until 10pm and already has a waiting list of 2,500 people ahead of its launch. The site previously housed six tennis courts. Three will be retained and upgraded as part of the development.
The club will offer concessions for blue light workers and under-18s, and will work closely with local schools by providing free introductory sessions and holiday coaching camps for youngsters.
Sefton Padel has also committed to using local suppliers through the construction project.
University padel comes alive at championships
Players from across the country came together in Bristol recently for the UK Padel University Championships, with 67 teams from 23 universities competing across men’s, women’s and mixed events.
The Championships highlighted not only the rapid growth of padel within higher education, but also the unique culture that makes the sport so appealing to students. Many players already knew one another through UK Padel’s NUPL or LTA-sanctioned events, creating a sense of familiarity, rivalry and mutual respect that lifted the weekend to another level.
Mark Ayers, Tournament Director, said: “The atmosphere across the whole weekend was exactly what university padel should be about. There was a real raw energy from the players and a great sense of community between teams.”
Padel Nation NEWS
Six-court premium covered padel club planned for Liverpool
Pure Padel has announced plans for its first Liverpool club, marking a major North West expansion for the business.
The proposed development would see a new premium padel destination take shape on the Edge Lane site, featuring six covered courts beneath a 9.5m canopy to allow year-round play. Plans also include a clubhouse with a food and beverage café, pro shop and social spaces, designed to make the club as much a place to spend time as it is to play sport. No opening date has yet been confirmed.
Liverpool Innovation Park has benefited from significant recent investment and has established itself as a key business and innovation hub for the city. Located around two miles from Liverpool city centre and positioned on Edge Lane, the main arterial route into the city from the M62, the site offers strong visibility and accessibility, placing padel in one of Liverpool’s most prominent urban locations.
The proposed Liverpool club would operate on a pay-to-play basis.
By the end of 2026, the company’s rapid growth is expected to see Pure Padel become one of the largest padel operators in the UK.
Planning has already been approved or is progressing for further clubs, including Birmingham city centre, Gosforth, York, Royal Wootton Bassett and Coulsdon.
Six-court padel centre approved for Rochdale
Planning approval has been granted to build six padel courts on the grounds of Rochdale Sports Club.
The project, led by Rochdale Padel Club, includes both covered and uncovered courts, alongside a clubhouse building with changing rooms, café and a terraced socialising area.
Rochdale Padel Club has worked with The Padel Architects on the project.
The padel courts will add to the existing facilities on the 13-acre Rochdale Sports Club, the home ground of Rochdale Cricket Club, located in the North West of Rochdale, Greater Manchester. Current facilities include a cricket ground and large pavilion with three function rooms.
Other sports played at the site include lacrosse and squash.
Game4Padel opens covered courts at Withdean
Game4Padel has opened three new padel courts at Withdean Sports Complex in Brighton. Developed in partnership with leisure management company, Freedom Leisure, and Brighton and Hove City Council, they will be the first covered courts in the area and are expected to be hugely popular with the existing Withdean community and beyond. Plans for a new community swimming pool on the site have also been approved.
Game4Padel previously operated a single, temporary court at Withdean, until May 2024, which ran at an average of 90% occupancy. The company also operates the padel and tennis facilities at Hove Beach Park (which were at 97% occupancy throughout the summer). Game4Padel is one of the UK’s leading operators, with 26 venues around the UK.
Hoteliers and ex-England cricketer set up premium club
A duo of Nottingham-based hospitality entrepreneurs have partnered with former England and Nottinghamshire cricketer, James Taylor, to launch a premium padel complex in the city. Called Padelplex, the £1m venture will consist of five covered outdoor padel courts alongside a hospitality pavilion featuring a reception area, snack bar, indoor seating and changing facilities.
Located adjacent to the city’s Showcase Cinema, on the land at Dusk Till Dawn’s car park on Redfield Way, Padelplex is the brainchild of Nottingham hotelier Richard Johal and Rob Darby, founder of popular coffee house, 200 Degrees. Plans have now been submitted for the facility, which has been designed by Leonard Architects and will have a focus on a premium padel experience with “customer service at its heart”. The deal for the land was brokered by Box Property.
Padelplex co-founder, Richard Johal, said: “We saw an opportunity to develop a high-quality, premium offering with an eye on the ‘added extras’ of a top quality venue, but at the same price point to play. The small things like a consistently friendly welcome, clean and bright and well maintained facilities will be consistently excellent at Padelplex, combined with the essentials such as plentiful free parking and easy access to great restaurants and other activities, such as the cinema.”