‘At every step of the development we felt assured that the advice, technical specifications and delivery of Fordingbridge’s product would be to the highest standards. The finished canopies not only look amazing but have received excellent feedback from our players.’
Carole Naunton, Director, West Worthing Tennis Club
‘We’d highly recommend a Fordingbridge canopy for your padel courts.’
Freya Tringham, Head of Padel, Powerleague
John Challinor
Publisher
PadelNation
john@nationmedia.uk
Colin Corline
Technical Lead SAPCA
@SAPCA
Lee McLaughlan Founder
Sweetspot Communications
Tom Walker Editor
PadelNation
tom@nationmedia.uk
Fabian David Founder Britain Padel Tour
Dave Stalker
Board Advisor
Soul Padel
@DavidStalker
PadelNation is at the heart of the UK’s fastest-growing sport. With new courts, clubs and investors entering the market every month, we’ve created the go-to publication and news website for operators, developers, investors and stakeholders looking to succeed in padel. PadelNation is published three times a year as a standalone title, with each issue also included within SportsNation. In addition to this, the annual Padel Book provides the most comprehensive industry guide - covering design & build, management, operations and maintenance - and developed in partnership with SAPCA, the LTA and leading padel specialists.
Sport Wales is investing £3.3m of Welsh Government funding into 37 projects to improve sports facilities across Wales.
£2.8m of the funding will support grassroots sport, while around half a million pounds has been allocated to high performance sport.
The grants have been made possible thanks to a total of £10m in capital funding from the Welsh Government for 2025 – 26. Details will soon be announced about how the remaining £6.7m will be invested.
A large chunk of the investment will be used to making local authority-owned leisure centres more energy efficient and sustainable.
One of the largest single grants will see £288,000 being invested in order to support the growing popularity of padel.
Tennis Wales will use the funding towards the conversion of an outdoor court to three covered,
Surge’s coaching programme
LED-floodlit padel courts at the Swansea Tennis Centre. This is part of a bigger development involving the resurfacing of four indoor courts and the upgrade of three other outdoor courts to clay.
Sport Wales CEO Brian Davies said: “We want every person in
Wales to be able to access the sport and physical activity they desire. Regular investment in better facilities is an important step towards achieving that.
“We’re particularly pleased to have been able to help safeguard the future of numerous leisure centres.”
Surge Padel has made a commitment to developing young players and inspiring the next generation of players. Its junior coaching programme is designed to nurture skills, confidence and a genuine love for the game – from the very first session through to competitive play.
“We’ve already seen incredible success stories, including Travis
Barber from our Harrogate club, who proudly represented Team GB at the Junior FIP World Championships in Spain this year,” a spokesperson for Surge said.
“Watching his journey from local coaching sessions to the world stage has been a huge inspiration for our community and a reminder of what structured, supportive coaching can achieve.”
SurgePadelisexpandingacrosstheUK, partnering with golf, leisure, rugby, football and tennis clubs, plus large venues.Knownforpremiumfacilitiesand community-focused coaching, Surge helps venues tap into the booming demandforpadel.
Forpartnershiporpropertyopportunities, contactrich.wingfield@surgepadel.co.uk
Padel 100, Ireland’s fastestgrowing padel operator, has recently announced the launch of a €5 million raise under the Employment Investment Incentive Scheme (EIIS) to fund a rollout that will see 300 courts installed nationwide by December 2027.
Early participation of investors is being rewarded with investments completed before 15 November 2025 qualifying for 50% EIIS income tax relief, and investments from 16 November 2025 (the date Padel 100 begins trading) qualifying for 35% tax relief. Installations are planned at a
rate of 10-12 courts per month, with 100 new courts estimated by April 2026, with more than 40 venues already confirmed. Padel 100’s rollout is underpinned by strategic partnerships with Acenta Group, Playtomic, and NXPadel, bringing world-class construction, booking technology and materials to Ireland’s booming padel scene.
Padel 100 CEO, Ben Keohane commented: “We’re not talking about ideas on paper, we’re delivering with a groundbreaking initiative that signals a transformative moment in Ireland’s padel journey.”
Lucra Sports is teaming up with No Strings – a new padel-club concept co-founded by British entertainment entrepreneurs, Dov Penzik and Charlie Myers – to launch its tech-driven rewards platform into the sport.
Lucra’s platform at No Strings will enable players to compete in head-to-head matches, tournaments or group play – and win cash, prizes or sponsored goods instantly.
“Padel is exploding worldwide, yet technology is only just beginning to amplify the on-court fun,” said Michael Madding, chief operating officer at Lucra Sports.
“By partnering with No Strings’ computer-vision scoring, we turn every rally into a trackable datapoint and every friendly wager into a friction-free settlement – no spreadsheets, no IOUs. It’s the perfect launchpad for Lucra’s expansion into racket sports, where we can plug directly into existing infrastructure to unlock new revenue streams while adding to the play experience.”
LTA has announced the inaugural LTA Padel National Championships. The launch of the event is seen as a landmark in the growth of padel into a major sport in the UK.
The tournament will be held at Rocket Padel in Bristol from 4-7 December 2025, bringing together the top British junior, open and
senior padel players to compete for the title of national champions.
LTA’s Head of Padel, Tom Murray, said: “The event will bring together top talent across four age categories for both men and women, with the chance to compete for national titles, ranking points, and prize money, all on home soil.”
In July, the LTA marked a significant milestone in the development of padel across Great Britain, announcing that more than 1,000 courts are now available across 325 venues nationwide. Since taking over the governance of the sport in 2019, when just 68 courts existed, padel has experienced rapid growth and is now recognised as one of the UK’s fastest-growing sports. Annual growth has been consistent, with the national total increasing to 87 courts in 2020, 150 in 2021, 220 in 2022, 350 in 2023 and 763 by the close of 2024.
This upward trajectory reflects both rising demand and strong strategic focus from operators and investors. To support the sport’s infrastructure, the LTA and LTA Tennis Foundation have allocated more than £6 million to padel development to date, including £4.5 million for the creation of 80 courts at 42 venues. Facilities span a wide operating mix, with a clear commitment to improving access for new and diverse audiences, particularly through public-sector projects in underserved communities. Alongside the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the LTA is progressing plans for 40 covered, community-focused tennis, padel and multi-sport hubs to enable year-round play on publicly owned sites. More than 75% of existing padel venues are already delivering community outreach, strengthening local engagement and participation.
Recently, the LTA announced the inaugural LTA Padel National Championships, a landmark event marking a significant milestone in the growth of padel as a major sport in Great Britain. The tournament will be held at Rocket Padel in Bristol from 4-7 December 2025, showcasing top British junior, open, and senior padel players to compete for the title of national champions.
As padel continues its rapid rise across Great Britain, LTA, the sport’s national governing body, provides an end-of-year update on the latest developments in
“This year has been truly monumental for padel in Britain. The LTA has adopted a more agile approach, accelerating progress and helping to establish the foundations for long-term success.
“We’ve focused on building the infrastructure to support player growth, workforce, and a clear pathway for junior and performance players. We’ve also focused on bridging the gap with the private sector, to ensure the sport grows in harmony across all areas. How we continue to shape the pathway for the next generation will define the sport’s future — and I’m confident that padel in Britain now has a bright and exciting journey ahead.”
Great Britain’s performance players have enjoyed a period of significant progress in recent months, with teams at junior, open and senior levels showcasing promising development on the global stage. In September, the GB Junior Padel Team travelled to Costa Daurada, Spain, to compete in the FIP Junior World Cup. While both the boys’ and girls’ squads narrowly missed out on qualification for the main draw, the event delivered what the LTA’s National Performance
In October, ahead of the FIP Euro Padel Cup Final 8, the LTA hosted the inaugural Padel Advisory Group (PAG). Established earlier this year, the PAG is designed as a collaborative forum, enabling open dialogue and informed decision-making as the sport scales nationwide.
The group will act as a strategic sounding board, shaping priorities across participation, competition, performance pathways, and workforce expansion. To support this mission, the LTA has appointed six prominent figures from across the British padel ecosystem. Their collective expertise will help steer the next phase of the sport’s development, ensuring padel’s rapid growth remains inclusive, commercially sustainable, and firmly rooted in the needs of the community it serves. Meeting several times a year, the group will help ensure Britain lays the foundations for a scalable, commercially sustainable future for padel.
Most recently, Great Britain took a further step forward at the FIP Euro Padel Cup Final 8 in La Línea de la Concepción, Cádiz. Both the men’s and women’s teams finished third in their respective groups, each closing out the event with a confidence-boosting final victory. The women’s squad made history with Great Britain’s first-ever win at a Final 8 competition, overcoming Germany 2–1, while the men defeated Sweden 2–1. Also of note, in September, GB number two, Catherine Rose became the second British padel player ever to break into the top 100 of the FIP world rankings, joining Aimee Gibson.
The six members selected to be on the LTA Padel Advisory Group are:
With experience at Octagon and Give It Your Max, Abi combines her charity work introducing young people to sports with her background as a performance padel player, offering insight into player engagement, event management, and community outreach.
LTA Lead Tutor and Assessor, Angela brings hands-on expertise in coaching education, venue operations, and grassroots programme development.
Carl Heimdal
Co-founder of Rocket Padel, Carl drives UK facility expansion and navigates planning and business rate challenges, providing expertise on infrastructure and sustainable growth.
Enrique Buenaventura
Co-founder of Formula E and creator of the Hexagon Cup, Enrique brings global event experience and strategic insight into promotion and commercialisation of padel.
Pep Stoner
A key figure in domestic padel, Pep focuses on growing women’s participation through tailored competitions, with expertise in inclusivity, community building, and event logistics.
Sandy Farquharson
Founder of The Padel School and LTA National Performance Coach, Sandy blends elite coaching experience with global outreach and commentary, offering deep insight into player development and performance pathways.
Baseline – a collaboration between sports event specialists, 19th Hole, and student event company, Fishies, is an initiative designed to bridge the gap between padel venues and the student communities in their cities.
Baseline delivers immersive, high-energy padel tournaments featuring live DJs, cocktail bars, and partnerships with local and national brands, such as Red Bull, Slazenger Water and emerging padel-focused businesses.
The aim is to create “genuine connections” with a vibrant demographic that can help venues fill those quieter daylight hours.
In October, Baseline hosted its debut event at Rocket Padel Bristol, welcoming more than 60 players.
Padel was played, tracks were spun, cocktails were poured and it all culminated in a grand final as spectators cheered two pairs
Baseline delivers immersive, high-energy padel tournaments
battling it out for a cash prize.
Like any pilot, it brought lessons as well as successes for the Baseline team who are looking to grow, bringing Baseline to student hubs across the UK and spread their message of “Rally a Rave”.
“Our strapline is ‘The ultimate student padel party’,” Baseline said in a statement.
“We are introducing an all-in-one event, featuring both social and elite competitions, as we search for the cities’ best padel players.”
Pulse Padel has secured planning permission for two sites in the East of England.
Peterborough City Council has approved plans for a padel venue featuring four covered padel courts, with floodlights, at Peterborough One Retail Park off Eye Road.
Meanwhile, Huntingdonshire District Council has approved plans for a centre housing three padel courts to be built on land near Banks End, Wyton, Huntingdon.
Pulse Padel currently operates two padel facilities in Kent – at Chatham and Tonbridge.
The family-owned company is looking to expand its operations nationwide and has plans to open sites in Bristol, Leicester, Dartford and Willington, Bedfordshire.
Soul Padel has secured approval as a supply partner on the UK Leisure Framework (UKLF), following acceptance as a partner by Alliance Leisure. The milestone will enable Soul Padel to play a key role in shaping the future of sport and leisure across the UK, with a focus on making padel accessible to more communities.
The UK Leisure Framework, managed by Denbighshire Leisure Limited (DLL), provides local authorities and public sector organisations with a streamlined route to develop and deliver leisure facilities. Through the framework, councils undertaking development projects that include padel will now have access to Soul Padel’s expertise in building high-quality courts and creating inclusive playing environments.
Alliance Leisure is the UK Leisure Framework’s development
partner and has a track record of transforming hundreds of leisure spaces across the UK.
From refurbishing community sports centres to delivering stateof-the-art multi-use complexes, outdoor pitches, and play areas, Alliance Leisure provides a full-
service approach, from strategic planning through to project completion and beyond.
Mark Hewlett, CEO and Founder of Soul Padel, commented: “This approval marks an important step for Soul Padel in our mission to bring padel to communities across the UK.”
The partnership between Playtomic & Premier Padel started in 2024
Playtomic, the world’s largest community of racquet sport players and clubs, has renewed its collaboration with Premier Padel, the official professional padel tour, extending the partnership through the 2026 season. First launched in 2024, the collaboration positions Playtomic as the global community app for Premier Padel, bridging the gap between the elite professional circuit and grassroots players. Through the partnership, Playtomic will continue to bring the excitement of professional padel to local communities, creating unique opportunities for players to participate in amateur tournaments, activations and competitions connected to Premier Padel events around the world.
It will also include a wide-ranging selection of innovative fan and player experiences.
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Powerleague has opened four padel courts at its Edinburgh Sighthill facility, following a £850,000 investment. The canopied courts will offer 60- and 90-minute sessions for both beginners and experienced players, alongside introductory lessons and social events, with prices starting from £7 per person.
The padel centre, which will also offer equipment and racket rental, will add to the multiple five-a-side and seven-a-side football pitches at the venue.
Powerleague Edinburgh Sighthill is the third and final Powerleague club in Scotland to have padel courts installed this year, after the smallsided sports provider invested £2.2m in its Scottish padel infrastructure.
A total of 11 padel courts have now been installed across the Paisley, Portobello and Sighthill clubs.
The investment in Scotland is part of Powerleague’s wider £14m
expansion plan to deliver 76 padel courts across the UK by 2026.
John Gillespie, CEO of Powerleague, said: “Powerleague Edinburgh Sighthill is already a vibrant centre for small-sided football, and we’re excited to expand our offer with the
introduction of padel. It’s quickly becoming a go-to activity for staying active and social, as it’s fast-paced, easy to learn, and ultimately, a lot of fun.
“Earlier this year, we launched padel at our Portobello club, and the response has been phenomenal.
Advantage Padel has revealed plans to open a racquet sports hub on the south coast of England.
The padel centre operator, which currently has two sites in Nottingham and Kingsley, Hampshire, is set to open a large multi-use centre with 13 courts in Mudeford, Dorset.
As well as eight indoor padel courts and five dedicated pickleball courts, Advantage Padel Centre Mudeford will house a health club, wellness and recovery zones, a café and coworking spaces.
“The Mudeford hub will be more than a place to play racquet sports – it will be a vibrant hub for fitness, fun and community connection,” Advantage Padel said.
“Advantage Padel isn’t just about building centres – we’re building a movement.
Work is underway on a new padel and pickleball centre in Farnham, Surrey, following a lease agreement between Rainier Developments and Hurlands Pickleball + Padel Club.
The £2.75m project will provide 13 indoor courts – 10 for pickleball and three for padel – at the Farnham Trading Estate.
Set to open in January 2026, the plans also include social spaces, yoga, Pilates studios, treatment rooms, changing facilities and a club shop.
Waverley Borough Council granted planning permission to Hurlands Pickleball + Padel Club in 2024. The council owns the building at the Farnham Trading Estate, with Rainier leasing the site on a long-term basis.
Councillor Mark Merryweather, Waverley Borough Council’s portfolio holder for property, said: “This is an exciting new investment for the borough, bringing fresh
The £2.75m project will provide 10 courts for pickleball and three for padel
opportunities for residents and local businesses, while supporting health, wellbeing, and active lifestyles.
“Once completed, the new centre will be a great asset for Farnham, offering residents the chance to try two increasingly popular sports, connect with others, and stay
active in a modern, welcoming space. We’ll continue working closely with Rainier Developments and Hurlands to support this fantastic project and help it bring real value to our community.”
The Farnham club will be open to players of all ages and abilities.
Pure Padel is set to open a large indoor padel centre in central Birmingham in January 2026.
Pure Padel Birmingham, located in the upcoming Jewellery Quarter, will be marketed as Birmingham’s first city centre indoor venue.
In a nod to Birmingham’s rich automotive and car manufacturing history, the venue will repurpose an old Land Rover Jaguar engineering plant into a club featuring five doubles courts and two singles courts.
The facility will also offer a food and beverage space, social areas and changing rooms.
Sammy Arora, Founder and Managing Director at Pure Padel, said: “The Jewellery Quarter is an upand-coming area, and we’re excited to contribute to its regeneration by converting this former Land Rover Jaguar plant into a premium indoor padel facility.”
Physical activity sector pioneer and Soul Padel board advisor, David Stalker, explains why padel holds the key to building a more active, connected nation
fter more than three decades working across health, fitness and leisure, one question continues to define my career: how do we get more people, more active, more often?
Despite progress in many areas, the UK’s inactivity crisis remains one of our greatest collective challenges. It’s not just a health issue — it’s a social one. The impact reaches far beyond the NHS balance sheet, affecting wellbeing, productivity and community cohesion. For all the campaigns and initiatives that have come and gone, many people still feel that traditional sport and fitness simply aren’t for them.
To change that, we need to offer activities that are instinctively inclusive, social and joyful — where the first step feels easy and the barriers to entry are low. Which is why I believe padel could be one of the most powerful catalysts we’ve seen in decades.
I first encountered padel in Portugal a few years ago. What struck me immediately wasn’t just the pace and energy of the game, but the diversity of the players. Four people of completely different ages, abilities and backgrounds, all laughing, competing and connecting. It was fast, tactical and fun — but above all, it was social.
That’s the magic of padel. It doesn’t feel like exercise in the traditional sense, yet it delivers all the physical and mental benefits of movement. It attracts people who might never set foot in a gym or join a running club. It’s accessible, engaging and easy to pick up — everything a mass participation activity needs to be.
According to the LTA, more than 400,000 people played padel in Britain in 2024, up from just 15,000 in 2019. Awareness has nearly doubled year-onyear, with almost half of UK adults now familiar with the sport. Behind those statistics lies something even more significant: genuine momentum.
But the success of padel won’t be defined by the number of courts we build. It will depend on the kind of experiences we create around them — the environments, programmes and partnerships that turn curiosity into commitment.
That’s where I’ve been particularly encouraged by the work of Soul Padel and others who see the sport as a community platform rather than a commercial product. Their initiatives — such as Soul Timers for over-50s, Soul Sisters for women, and What’s That Racket? for schools — are designed to reach people who’ve stepped away from sport or never quite felt part of it in the first place.
The results speak for themselves: older adults rediscovering confidence, women finding inclusive
Padel sits at the intersection of everything our sector has been striving for — movement, connection and fun
spaces to be active, and children engaging with movement in a way that feels fresh and fun. It’s a reminder that participation grows not through marketing campaigns, but through belonging.
The power of partnership
Padel’s greatest strength may lie in its ability to bridge sectors. Local authorities, universities, and private operators are already seeing the benefits of collaboration.
At Stockport, the Soul Padel facility has quickly become a community hub, with thousands of players returning regularly and forming lasting social networks around the game. Loughborough University has woven padel into student life — blending wellbeing, recreation and competition in a way that reflects how the next generation wants to be active. And in St Helens, collaboration between local government and the private sector has delivered a high-quality public facility directly aligned with local health goals.
Each example reinforces the same point: when we design with inclusion and connection in mind, participation follows naturally — and commercial sustainability follows participation.
The pace of growth is impressive, but more important is the type of growth we’re seeing. Padel isn’t an elitist trend or a passing craze. It’s an activity that brings together different generations, communities and motivations. It can thrive in city centres, campuses and leisure parks alike. And perhaps most significantly, it appeals to people who’ve long felt left out of Britain’s fitness culture.
After 35 years in this industry, I’ve rarely seen a sport that blends accessibility, social value and commercial potential quite so effectively. Padel sits at the intersection of everything our sector has been striving for — movement, connection and fun.
What excites me most isn’t the growth charts, but the sound of laughter from the courts. It’s the conversations between people who’d never otherwise meet, the friendships formed through a shared activity, the simple joy of play. That’s where the real transformation begins.
If we’re serious about building a more active, connected nation, we need to back activities that break down barriers and bring people together. Padel has the power to do that — but only if we approach it collectively.
The invitation is open to local authorities, universities, developers and operators alike: let’s make this movement part of the UK’s longterm active future. Because when people meet, play and connect, the health of the nation improves — and that’s a goal worth chasing.
DAVID STALKER has spent the past 35 years working across the sport, physical activity and fitness sector. His career in the industry spans private operators, local authority leisure centres, global suppliers and policy bodies. He joined Soul Padel as board advisor in March 2025, to support growth and expansion. In October 2025, he was also named chair of industry body, ukactive.
It’s no secret that investing in a padel court can pay dividends. High demand and growing interest in the sport have helped plenty of British operators to enjoy an exceptional year. But the padel court hire business model comes with a capacity problem.
“Once a padel court is fully booked, that’s it. Rental earnings plateau,” says James Taylor of Taylor Made Designs. “To make more money from court hire, you either have to push up your fees or invest in another court. It’s a growing problem for a lot of the operators we speak to. Thankfully, there’s an easy answer to this capacity problem – it’s called secondary spend!”
Taylor Made Designs has supplied the UK’s leisure industry with branded uniform and merchandise since 1993. Over the years, James and his team have helped racquet clubs, golf courses and pools to find new ways to earn money from their existing facilities.
“Secondary spend is all about offering a relevant retail experience to your visitors,” says James. “If you’re a water park, your secondary spend strategy might include selling swimsuits and grip socks to visitors when they arrive. If you’re a theme park or attraction, you might want to sell souvenirs and gifts on the way out. For padel courts, there’s so much potential to drive secondary spend.”
In response to client demand, Taylor Made Designs now offer padel courts three main secondary spend channels:
For padel courts, there’s so much potential to drive secondary spend
Racquet hire & sale:
Taylor Made Designs supplies padel courts with a range of professional grade carbon fibre racquets. Available in both branded and unbranded formats, these racquets are perfect for sale or hire.
Player essentials:
When visitors forget essential items, they often expect to be able to buy water bottles, towels and combination padlocks on site. Taylor Made Designs offer a full range of branded merchandise that can be packaged for vending machines or over-the-counter retail.
Consumer retail:
It adds another string to the bow of padel courts looking to increase earnings
The Padel Collection is an exclusive new off-court leisurewear line from TMD, designed to help UK padel courts drive secondary spend. This bold and beautiful range of premium t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies is designed for padel courts to sell direct to members at strong margins.
“We’re really excited about The Padel Collection,” says James, “We’ve been working on this range for a few months now, and padel fans have really connected with it. It adds another string to the bow of padel courts looking to increase earnings, which is ultimately what secondary spend is all about.” Discover the Padel Collection – visit www.thepadelcollection.co.uk or call
The first-ever Manchester Major earlier this year was a significant event for elevating the professional status of padel in the UK
The Britain Padel Tour (BPT) reached a significant milestone earlier this summer with the launch of the first-ever BPT Manchester Major, an event that redefined professional padel in the UK and showcased the sport on a scale never seen before. Held at Manchester Padel Club from 4 to 6 July, the tournament brought together six elite teams from Premier Padel, several of the top-ranked A1 Padel players and the very best of British professional talent.
The event showcased the competitive side of the sport on a scale never seen before
For three days, Manchester became the heart of UK padel, hosting the highest level of competition ever staged on home soil. The numbers speak for themselves. A total of more than 800 spectators attended the competition to watch matches and the semi-finals and finals day was a sell-out – a UK first for Padel. Nearly all (90%) of participating players were ranked on international professional circuits, ensuring world-class matches throughout the event.
The BPT was founded by Fabian David and Razvan Pasat, who have plans to make the tour fully-professional.
Fabian David said: “Feedback from both players and fans has been overwhelmingly positive, cementing the BPT’s position as the leading national professional padel tour. As the tour continues to break new ground, we are already working on the next big step: transforming BPT into something much bigger starting next season – a bold move set to revolutionise the professional Padel landscape in the UK.”
Padel Studios in Coventry has partnered with a local fitness entrepreneur to combine two rapidly growing activities – padel and reformer pilates
Padel Studios Coventry was set up based on a simple idea: to bring the world’s fastest-growing sport in the world to the Midlands. Founded by childhood friends and former Ernst & Young auditors, Preet Bains and Aman Choudhury, the site launched with three indoor courts and a vision that extended beyond sport.
“When we looked at the space, we realised that building three courts instead of four gave us
an opportunity to do something different,” says Bains. “Reformer Pilates was already booming in Coventry and worldwide and there was clear synergy between the two activities. We wanted to create a destination that wasn’t just about playing padel but about wellness, community and recovery.”
The 14,000sq ft centre, located at the city’s Bayton Road Industrial Estate, was designed with growth in mind. Drawing on their business backgrounds, Bains and Choudhury wanted to create a commercially
sustainable model by diversifying beyond padel.
“We knew padel would be hugely popular,” adds Bains, “but adding a dedicated Pilates studio allowed us to broaden our audience, drive daytime use of the site and turn the space into a true wellness hub.”
Inspired by a growing trend in Dubai, where padel clubs are integrating Pilates into their facilities, the business partners approached local fitness operators to collaborate. Ramsay Fitness, an established Coventry-based fitness brand with a
loyal member base, was quick to see the potential.
“We loved the concept immediately,” says Jack Ramsay, Director at Ramsay Fitness. “We already had a thriving gym and Pilates business, but the chance to create a dedicated reformer Pilates studio inside a padel facility was completely unique.”
The next stage of the project was to choose a supplier for the Pilates element. For that, Ramsay picked Balanced Body equipment and the Allegro 2 Reformers. Balanced Body worked closely with Bains,
Choudhury and the Ramsay Fitness team to support the installation and deliver an optimal layout.
“The Allegro machines are beautifully engineered and incredibly versatile, which means we can deliver a premium experience for every client,” Ramsay says.
The studio now features eight Balanced Body Allegro 2 Reformers, with Ramsay Fitness managing the pilates business independently from padel through its own booking system. The collaboration has created a sports and fitness hub that serves a diverse demographic, from padel players looking to improve flexibility and strength to Pilates enthusiasts curious about the dynamic sport next door.
“Padel and Pilates might look very different, but they complement one another beautifully,” explains Bains. “Pilates develops the mobility, strength and injury prevention that padel players need, while padel brings a social and competitive element that excites people and keeps them coming back. The crossover has been fantastic.”
Feedback from members has been overwhelmingly positive, with padel players and Pilates clients alike enjoying the convenience and atmosphere of the combined facility. Beyond this, Padel Studios Coventry also offers a Recovery Room providing physiotherapy, sports massage and nutritional
Pilates builds the strength padel players need — padel brings the energy to keep them coming back
support as well as a thriving Bistro Café designed to encourage visitors to stay, connect and join the growing community around movement.
Looking ahead, Padel Studios Coventry is already exploring expansion, and the padel and Pilates combination concept could be part of every future site.
“We see this as the future of fitness,” adds Bains. “People don’t just want a court or a studio, they want a place where they can train, recover, socialise and feel part of something bigger.” For Balanced Body, the project has been an opportunity to support two fast-growing fitness sectors in one location.
“Working with Preet, Aman and Ramsay Fitness on this installation has been inspiring,” says Katherine Ryzhova, Balanced Body UK’s Business Development Manager. “By bringing Pilates and padel together, they’re not only maximising their space but creating a true destination for health and wellbeing. We’re proud that our equipment is at the heart of this new model.”
More than 6,000 padel industry professionals attended this year’s Padel World Summit in Barcelona. The record attendance connected manufacturers, investors, clubs, federations and industry leaders - cementing the event as the industry’s No 1 trade event
Taking place in May each year, the Padel World Summit is a unique space, acting as a platform to create strategic alliances and explore new business opportunities. Attracting a wide range of professionals and companies from within the sector, the event also promotes the professionalisation of the sport and its expansion into international markets.
Held at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via, this year’s edition featured a new location and a sleeker format. For visitors, the new format meant that it was easy to ‘dip in’ to the Innovation Zone, where 20 start-ups had the opportunity to pitch their ideas, or the main forum and hear from 50 plus
speakers on key industry topics. There was also a good sprinkle of padel stardust with global padel stars such as Fernando Belasteguin, Manu Martin and Bojana Jovanovic all gracing the Summit.
However, it was the exhibition floor where the event truly thrived, with new products launched, innovations showcased, deals struck, and connections made. The staging saw the main floor encircled by padel courts from eight of the world’s major manufacturers, taking the opportunity to catch the eye.
Those eyes focused on AFP Courts at the midway point of three-day show, as it officially launched the adidas PPL High Competition 2025, which was exclusively designed and manufactured for the Pro Padel League. It was the centrepiece occasion for AFP, with a ribbon cutting ceremony by PPL CEO Mike Dorfman, who was joined by representatives from adidas, GS Sports Management and future host cities in Mexico and Spain.
Mon Garres, marketing director for AFP Courts, said: “This is a milestone for AFP Courts being the official padel court for the PPL. This is a future investment because we want to be there when padel booms across the States.
“It’s already starting to boom in Florida, Texas, as well as California and we went to Racket X this year at the beginning of the year – it is a major new market for us. For us going hand in hand with the Pro Padel League was very important.”
The event provided delegates with a wide-ranging programme of sessions
Jubo Padel, which landed a prime location in the hall, used the Summit as an opportunity to explore potential industry partners. Lee J Witham, of Padel +, Jubo Padel’s distributor in the UK and the North America, explained how Jubo Padel looked to benefit from its presence in Barcelona.
“I’m looking at the industry and seeing what’s out there and if it meets our standards,” Witham said. “I’m not necessarily looking for anything in particular but just looking and assessing. Currently, we’ve new projects starting in the US, while the UK market is still developing for us, however we’ve recently just taken on a lot of new business. It’s important to keep informed.”
Elsewhere, padel court turf specialists Mondo used the show as an opportunity to reinforce its position as the leading court flooring manufacturer,
having launched Premier Supercourt X3, which is used by Premier Padel, 12 months ago.
Pilar Moreo, padel product manager for Mondo, said: “For us, it’s important to be at this global padel event. It enables contact with new distributors or new leads for projects across the world. In Barcelona we talked to a lot of customers from the UK, Germany, France, Australia, Spain, Italy and United States.”
Trocellen, which specialises in the development of the foam core for padel rackets, was showcasing its bio-based foams, which significantly reduce CO2 emissions. Jose Vicente Fernandez Morales from Trocellen Iberica, said: “From the soft density to a hard density and those in between, we have different products and foams that have different playabilities and different performance in the padel racket for all standards of players.
Away from hardware, Matchi x Matchpoint, creators of a white label booking app, were able to showcase their product having completed a full integration since last year’s show in Malaga.
Mario Aurino, business development manager at TPC-Matchpoint said: “Being at the Summit was an amazing opportunity and congratulations go to Alex Ponseti and his team on a great event.”
The Padel World Summit will return to Fira Barcelona on May 26-28, 2026
In December, the UK padel sector’s spotlight will turn to Bolton Arena as it hosts the next active-net Padel event, a one day event dedicated to exploring, investing in and connecting people in the fast-growing sector
Following the success of the inaugural event earlier this year, active-net
Padel returns with a packed day of education, networking, and partnership opportunities for anyone involved in or looking to invest in the thriving padel market. The event at Bolton Arena on 3 December, delivered by active-net (part of Active Insight), is designed to bring together universities, leisure operators, private fitness suppliers and investors alongside a wide range of specialist suppliers, including turnkey management solution providers, franchises, court manufacturers, marketing agencies, health and safety experts and equipment servicing companies.
With 30 confirmed padel court operators already attending, each will have the opportunity to participate in 12 one-to-one meetings with supplier partners, an invaluable format that has become a hallmark of the active-net series. These structured sessions, combined with scheduled networking slots and thought-provoking panel discussions, make active-net Padel a unique event where ideas turn into action and connections lead to tangible results.
Learning, networking & insight
The day will begin with a Welcome Panel, chaired by David Monkhouse, Director of Active Insight, who will be joined by leading figures from across the padel landscape: David Stalker of Soul Padel and Richard Shaw from SAPCA. Together, they’ll set the tone for the day, discussing how the sport continues to expand and what’s driving the surge in participation and investment.
Following the welcome, delegates will have the opportunity to tailor their learning by choosing between two insightful panel sessions.
The first, “The Data Behind the Opportunity,” chaired by Julie Allen, Business Development Director at Active Insight, will include Jake Bennet from Padel Ventures and also Paul Mcilwraith from Portico Sport, who will provide market analysis and forecasts to help attendees understand where the biggest opportunities lie.
Running alongside this session is “Building a Padel Community” which is being delivered by Edward Dowdell of Padel Social House, David Stalker from Soul Padel, Sam Thistlewaite of Padel Plan and Neil Adebowale from RiskHQ.
At its core, active-net Padel is about connection, helping operators and suppliers collaborate to shape the future of padel in the UK. The event’s format ensures meaningful conversations between decision-makers and suppliers, encouraging longterm relationships that drive innovation and growth.
Whether you’re an operator exploring how padel could enhance your facility, or a supplier looking to connect with decision-makers driving the sport forward, active-net Padel promises to be an unmissable opportunity. To secure your space at the upcoming active-net Padel event on 3rd December at Bolton Arena, visit https://active-net.org/padel/
As David Monkhouse, explains: “Following our first event in June this year, we were asked by many attendees if we could organise a second session. We were delighted to see the high level of response and enthusiasm, and the passion for continuing the opportunity to come together as a group. The aim of the event, much like the other active-net series, is to connect people through insight, create memorable experiences, and bring together people to connect and form relationships. We are looking forward to bringing better connection across the sector and empowering operators to take their businesses to the next level. We know that the first active-net Padel event had a huge impact on connecting people, helping operators and suppliers to build meaningful partnerships, and extend the enthusiasm and awareness of padel across the UK. We are sure that this second event will build on that.”
With padel courts continuing to spring up across the UK, the appetite for knowledge, collaboration, and investment in this dynamic sport shows no sign of slowing down. activenet Padel provides the perfect platform for the industry to come together, share expertise, and strengthen the foundations for continued growth.
Padel Relations has organised its first global networking event for padel in Amsterdam, attracting more than 40 businesses from 25 countries. The success of the event has led founder Victoria Pahlett to begin planning next year’s event
The first Padel Relations event –held in Amsterdam, Netherlands in early autumn – delivered above expectations, with more than 90 attendees representing in excess of 40 businesses from 25 countries. Entrepreneurs and innovators from the US, Africa, the Middle East and Europe came to the Dutch capital representing various sectors of the padel industry. Delegates included club owners and operators, technology providers, travel operators, clothing and equipment manufacturers and suppliers, women’s padel, court construction, and public relations.
Unlike the hurly burly of large scale expos, the two-day event was a more intimate gathering, with attendees given the chance to talk without the rush and the usual sales push.
Across the two days, attendees got an insight into the padel industry in Amsterdam with events at three locations – Peakz Padel Zuidoost, XNRGY and Padel NEXT. Delegates participated in structured networking sessions and built business connections on and off the court. The event concluded with a gala finale held in the city’s Royal Tropical Institute, including the first ever padel fashion show.
One of the key pillars of Padel Relations’ launch strategy was to have an in-person focus, bringing together industry professionals for an informal and productive networking event.
Padel Relations – a membership-based initiative – was founded by Victoria Pahlett, who previously worked for Playtomic, MATCHi, and Matchable. She is now overseeing Padel Relations full-time having founded the company at the end of 2024.
“The goal is to make personal connections and build business relationships across padel globally and this event was already part of the plan when I launched Padel Relations,” she said.
“Amsterdam was an obvious choice for the first location as it’s an international hub and I knew some of the clubs here were really excited about the idea.
“The schedule saw two fantastic days. We held a global tournament, pairing people up in group competitions, and adding downtime for everyone to mingle and talk with their new connections.
“The second day was all about networking on and off the court. We also provided the opportunity for companies to showcase new products.
“We finished with a gala event featuring a padel fashion show. This was totally unique as it’s the first one ever. Brands had the opportunity to show new collections and existing collections in an amazing location.
“Organising something like this does have its challenges but everyone attending has been great and brought a lot of energy and enthusiasm.”
Club operator Mark Lyons, from Salt Lake City, was full of praise for the event He said: “I’ve met a lot of different people that have different aspects of the padel ecosystem that I am able to connect with. Seeing what’s available and having these conversations is important to me as a club owner.
“It’s a lot more intimate than a trade fair and I got to meet more industry leaders in a more social environment. You do meet different people but you meet a lot of people and those contacts
can get lost or you are simply a number. Here, you have played padel with these people, they understand more about you, so the value is greater.”
Padelpalooza founder, Antonio Goes, travelled to Amsterdam from New York and demonstrated his technology platform on the opening day ahead of going out to pre-seed for investors. “It’s great to be here with the top minds of padel who are trying to shape the future of the sport,” he said. “I heard about Padel Relations in Barcelona and fell in love with the project. It’s a great mix of padel with businesses, so it made sense to be here.”
Looking ahead to the growth of Padel Relations in its second year, Pahlett is aiming to increase its worldwide presence.
She said: “I think there are so many countries living a little bit in a bubble, I want to expose those countries to the world a little bit more.
“One example is South Africa. I think it is really underestimated. It has so many amazing clubs, great people and culture. It’s one of those countries where I want to see Padel Relations grow. Many countries are at different stages of development and I’d like to bring them all together to try and level up.”
SAPCA has updated its Code of Practice for padel courts, which sets out the standards required for padel court construction in the UK
The Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA) has updated its Code of Practice for the Construction of Padel Courts. The code, which can be downloaded for free from the SAPCA website, has been produced in consultation with padel’s national governing body, the LTA, and is recognised and supported by the LTA for the construction of courts in the UK.
The document provides designers, specifiers and prospective facility operators with guidance on the basic construction requirements and specifications currently employed in building padel courts. The standards outlined throughout the code are recognised and supported as the minimum level for the construction of padel courts in the UK. As well as input from LTA and SAPCA’s technical experts, the document calls on the experience of SAPCA member companies, who have constructed a wide range of installations for a variety of clients over many years.
The Sports and Play Construction Association represents companies that design, build, and maintain sports and play areas. The association’s 260+ members are carefully vetted for excellence and are committed to SAPCA’s Codes of Practice and guidelines –ensuring they work to the highest standards.
The updated code now has a new section on maintenance – a key element of protecting the facility’s investment and to ensure players enjoy a consistent, safe and high-quality experience. The newly added maintenance section in SAPCA’s updated Code of Practice for the Construction of Padel Courts sets out, for the first time, a formal framework for maintaining court quality, safety and longevity.
The Code emphasises that regular inspection and servicing are essential to preserve playability and prevent costly repairs. It outlines best practice for court surfaces, including routine cleaning, sand topups and redistribution to maintain even ball response. Inspections also help identify and rectify loose bolts and panels early, before they become a safety concern
The section also details inspection regimes for metal enclosures, anchor points, and fixings, warning that corrosion and loose fittings can compromise both safety and structural integrity — particularly in outdoor UK conditions. To ensure player safety, the section also covers glass panels and markings, recommending regular checks of fixings, while offering specific advice for maintaining lighting systems and canopy structures.
The inclusion of this section marks a shift toward treating maintenance as an integral part of facility management, not an afterthought. It reinforces that proactive, planned maintenance is crucial for padel courts to perform as intended, remain safe for players, and deliver long-term value for operators.
Elsewhere, there are further enhancements to guidance regarding the design and construction of suitable base works for the UK market. Reflecting the country’s varied soils, high rainfall and exposure to frost, the Code now places greater emphasis on site-specific foundation design by a qualified UK structural engineer, with calculations addressing local ground conditions and wind loads. A correctly engineered porous sub-base and drainage system are deemed essential to prevent water retention and surface movement. The revised guidance details preferred materials – hard, non-frost-susceptible aggregates such as reduced-fines MOT Type 1 or 28–50 mm clean stone – and recommends geotextile membranes to separate sub-soil and improve load-bearing strength. For new courts, two layers of open-graded porous asphalt remain the standard, while conversion projects must include drainage checks and, if necessary, surface “piercing” to aid percolation.
The Code of Practice for the Construction of Padel Courts – alongside all other codes – from the SAPCA website: https://sapca.org.uk/guide/codes-of-practice/
Overall, the enhanced specifications underline the importance of UK-adapted construction methods to ensure long-term stability, consistent performance and player safety, while aligning padel court development with the latest environmental and structural engineering standards.
Colin Corline, SAPCA’s Technical Lead, said: “This is the second update to the padel courts Code of Practice this year. It follows the addition of information regarding the supply and construction of covered structures – such as canopies and tensile frame buildings – and guidance highlighting how site-specific designs are paramount.
“The padel sector is a fast-moving one and it is important that the code reflects the latest developments in the sector.
“The recent updates are an example of the important role that the SAPCA Codes of Practice have in setting and maintaining standards in sports construction – and the way they are kept relevant and updated to reflect best practice in a dynamic market.”
