Padel electrifies Britain
A new Padel Center at Battersea Power Station in London is to open this summer. But also, in the north of the country, there are big padel projects on the way
Quite a few will know it from the cover of a Pink Floyd album from when it was a power station. Many know it today as one of London's major shopping and cultural centers. With its attractive location in the middle of the city, Rocket Padel will now make it a flagship for Padel in London.
Battersea Power Station will be home to four indoor padel courts this summer.
Rocket Padel hosted a successful pop-up last summer, with the River Thames just a stone's throw away. It will be Rocket Padel's third location in the UK. The first is in full swing in Bristol, and the second opened in Ilford on 8 April.
Its first site is in Bristol, and Battersea Power Station will be the third.
Founded in 2018 in Sweden and now based in London, the brand has disrupted several business areas in sports. In addition to South Britain, they are also opening new padel centers in Denmark and Spain in 2024
Too many players for too few courts
Padel has grown in popularity in the UK over the past few years, and Rocket Padel's expansion into London suggests that it will continue to grow.
It is estimated that there are 350 padel courts in the country, a number that has yet to come close to meeting the demand.
The problem with the growth is that it is related to the supply and scarcity of land and space in the city. In many places, the city government has been hesitant to grant permits. That seems to be changing now. Many tennis clubs all over the country are opening new padel courts, and larger projects are not only found in London.
New center to become the largest in Northern England
Plans to create the largest padel facility in the north of England in the Manchester suburb of Trafford have been given the green light.
It will include 11 courts - nine of which will be indoors. An on-site clubhouse will also be a hub for relaxation and socializing, offering cafes, restaurants, and shops. Michael Vaughan, sports commentator and former England cricket captain, is one of the investors.
But more centers are on the way in northwest England. A startup has secured a six-figure investment to open several centers, initially across the region.
Established by former retail and healthcare executive Mark Hewlett, Soul Padel officially launched last December and has recently made several board appointments and partnerships. It currently has more than 20 Padel center locations under review and offers seven locations in the North West.