UK Padel joins forces with global sports turf brand Act Sports to reinforce the sport’s popularity in the UK and back its County Championships. “We’re happy to have the support of a leading global padel brand that shares our high ambitions,” says Nick Baker, CEO at UK Padel.

As UK PADEL is gearing up for a big Lift-Off weekend at SeaSpace Newquay 22-23rd November we are really pleased we are partnering with the global powerhouse in Padel turf ACT Sports, who have provided quality astroturf for the 5 courts as well as future UK PADEL club to come. These courts will provide maximum playability and comfort for players of all ages.  

Compared to many other European countries, padel started catching on relatively late in the UK. But today, the sport is gaining popularity at a staggering pace. The LTA anticipates a player increase from 90,000 in 2023 to over 600,000 in 2026, while the number of courts is expected to rise from 350 to over 1,000 by 2026.

An important catalyst of this growth Is the UK Padel County Championships. The inaugural edition in November 2023 was the largest padel competition ever held in the UK, with over 170 competitors from 21 counties competing in men’s, women’s, and mixed events. In 2024, UK Padel added tournaments for players over 40, 50, and 60 to a second edition of its open event. You can watch highlights and best moments from the series so far on our YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/@uk_padel

“We believe this series will help accelerate the growth of the sport”, says Nick Baker, CEO at UK Padel. “By spreading the four events over the calendar year, we create a year-long cycle to build and engage a loyal fan and player base.” The UK Padel County Championships 2024 series began in March at Rocket Padel in Bristol with the over 50’s event and will conclude with the open tournament at the same venue in November.

Ultimate comfort

UK Padel decided to team up with Act Sports, Beaulieu International Group’s sports brand, to encourage the popularity of the sport in the UK. “Our partnership with UK Padel fits our ambition to provide quality turf for clubs and tournaments all over the world, in order to help the fastest growing sport in the world grow even faster”, explains Friso van den Berg, Sales Director at Act Sports. “In 2023 alone, we supplied 2,500 padel courts across Europe.”

“We have a wide range of padel systems that boast high quality and playability, guaranteeing ultimate comfort for players of any level and age. That’s why organizations such as UK Padel and Premier Padel – the highest level of our sport – rely on Act Sports padel turf. The other way around, we’re happy to have the UK Padel County Championships as a platform to showcase our brand and what we stand for.”

Find out more about Act Sports here https://act.sport/ 

We're thrilled to share the news that UK PADEL is opening this weekend at  The South Buckinghamshire Golf Course. Get ready to elevate your leisure time as we introduce the brand new padel courts from Saturday 3rd February.

Just like at Holmer Green, you can get on the padel courts via the UK PADEL app or website. We have launch offers and discounted membership as a thank you to our existing players. Courts and taster sessions and socials are available to book now for February 3rd onwards.

We would LOVE you to come and try the courts out ( and bring a few local mates if you can!)

Launch Offer for Current Holmer Green Members

For current members of UK PADEL Holmer Green, we have a special launch offer if you would like to add The South Buckinghamshire Golf Course to your membership.

One year membership will only cost you = £45

to add a membership at UK PADEL The South Buckinghamshire Golf Course*

*Offer is valid only for current UK PADEL members and 

valid until the end of February then will revert to £60

Just to remind you what you get with this membership: 

• Half price courts for members in February at The South Buckinghamshire Golf Course to help build up the new club - just £3 per person for off peak hours and £3.75 per person peak hours.

• Court credit 10% off in February for all players who buy credit.
• A brand new padel ball subscription service for when you need some new balls the most.
• Group coaching sessions are £17.50 for members
• Individual and private coaching £50 per hour

As well as: 

• Discounted access to coaching sessions and UK PADEL kit.
• Free beginnerfriendly clinics to get you started.
• Participate in social events and tournaments for all skill levels.

For enquiries and membership details, contact us at sb@ukpadel.org or 07717806325 or sign up direct by downloading the UK PADEL app or online. And for coaching enquiries please contact our head of Padel Jared Robinson at Jared@ukpadel.org  

UK PADEL: Putting People on a Padel Court

UK PADEL: Putting People on the Padel Court

At UK PADEL our mission is to introduce more people to the growing sport of padel, we believe this is the best sport to engage the widest possible range of people to get exercise, stay health and build community.  Co-founded by Neil Percival and Nick Baker, our journey was born out of a shared frustration with the scarcity of courts. Drawing upon their extensive backgrounds in squash and real tennis, Neil and Nick set out to address this gap by establishing padel courts in Buckinghamshire. The launch of the padel courts at Holmer Green Sports Association in November 2021 marked a significant milestone in our commitment to making padel more accessible.

With little over 350 padel courts in the UK, we are dedicated to positioning padel as an attractive and viable option for physical activity, serious competition, and a whole load of fun besides. Embracing the membership and pay-to-play model, our courts are designed to welcome individuals of all skill levels, encouraging inclusivity. 

At UK PADEL we go beyond creating playing spaces; we are dedicated to cultivating a vibrant community centred around the game of padel and a terrific new location at the golf club to enjoy it in. Join us and our Academy Director Jared Robinson in our mission to make padel an integral part of your active lifestyle, where we can move, connect, and elevate the game together.

This wouldn’t have been possible without the terrific team at The South Buckinghamshire Golf Course, and we want to say a special thanks to Mark Young and his team and Buckinghamshire council for their backing to bring padel to the club.

Don't miss the chance to be among the first to experience padel at UK PADEL at The South Buckinghamshire Golf Course! 

We look forward to welcoming you to our growing padel community.

Best regards,

Neil & Nick 

Co Founders UK PADEL  

It was good to confirm the competitive juices hadn't frozen in 2023 and were flowing well into 2024 as we had a glorious day of Americano competition on Sunday 7th to kick off the 2024 Americano series in the sunshine.

Great to kick the day of with the new players group and Toby King taking the top spot and the 10 points on offer, seriously impressive and well done to those of you who were playing in some of your first (competitive) matches, we told you it would be relaxed and fun right?! 

Andy Turner took the mid group event by 2 points from Ed Fitch in a seriously good level of padel, played in a great spirit. 

Jack Pounder and Jono Epps took the 10-point top spots in the two editions of the 4.25 plus event. Jack put in an assured performance in the first session, a clear 12 points ahead of Mr americano himself Phil Cornhill with Marc Cooke a few more behind. Jono Epps dug deep into his mind’s eye to scrape off the rust from earlier in the day and deliver a ruthless display of americano point bagging to win by 5 points from an excellent Marcus Paine and a late charging Nick Baker. 

In the words of Jared, this series is going to be a goodie!

February 3rd entries are live for booking and filling up fast, so please sign up and we are looking forward to a lot more competitive fun on court throughout the year. 

Reminder of the monthly competition format: 

- 11-month series running on the first weekend of each month - mixture of Saturdays and Sundays in case people have regular commitments.  Starting on Sun 7th Jan
- ⁠3 divisions: 1-3, 3.25-4.0, 4.25+
- ⁠Initially 8 places per division per month, but we’ll add a second timeslot if needed based on demand
- ⁠As well as monthly kudos for winning and your name in lights, there will be an overall leaderboard with a lovely UK PADEL racket as a prize for the overall winner in each division over the course of the year (and maybe some other prizes too 😎)
- ⁠Your best 7 results over the season will count for the overall leaderboard (allowing for holidays/injuries etc)
- ⁠Each monthly winner will get 10 pts; 2nd 8 pts; 3rd 6 pts; and then 4th-8th 5/4/3/2/1 pts

Nothing but Padel. 

As we bid farewell to 2023, it's time to reflect on a year packed with some great events, community building, and countless moments that have shaped UK Padel this year. From regional tournaments to youth initiatives and coaching milestones, here's a glimpse into the incredible journey we've had together.

LTA Regional Events and Youth Padel Tour

We kicked off the year with a bang, hosting multiple LTA regional events that saw players come from around the area, including many of our members showcasing their skills on the court. The enthusiasm for the sport continues to grow and our players are a testament to the progress that padel has been making around the country. The Youth Padel Tour events, designed to elevate junior padel in the UK, were met with tremendous support, fostering the next generation of padel players. We had almost 20 juniors support the event across 3 tournaments which saw an eventual champion crowned. 

Coaching and Club Champs

Our coaching sessions witnessed significant progress, and it's encouraging to see the skill level of our members on a constant rise. Could next year bring forth even more contenders in the LTA regional tournaments? The Club Champs showcased outstanding performances, and congratulations are in order to all the winners who displayed exceptional sportsmanship and talent.

Community Outreach

Embracing our commitment to spreading the passion of padel, we opened our doors to various communities. Hosting the RAF for their inaugural padel experience was a proud moment, and we're eager to make it an annual tradition. Welcoming tennis clubs, local businesses, and schools not only introduced more people to the sport but also elevated the profile of padel in our area.

Coaching Courses and Live Streaming

We took a proactive approach to knowledge-sharing by hosting our first “transition to padel” coaching course. Coaches enhanced their skills, contributing to the overall development of our players. Live-streaming events like the FIP professional tournament at the National Tennis Centre and our very own County Championships brought the excitement of padel to a broader audience, reinforcing our commitment to growing the sport.

UK Padel County Championships

A highlight that defined our year was hosting the largest padel event in the UK—the UK PADEL County Championships. Almost 200 players from 20+ counties competed, making it a true celebration of padel excellence. To all the players who made this event spectacular, thank you for your unwavering support.

Looking Ahead to 2024

As we eagerly anticipate the new year, we have some exciting plans in store for our members. Get ready for monthly Americanos, where we'll come together to play matches and get to meet other members. Racket testing sessions will give you the chance to explore the latest gear and find the perfect match for your game. Plus, be on the lookout for guest coaches who will bring fresh perspectives and insights to our training sessions.

To our incredible community of players, supporters, and partners, thank you for being an integral part of this remarkable journey. Let's make 2024 a year to remember—full of smashing serves, strategic volleys, and endless fun! Here's to a padel-filled year ahead! 

Sincerely, 

Team UK PADEL

We’ve all been there. You’ve hit a great volley into the corner, your opponent is panicking but manages to flick the ball up, the ball seems to fly in slow motion through the air, one slow revolution at a time. Your heart rate goes up and your racket goes back, and all thoughts of tactics go out the window – you are going to CRUSH this volley as hard as you can.