Padel is exploding across the UK

As investment pours into the sport, many new venues are opening in premium health clubs, affluent suburbs and corporate plazas where operators may charge more to play.

Critics warn this risks making padel an exclusive pastime, rather than the accessible sport it’s been elsewhere for decades.

Canary Wharf’s prices are among the highest in Europe and well above the London average of £47 per hour - roughly £12 per player when shared between four people.

That has helped shape an image of padel as the pursuit of affluent professionals.

Internet memes often play on the stereotype, casting players as middle-aged men who lack the coordination for tennis but possess the disposable income to buy its premium gear.

The reality is more diverse. Around one million people in Britain are now estimated to play padel regularly.

Participants range from younger fitness enthusiasts looking for a social alternative to the gym to older tennis players seeking a less physically demanding racquet sport.

The sport is now at a crossroads. It could go the way of golf, still viewed by many as expensive and exclusive. Or it could follow Spain, where around 17,000 courts have helped make padel part of everyday life.

“Padel has an incredibly exciting future - we're even seeing children choose it as their main sport,” says Ben Harris of The Padel Directory, a search platform for local courts, clubs, and coaches.

“But success isn't just about building more courts. It's about making sure people have affordable opportunities to play.”

Invented in Mexico in the 1960s, padel became hugely popular in Spain and Argentina before spreading across Europe.

The Covid pandemic accelerated its growth, as players looked for sports that were easy to learn and could be played safely.

Today, participation continues to climb across Germany, France and the Nordic countries. In Sweden the craze moved so fast it triggered a “padel bust” - when a gold rush of overbuilding left empty venues and triggered a wave of bankruptcies.

Now, the UK is rapidly catching up with its continental neighbours. The number of courts in Britain surged from just 72 in 2019 to nearly 1,500 by the end of 2025, according to the UK Padel report.

Celebrity backing has helped fuel that momentum. David Beckham and Tom Holland are regular players, while Andy Murray has invested in Game4Padel, an operator valued at £27m last year.

Apps such as Playtomic and Padel Mates have also made it easier to book courts, find opponents and build a community around the sport.

But convenience doesn't always come cheap.

Hiring a court usually costs between £30 and £50 per hour, far more than public tennis or squash, and prices can easily double in major cities or during peak hours.

Off-peak discounts exist, such as midweek lunchtimes, but they mostly benefit students, retirees, or remote workers. For many, these high costs dictate how often they can play.

For Rosie Hepworth, a civil servant in London, playing padel means cycling past expensive local courts to reach one 50 minutes away she can actually afford.

“I love the game, but I can't afford to play as much as I'd like,” she told BBC Newsbeat.

“The cost definitely slows down how quickly you can improve. It becomes a luxury rather than a hobby.”

Some argue prices will drop as supply catches up with demand.

Others say the UK needs more subsidised courts in public parks and leisure centres, as in Spain, where they are commonplace.

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) told the BBC that data from hundreds of operators puts the average off-peak booking at £27 - under £7 per player.

The governing body said it is working with local councils to open publicly owned courts, adding that European trends show prices drop as court numbers grow.

But for venue owners in major cities, high operating overheads mean that matching European prices isn't so simple.

“The economics of operating a club in central London are very different from somewhere like Spain,” says Houman Ashrafzadeh, founder and chief executive of Padium, the premium venue in Canary Wharf.

“Property costs, business rates, staffing, utilities and construction costs are all significantly higher, and those inevitably affect court pricing.”

You’ve booked the court, but what about the gear?

Padel racquets are typically crafted from carbon fibre or fibreglass with a foam core and range from as little as £25 to £300.

While the upfront price is comparable to a tennis racquet, the similarities end there.

Unlike tennis racquets that last for years, padel racquets wear out faster.

Constant impact and wall scrapes degrade the internal foam, stripping the racquet of its “pop” and control within four to 12 months.

Balls degrade even faster.

Competitive players open a fresh tin every one or two matches.

Combined with replacement overgrips, racquets and court shoes, a dedicated player can easily spend £500 to £800 a year on kit.

That is a steep recurring cost for anyone hoping to take the sport seriously.

Beyond the personal financial commitment, the sport has sparked heated debates about the use of public space.

Padel is a notoriously loud sport.

Neighbours have complained about the hollow “thack” of racquets and frequent animated shouting.

This has led to noise abatement notices being issued to clubs in several cities, while planning permission has been refused for others.

Padel’s expansion into public parks has also sparked local pushback.

Residents and roller-skaters in London's Bethnal Green are campaigning against a new padel court.

Opponents say the development “displaces a multi-cultural community of all ages who relied on that space being free and open”.

The situation highlights a growing dilemma for local authorities.

They must now balance the meteoric rise of a lucrative new sport with the need to protect free public space and preserve traditional park use.

Tower Hamlets Council told the BBC the court is a trial and part of an effort to improve health and wellbeing.

It also says the court, which charges £24 an hour at all times, is “one of the most affordable” in the capital.

Some clubs are striving to reverse the apparent bias towards a more affluent customer base.

Soul Padel, which runs facilities in the Midlands, North West and Scotland, and We Are Padel in Derby both offer initiatives aimed at widening access to underserved groups.

Soul Padel charges £7 off-peak and £10 peak per person, alongside £4.25 hourly student rates at Loughborough University, discounted sessions for women and the over-50s, and free lessons for local schools.

While 70 per cent of UK padel players are men, according to LTA data, grassroots initiatives are working to narrow the gender gap.

After taking up the sport herself just five months ago, 42-year-old Jodie Packham set up The Rally Collective at Fleet Padel Hub in Hampshire to encourage more women to try it out.

The initiative offers four weeks of free Saturday morning play for women, alongside £7.50 90-minute social sessions and £15 coach-led games - options Packham says have made courts both financially accessible and far less intimidating.

“Seeing women who were initially nervous now playing regularly, growing in confidence, and encouraging others to join is incredibly rewarding,” Packham says.

Whether padel follows the path of Spain or becomes a tightly-guarded gated community of British sport remains to be seen. But as public rows deepen and prices remain stubbornly high, padel is beginning to face the same question confronting football and other sports: is it an investment opportunity, or a public good?

The battle for the soul of the UK's fastest-growing sport is only just beginning.

Additional reporting by Kris Bramwell, Phil Leake and Pilar Tomás