Padel courts are becoming the sports facility of choice for high-end hotels and members' clubs across the country, often replacing tennis courts and golf courses. This trend is driven by the sport's growing popularity as a participation activity.
Chris King, founder of Crafted at Powdermills, a members' club and hotel in East Sussex, noted that he prioritises padel courts when seeking locations for new outposts. He highlighted that the sport has lower barriers to entry for players of all ages and can offer more enjoyment. From a real estate perspective, four padel courts can occupy the same area as two tennis courts.
The UK has seen significant growth in padel, with the number of players exceeding 1 million this year. Despite this, millions more may not be familiar with the sport due to its urban concentration. King plans to make padel a central offering for future Crafted locations across the UK and Europe, backed by Swiss private equity firm Limestone Capital.
Padel is also gaining traction for corporate groups on away days or short breaks, attributed to its sociability, ease of play, and broad appeal to both men and women.