Racket sports fans can now play the world’s fastest-growing sport rain or shine following the launch of Brighton’s first covered padel courts at Withdean Sports Complex.
The brand-new facility, which will officially open with an Padel Festival on 6th and 7th June, features three premium courts sheltered by a state-of-the-art canopy and high-powered floodlights allow for evening matches. A fully staffed reception desk offers on-site racket hire, ball sales, and expert gear advice and players of all skill levels can access professional coaching, organised social sessions, and community tournaments at the venue.
The Padel Festival on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June will feature a mix of trial clinics, introductions to padel, racket testing, social Americano tournaments and exhibition matches. Food and drink will be available to purchase from The Sportsman Stonehouse next to the club. The Mayor of Brighton & Hove will be attending at 3pm on Saturday 6th June to pronounce the courts officially open.
Padel is a fast-paced cross between tennis and squash. It has exploded in popularity, with over 1 million regular players now in the UK and over 9 million who are not playing yet but have indicated they would like to play! Famous fans of the sport include tennis legends Andy and Jamie Murray, football stars Virgil van Dijk, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo and music icons Stormzy, Aitch and Nicole Scherzinger.
The Withdean site is launched by the UK’s leading padel club operator/ developer Game4Padel alongside Brighton & Hove City Council and Freedom Leisure. The venue acts as a sister site to the highly successful outdoor courts at Hove Beach Park, giving city residents premium playing options across both the north and south districts.
Game4Padel has been responsible for growing the game of padel in the UK via initiatives including training over 300 coaches, improving awareness for the sport via media and live exhibitions to showcase the sport and its benefits.
Bookings for the open weekend are via the official MATCHI booking platform. Free sessions between 10am-6pm on Saturday and 9am-6pm on Sunday will be available for anyone who wants to trial the new courts (including Juniors) or give padel a go. Parking will be limited on this day, so please lift-share, walk or use public transport where possible.
Karen Hazzard, Former GB Player and Game4Padel’s Director of Padel for Brighton, said: “These new courts are fantastic for Brighton and we really hope lots of people come out to try this new sport over our opening weekend. Padel is fun, really sociable, easy to pick up and a great mental and physical work out.”
Councillor Alan Robins, Cabinet Member for Sports, Recreation and Libraries at Brighton & Hove City Council, said: “Padel has become incredibly popular here in Brighton & Hove and the level of demand for local court time is huge.“It is brilliant to see covered courts being added at Withdean and I’m sure they’ll be very well used all year round.”
