The Padel Boom: UK and Ireland See Major November Facility Expansion

13th November 2025 – The explosive growth of padel across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland is showing no signs of slowing down this November, marked by significant facility investments, ambitious operator expansion plans, and a high-profile national awareness campaign.

The racket sport, often described as a hybrid of tennis and squash, is cementing its place in the British and Irish sports landscape with new courts opening, investment pouring in, and key operators committing to year-round play.

🇮🇪 Ireland's Investment Boom Continues

Ireland is emerging as one of Europe's fastest-developing padel markets, driven by major investment initiatives and key club openings:

• Cork City's First Dedicated Indoor Club: Following a substantial €4 million investment, The Hive Padel Club is set to open its doors in Cork City this December. The club transforms a 19,000 sq ft industrial space in the Marina area into a purpose-built, five-court indoor facility, complete with nine-metre ceilings, a café, and dedicated social spaces. This marks a pivotal moment in addressing the limited opportunities to play padel within the city centre.

• National Rollout Accelerates: The country's largest operator, Padel 100, is executing an ambitious plan to install 300 courts nationwide by December 2027. This follows a successful €5 million fundraise and strategic partnerships with international construction and booking technology firms. The company is currently installing courts at a rate of 10–12 per month, with a target of 100 courts across 40 confirmed venues by April 2026.

• Padel Tennis Ireland Expands in Cork: Adding to the city's growing capacity, Padel Tennis Ireland has announced major plans for an eight-court campus in Bishopstown, bringing their total court count in Cork to 16.

• Grand Opening in Omagh: In Northern Ireland, Let's Go Padel officially launched a new, bigger facility in Omagh in early November. The venue features four doubles courts and two singles courts, further cementing the operator's position as a major player in Northern Ireland alongside clubs in Ballyclare, Carryduff, Newry, and Belfast.

🇬🇧 Infrastructure and Community Growth in the UK

The facility expansion on the UK mainland is equally robust, with major players continuing their rollout:

• David Lloyd Clubs' Expansion: The premium health and wellness group, which has positioned itself as the UK’s largest operator of padel, is concluding 2025 with three major club launches: David Lloyd Colliers Wood (London) this month, followed by Harlow (Essex) and Herne Bay (Kent) in December. These new sites will feature extensive, high-spec racquet facilities, including padel courts.

• PDL Padel United's Local Focus: Padel United continues to grow its portfolio, launching a week of free padel at a new pop-up court in Colchester. Furthermore, the company announced an exciting upgrade for its Bushey venue, with a brand-new roof being installed this winter to ensure uninterrupted, all-weather play.

Northern Ireland Padel Society Pushes for Year-Round Play

A key focus for operators is ensuring accessibility regardless of the often-unpredictable weather.

• Padel Society's Next Chapter: Following a highly successful launch in Antrim, Padel Society has confirmed the next phase of its expansion, which includes covering two of its four existing courts at Muckamore Cricket Club to guarantee year-round access. The company is using this club as a blueprint for future developments across Northern Ireland, with new Belfast locations and development proposals across the island of Ireland on the drawing board. Installation of the bespoke cover structure is scheduled for early December.

Celebrity Backing for Grassroots Padel

Beyond the new venues, the sport's community profile received a boost from an unexpected quarter.

• Jason Manford's Campaign: Well-known comedian and TV personality Jason Manford has thrown his support behind the sport, visiting a facility in Norwich as part of a campaign to encourage children across the country to pick up a racket. The initiative aims to get a million children playing padel, highlighting its accessible, social, and easy-to-learn nature for all ages.

The combined force of substantial financial investment, major facility openings, and high-profile community campaigns demonstrates that padel’s rapid ascent in the UK and Ireland is evolving from a trend into a fully established fixture in the region's sporting landscape.