A new state-of-the-art padel club has launched in Gloucester, marking a significant development in local sports facilities.
- Located at Gloucester Quays Retail Park, the £1m venue boasts nine courts, a restaurant, and a bar.
- The club has created 15 new jobs, enhancing the local economy and employment opportunities.
- Padel, a sport combining elements of tennis, squash, and badminton, continues to grow in popularity globally.
- Key figures in the local sports and leisure sector highlight the club’s potential to foster community and sporting engagement.
A new indoor padel club has emerged in Gloucester, revitalising the former Toys R Us building at Gloucester Quays Retail Park. This £1m venture includes nine courts alongside a restaurant and bar, promising both athletic and social experiences for visitors.
Fifteen job roles have been generated through this club’s opening, signifying a boost to the local economy. The introduction of this club is expected to stimulate further interest in padel, a sport melding tennis, squash, and badminton into an engaging and accessible format.
Padel is lauded as the ‘fastest-growing racket sport in the world’. Played in an enclosed space about a third of the size of a conventional tennis court, this sport is gaining traction due to its broad appeal and accessibility.
Hannah Thomas, the general manager at the Gloucester club, attributes the sport’s success in the UK to its accessibility and its ability to cultivate a sense of community. She noted, “Gloucester is a great place to expand the presence of padel in the South West, given its sporting background.”
Thomas encouraged newcomers and enthusiasts alike to experience the sport, promising an engaging and enjoyable time on the courts. Mark Whittaker, managing director of Peel Retail & Leisure, commended the swift rise in padel’s popularity and expressed pride in bringing this facility to Gloucester before others.
This opening marks the second collaboration between Peel Retail & Leisure and The Padel Club, with another venue featuring eleven courts set to open in Trafford City later this year.
The introduction of the padel club in Gloucester signifies a positive addition to the local sports landscape, promising both communal and economic benefits.
