Padel boom hits UK as Shropshire adds new courts amid rising demand

Padel, once a niche pastime, is now expanding swiftly across Britain, with the Lawn Tennis Association estimating that more than one million people have played on the country's 1,825 courts. The surge is evident in Shropshire, where two pay-to-play centres have opened and additional facilities are pending planning permission in locations such as Albrighton, Telford and Morville near Bridgnorth. Players report difficulty securing slots as the sport's popularity climbs, while research highlights that off-peak court hire averages £30 and peak rates can climb to £80-£100.

Celebrity ambassadors including Zinedine Zidane, Andy Murray and Jessica Ennis-Hill have publicly embraced padel, adding to its profile. The region's inaugural club was founded in March 2025 in Weston Rhyn by footballing brothers Eric and Alex Ramsay together with cricketers Joe and Robert Clarke, with Alex Ramsay emphasizing accessibility and a wide age range of participants. Newcomers such as university student Ewan Tulloch describe a learning curve but praise the game's social and fast-learning nature.