Shovel-ready figures
In just a few seasons, the UK has entered a new dimension. The most telling indicator remains infrastructure: the LTA announced 1,000+ courts available in July 2025 (1,004 to be precise), spread over 325 sites, after a continuous progression since 2019.
Another strong signal: beyond a simple fashion spin, booking platforms and operators describe a practice that is becoming increasingly dense (full slots, waiting lists, new formats, in-house leagues). And when the schedule overflows, the rest is mechanical: applications are submitted, surfaces are sought, parking lots are converted and brownfield sites are converted.
The final “near 2026” marker: platform data relayed in February 2026 indicate that the number of players booking via the app has risen by around 125% over the year 2025 (mirrored by a marked increase in monthly bookings). At this level, demand is no longer just “driving” clubs: it’s driving the entire industry (builders, local authorities, investors) to multiply projects.
The bottleneck: permits rather than demand
The heart of the “infrastructure” issue in 2026 often boils down to one word: planning. Padel can be built quickly on paper, but not so quickly in real-life Britain. Noise, lighting, height of structures, traffic and parking: every project ticks sensitive boxes, especially near residential areas.
And this tension can be seen in the figures. According to data from the Searchland platform, permit applications for padel courts have risen from 53 in 2021 to 348 in 2024 (+113%), with 295 already registered for 2025 at the time of writing. In other words: the explosion is as evident in reservations as it is in the planning departments.
Why more and more people are asking for new courts
1) A compact sport that makes the most of its square footage
A padel court takes up less space than a tennis court, which opens up a whole new world of possibilities: racquet clubs can increase the density of their offerings, leisure centers can make the most of under-used space, and commercial buildings can be refurbished. In a country where land is a major factor in the equation, this argument hits the nail on the head.
2) An ultra-social model that fills niches
The UK is often described as a very “community-oriented” market: the ratio of open matches to traditional bookings is said to be particularly high. As a result, clubs no longer just sell hours of game time, they also sell meetings, events and weekly routines.
3) Turning points to covered (and “semi-covered”) products
Given the climate, many recent projects are looking for “year-round” solutions. The all-indoor remains the premium showcase, but the indoor option (protective structures, hybrid solutions) appeals because it limits the vagaries of the weather while trying to contain costs and administrative complexity. It’s also a direct response to players’ expectations: book a game and be sure of playing.
4) The arrival of brands and chains
Another acceleration is the entry of new players capable of investing and duplicating models. The best example of this in the retail/sports business is Slazenger, door by Frasers Group (Sports Direct, House of Fraser, Everlast Gyms…), which very early on announced a multi-site strategy after an initial presence around Leeds. When a long-established brand begins to think in terms of a network, the local ecosystem (design offices, manufacturers, local authorities, land partners) gets into motion.
Glasgow, symbol of the push north
The boom is no longer confined to London and the South East. In Scotland, the dynamic has become a trademark: several operators are now targeting more ambitious formats (larger sites, more year-round slots, club-hub logic). Glasgow is regularly cited as a case in point, because the city started out with a historically limited offer, and is now seeing the arrival of several projects and extensions.
The bottom line remains the same: when demand takes hold and slots become tight, the question becomes industrial. Padel is no longer an “option” added to a club, but an object of investment and planning in its own right.
The most dynamic regions: London, Manchester, Bristol, Leeds… and beyond?
The “hotspots” recur in almost all operator returns: London remains the locomotive, followed by cities where the ecosystem is thickening fast (Manchester, Bristol, Leeds). In the platform data relayed in early 2026, the top 5 cited also includes Derby, a sign that growth is no longer confined to the most obvious regional capitals.
To remain factual, the official map tends to read in broad categories (London/Southeast, Midlands, North, etc.). But in reality, it’s the urban catchment areas, areas with high booking power and transport routes that dictate location decisions.
What the boom means in concrete terms
- For clubs: competition is shifting towards experience (welcome, social life, game formats, pro-shop, catering) and reliability (cover, lighting, opening hours).
- For local authorities: padel becomes a tool for redevelopment (under-used sites, wasteland, parking lots) but requires a serious framework (noise pollution, consultation, access, landscape integration).
- For project developers, success comes early. Impact studies, dialogue with neighbors, choice of model (outdoor/cover/indoor), and phasing of work become decisive factors.
Key takeaway
- LTA has made it official that it will pass the 1,000 short mark (1,004) in July 2025, a symbolic milestone for a market that is still in its infancy.
- The “infrastructure” boom can also be seen in the files: Searchland reports a surge in permit applications, with a peak in 2024 and a high tempo over 2025.
- Data relayed at the beginning of 2026 confirms an acceleration on the practical side: demand is rising sharply, and operators are responding by multiplying the number of projects.
- The crux of the matter is local acceptability: noise, lighting, size of structures and traffic. In short, urban planning has become the British padel court’s other game.
