Padel in Liverpool: Hunts Cross, the new symbol of the indoor wave
Liverpool continues to equip itself at high speed. Ignite Padel, an operator born in the city, plans to open a new center in Hunts Cross in July 2026, with 11 indoor courts spread over a site of more than 34,000 sq ft. The project is set to become the company’s fourth site in the North West, after Queens Drive, Cheshire Oaks and Speke.
The decision to go all indoor is not insignificant. In a region where the weather can quickly disrupt slots, indoor facilities become a sporting as well as an economic argument: players book with greater certainty, coaches stabilize their sessions, and clubs can better structure tournaments, in-house leagues and training sessions. For the player, it also changes the quality of the game: more regular rebounds, less wind on the bandeja, cleaner play on the glass and more favorable conditions for progress.
The future complex is also set to take on a clubhouse dimension, with licensed bar, coffee shop, boutique and on-screen sports broadcasts. This detail says a lot about the evolution of padel in Liverpool: we’re no longer just building courts, we’re building places to practice, meet and consume sport. The pair who come to play a match after work can stay, watch an event, test a racket or join a community of players.
Ignite Padel aims to expand its network in the North West
Ignite Padel’s trajectory is a rapid one. The group launched its first site in Liverpool in April 2025, on Queens Drive, before adding Cheshire Oaks in September and then Speke in December. On its official website, Ignite already lists three active venues around Liverpool and Cheshire, including Speke, described as its largest current site with six championship-level indoor tracks.
Hunts Cross thus confirms a network strategy, not an isolated opening. The announced courts are presented as imported from Spain, of championship quality and LTA-approved, which should reassure demanding players as well as beginners discovering the glass court, the volleys, the topspin or the vibora. The operator also advertises coaching for several levels, a key point in a market where many new players arrive with no prior racquet culture.
This movement is part of a wider densification of Merseyside. Liverpool is seeing a proliferation of projects: FC Padel at Wavertree, Pure Padel at the Liverpool Innovation Site, not to mention the floating club expected at Liverpool Waters. For Ignite, the stakes are clear: take a position before the local map freezes, while retaining the advantage of the community already built up via its existing sites.
A British boom that’s more than just a fad
The Liverpool case fits the national trend. According to the latest LTA figures, 860,000 people played padel in Great Britain at least once in 2025, countering 400,000 at the end of 2024. Infrastructure follows: 1,553 tracks were registered in 559 locations at the end of 2025. This data explains why operators are looking for larger, better-covered and more comprehensive formats.
How much will an hour of padel at Hunts Cross cost? At this stage, rates have not been publicly released. However, the LTA provides a national benchmark: an off-peak booking averages £7 per player per hour, based on a double. Final positioning will therefore depend on the slot, level of service and subscription model chosen by Ignite Padel.
On Actu Padel, we already analyzed this acceleration in our article on the boom in new court projects in the UK. Hunts Cross is a concrete illustration: an urban, indoor site designed to absorb regular demand and transform the social trial of padel into a sporting habit.
To remember:
- Ignite Padel plans to open in Hunts Cross in July 2026.
- The announced complex will feature 11 indoor tracks over 34,000 sq ft.
- Liverpool is becoming one of the hottest points on the British padel scene, with specialist clubs, premium projects and events for the general public.
