Padel is one of the fastest-growing sports out there and Manchester is certainly getting on the hype. With a fair few courts in and around the city such as Club de Padel and The Padel Club, and plans for more padel-playing spots to come in the future, Manchester is also set to see the arrival of the largest padel hub in the North West.
Following a successful planning permission application by sports venue operator Social Sports Society, the largest padel centre in the North West will be opening its courts in Manchester in 2025. The 13,000 sq ft, 10-court venue will be located within Manchester’s Victoria North regeneration area and will launch the first courts early in the year.
Padel, best described as a hybrid between tennis and squash, is played in doubles, accessible to beginners and it is by nature a ‘social sport’. At a later stage, other sports will become available at the centre, including boules.
Social Sports Society is bringing padel at scale to the UK, with its Stockport venue set to open later this year. The two launches in the North West follow Social Sports Society’s opening of London Wembley’s first padel venue, in one of Europe’s largest regeneration projects, Wembley Park. This will shortly be joined by the forthcoming opening of its Brent Cross venue, which has capacity for a total of 26 courts – more than any of its UK counterparts, plus several other venues are currently in the pipeline.
Planning permission has now been granted for the Manchester padel hub on Peary Street in New Town, a new area neighbouring the communities of Red Bank, Collyhurst and MeadowSide. Once open, the site will be managed by Found, FEC’s in-house operator which provides a 360-lifestyle experience for residents of Victoria North that seeks to activate unused areas, and engages with a community of pioneers and ground breakers, at any stage in life – whether that be young professionals or families.
Social Sports Society will join the exciting mix of brands already operating within the neighbouring Red Bank and MeadowSide areas including Fairfield Social Club, BlackOwned MCR, Green Arches Brewery and Bar, Half Dozen Other bakery, Foundation Coffee and renowned spätzle and Michelin Guide restaurant, The Spärrows.
Shilpa Lakhanpal, Asset Manager at Found, said: “Bringing the incredibly popular padel to North Manchester is really exciting for us and the existing residents in the local area looking to pick up a racket and try something new. We’ve long had a focus on expanding our sports and activity offering to enhance the wellbeing of our resident community, so developments like this, where we can offer multiple sports in a small area, are a great addition.”
Manchester padel hub is expected to open in early 2025.