Covered padel courts are now open in the city, offering year-round gameplay for enthusiasts.
Three all-weather courts have been unveiled at Withdean Sports Complex in Brighton, built and will be operated by Game4Padel in conjunction with the council and the council’s Withdean leisure operating partner Freedom Leisure.
The facility complements existing courts at Hove Beach Park and supports growing demand for the sport on both sides of the city.
Councillor Alan Robins, Cabinet Member for Sport and Recreation, said: “We are delighted to be opening these three new permanent padel courts at Withdean, to help meet demand for this popular and fast-growing sport.
“As a major sporting city, we are keen to provide opportunities for residents to participate in a wide range of activities at our leisure facilities and to take up new sports.
“Who knows, in future years we may be celebrating our own home grown Padel champions!”
The new courts feature a modern canopy for year-round play, full floodlighting for evening use and a dedicated padel reception offering equipment sales and rentals.
‘This city is a true hotspot for padel’: New covered courts open at sports complex
‘This city is a true hotspot for padel’: New covered courts open at sports complex
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To mark the launch, Game4Padel is offering a 50 per cent discount on court bookings for the first month.
Michael Gradon, CEO of Game4Padel, said: “We are thrilled to be expanding our footprint in Brighton with these three new premium covered courts.
“The incredible demand we’ve seen at both Withdean and our Hove Beach Park site proves that this city is a true hotspot for padel.
“There are now reportedly one million padel players in the UK, so this sport is continuing its exciting trajectory and facilities like this will help to make it more accessible to even more people.”
A temporary padel court previously installed at Withdean reached 90 per cent occupancy before closing in May 2024, while courts at Hove Beach Park have recorded 97 per cent occupancy during the summer.
The Withdean Sports Complex offers a range of facilities including small sided 3G football pitches, squash, tennis, a gym, Level Up soft play, a climbing wall and an athletics track.
Plans for a new community swimming pool have also been approved with work due to start later this year.