Padel popularity surges in UK but high costs raise accessibility concerns
Padel is growing in popularity across the UK, but the high cost of court access is raising concerns about the sport's accessibility for all.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Padel popularity surges in UK but high costs raise accessibility concerns
Padel, a racket sport that blends elements of squash and tennis, is experiencing a rapid surge in popularity across the UK. This week, for the first time, an international padel competition featuring the world's top players is being held in London, underscoring the sport's growing profile. According to exclusive data, planning applications for new padel courts in England and Wales have skyrocketed: from just 23 in 2020 to 580 in 2025, with 375 already submitted in the first half of this year alone.
However, the sport's expansion is shadowed by concerns over cost. The average price to book an indoor court in the UK is £44 per hour, but in some parts of London players are paying up to £100. Players interviewed at a club in south-west London described budgeting around £100 a week for court time. One player said: "I would like to see it be more affordable. I think my age group especially, there's not lots of people in their 20s who are playing."
A club official warned that if prices do not come down, the sport risks remaining a "closed pool". "We need to be able to open that price point up and let everyone have a go and get on court. Otherwise, we will struggle, I think, to keep it going," they said. The club offers a special deal for children and families, but even there it is described as one of the cheaper options in London.
The sport's rapid growth has drawn comparisons to Sweden, where the padel boom suddenly collapsed. Observers are asking whether the current frenzy in the UK is sustainable, or whether high costs will limit its reach and lead to a similar downturn.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 4 |
|---|---|
| Planning applications for new padel courts in England and Wales rose from 23 in 2020 to 580 in 2025, with 375 in the first half of this year. | |
| The average cost to book an indoor padel court in the UK is £44 per hour, with some London locations charging up to £100. | |
| The padel boom in Sweden has already burst, raising questions about sustainability in the UK. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Channel 4 focused on the tension between padel's explosive growth and its financial barriers. The report highlighted exclusive data on planning applications and gave voice to players and a club official who warned that high costs could make the sport exclusive and unsustainable. The tone was balanced but leaned toward concern about accessibility.
- “I would like to see it be more affordable. I think my age group especially, there's not lots of people in their 20s who are playing.”
- “If we don't bring the price point down, then we will find that it will stay more of a closed pool, so we need to be able to open that price point up and let everyone have a go and get on court. Otherwise, we will struggle, I think, to keep it going.”
Broadcast Timeline
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