St Helen’s, UK, November 6th 2024 – Soul Padel is proud to announce the launch of Merseyside’s first covered padel courts, set to open at Queens Park Recreation Ground, Boundary Road, St Helen’s. This state-of-the-art facility will feature four canopy-covered courts and a modern clubhouse, marking a major milestone in the area's regeneration.
"We are thrilled to bring padel to St Helen’s and be part of the town’s ongoing regeneration efforts,” said Mark Hewlett, Founder of Soul Padel. “This site will be the only covered padel club in Merseyside, and we’re excited to welcome players from across the region and beyond."
The project highlights St Helen’s ongoing commitment to economic regeneration and investment in community recreation. With the leisure centre just a stone’s throw away, the new facility promises to integrate closely with the town centre and offer a fun, social, and physically engaging experience.
Cllr Kate Groucutt, St Helens Borough Council Cabinet Member for Business, Culture and Leisure, commented: "We are delighted to see a business like Soul Padel choosing to invest here in St Helens Borough. As a borough, we see higher participation rates in team sports than anywhere else in the country. With a strong sporting heritage, it is great to see new opportunities to encourage more people to get active, particularly with Soul Padel’s mission to make this growing sport more accessible and affordable coming to our borough.
Padel is rapidly becoming one of the fastest-growing sports in the Northwest due to its ease to play, so it’s a fabulous opportunity to see new facilities being developed in the area around Queens Park, which will further support the wider aims of our Active Lives Strategy to encourage people to move more and support the redevelopment of brownfield land."
In addition to expanding access to padel, Soul Padel is committed to building close ties with local educational institutions, including Liverpool’s three universities, Edge Hill University, and St Helen’s Sixth Form College. The goal is to make the sport accessible to students and young people across the region.
Padel, recognised as the world’s fastest-growing sport, offers fun, social interaction, and great physical activity, making it an ideal fit for this newly redeveloped site. The sport's inclusive nature aligns with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) objective of sustainable development to enhance local sports provisions. The proposed padel tennis courts will contribute positively to the local area by helping to create an inclusive community with a strong sense of place while promoting healthy lifestyles in St Helens.
This new padel facility will be a key asset to the St Helen’s community and surrounding towns, offering an accessible alternative to those who would otherwise need to travel to Manchester. The project represents a major opportunity for residents across Merseyside to experience padel in a high-quality, covered facility.
"We’re proud to be part of the community here in St Helen’s, and we’re excited to welcome players from all over Merseyside and beyond,” said Hewlett. “We aim to make sure everyone feels part of the club, with affordable pricing and a wide range of coaching programmes."
The facility is expected to open in early Spring 2025.
About Soul Padel
Soul Padel’s mission is to bring the fast-growing sport of padel to communities across the UK. With values of ‘Meet, Play, and Connect,’ Soul Padel fosters an inclusive, social environment for players of all ages and abilities. The company is committed to ensuring padel is accessible and affordable for everyone, supporting the growth of padel across the nation.
For media inquiries or more information, please contact:
Oscar Sanger, Padel 22
Oscar@padel22.com
Oscar@padel22.com