Oxygen Consulting and Savills launch 2026 UK Padel Report
A full house audience with representatives from property, sport, investment, operations and the wider padel eco-system were presented with the findings of the 2026 padel report produced by Oxygen Consulting at a forum held on 10 June at Savills PLC.
One of the strongest themes from the evening was that while the UK clearly needs more courts and better infrastructure, this alone will not determine which operators and venues flourish. The next phase of padel will be shaped by those who think carefully about the full player experience: how venues create a compelling sense of place, how they help players feel they belong, and how they support regular, enjoyable and sustainable participation.
The forum also discussed the importance of ensuring that padel spreads beyond affluent communities. There is a useful parallel with the UK low-cost gym sector, where significant new demand was unlocked only when high-value, low-cost operators began serving a much broader audience, including many people who had never used a gym before.
Affordability matters because it will help determine whether padel becomes a genuinely mass-participation racquet sport across the UK or remains a more premium leisure activity concentrated in higher-income communities. In that sense, courts may be the infrastructure, but convenient access, affordability and community are likely to become the real advantage.
2026 UK Padel Report is now available via the Oxygen Consulting website. This 69-page independent, ad-free report includes new player price-sensitivity research and explores how pricing, access, venue formats, participation enablers and emerging operating models can help padel build financially resilient venues, encourage repeat play and support wider participation, physical activity and better public health.
For commercial organisations, the 2026 UK Padel Report is priced at £250 plus VAT. Complimentary access is available on request for registered charities, universities and relevant non-commercial partners.
You can access the report here
MRH Sport becomes latest TIA member
MRH Sport is one of the UK’s leading racquet sports distributors, specialising in premium brands across padel and pickleball. Based in the UK, the company works closely with retailers, clubs, coaches, events and governing bodies to support the continued growth of racquet sports nationwide.
As the exclusive distributor of Bullpadel in the UK & Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, MRH Sport is responsible for bringing one of the world’s most specialised and recognisable padel brands to market. The company also distributes MAXE Pickleball and continues to invest heavily in supporting the rapid development of emerging racquet sports through grassroots initiatives, retail partnerships and major event activations.
Beyond distribution, MRH Sport is committed to growing participation through marketing, education and community engagement. From supporting coaches and ambassadors to delivering retail experiences, product launches and international event activations, the business works across every level of the sport to help brands and partners succeed.
Jake Whalley, Head of Marketing, said “MRH Sport is delighted to join the Tennis Industry Association and looks forward to collaborating with fellow members to help strengthen the future of racquet sports throughout the UK”
Farewell ITF – welcome World Tennis
The International Tennis Federation has officially become known as World Tennis with the sport’s global governing body outlining its ambitious vision to boost participation by 30%.
Founded in 1913, the ITF sets and enforces the sport’s rules, regulates international competition and runs the Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, tennis at the Olympic Games and the tournament levels below the main Tours. It also oversees the development and growth of the sport worldwide, and in announcing the name change pledged to reinvest 85% of all income it generates each year for the next decade.
In an open letter, World Tennis president David Haggerty and CEO Ross Hutchins outlined five strategic priorities:
- Growing participation
- Powering future stars
- Elevating official national competitions
- Ensuring a sport fit for the future
- Investing to grow the game
“Tennis is already one of the world’s largest sports. But we want to shout from the rooftops to anyone who hasn’t discovered us yet, ‘Tennis for all!’ and most importantly, tennis for you,” the letter read.”If more people play, watch or follow, everyone in the game benefits. That’s the future we’ll be striving for.
“We believe it’s possible to increase global participation from 106 million people playing tennis to 140 million by 2035. That’s an increase of more than 30%. We want to be ambitious, but we do think it’s realistic too.”
Explaining the need for a change of name, former professional player Hutchins said it was about being ‘recognisable’ and separate from organisations such as the men’s ATP Tour and women’s WTA Tour. “The ITF isn’t well known enough or isn’t understood enough by audiences that can have a difference and a positive impact to our game,” Hutchins said.
“World Tennis shows the global nature of us, shows the focal point of us as an organisation.”
Article curtsey of Reuters
Wimbledon experience returns to NY
New York again hosted a four-day immersive activation in June dubbed “The Wimbledon Court in Central Park”. Expert groundstaff from SW19 built a pop-up grass court for the “Wimbledon Court Invitational”, an exhibition match that saw two pairs of tennis icons—Andre Agassi and Genie Bouchard taking on James Blake and Caroline Wozniacki—go head-to-head in a friendly doubles match.
Club Agronomist Mark Ferguson explained that they used different grasses to create the pop-up – a hybrid Bermuda grass which was more suited to the NY climate, than the perennial ryegrass installed at SW19, whist trying to replicate the same playing conditions and surface characteristics.
There was also an array of tennis-themed activities celebrating the Wimbledon experience – fans had the chance to play on the Wimbledon Court, as well as the chance to enjoy Wimbledon’s traditional strawberries and cream, alongside various fan engagement activations, off the court.
“We are delighted to bring Wimbledon to the US for a fifth successive year, giving New York’s devoted tennis fans a flavour of Wimbledon,” said Usama Al-Qassab, Marketing and Commercial Director at The All England Lawn Tennis Club. “Whether they are watching the unique exhibition matches we have planned, enjoying the rare opportunity to play on a Wimbledon grass court, coming to New York for the first time ever, or tasting some of Wimbledon’s traditional food and drink, our four‑day event will bring the celebration of ‘tennis in an English garden’ to New York’s iconic Central Park.”
Image Curtesy: The Experiential Group
Padel and Pickleball News
Kirkby
People in Kirkby will soon be able to play padel locally as the result of a £2.5m investment towards the creation of a 32,000 square foot retail and leisure space in the town centre. This space would have room for six to eight padel courts, changing rooms, a café and social space and community use areas.
Marlow
A new padel centre for Marlow, Bucks has been approved, against the advice of planning officers. Officers said the centre would be “inappropriate development in the green belt”, but the county council’s planning committee gave it the go-ahead. The application has come from the team behind Padel Maidenhead and include the demolition of a burnt-out house and the creation of eight covered padel courts and two uncovered courts.
Officers advised that permission should be refused as the project would be “inappropriate development in the green belt” that would “detract from the established open and rural location”, however the applicants said there were special circumstances to justify building in the green belt, including the sport’s popularity and the lack of alternative sites.
The planning committee agreed and voted unanimously to approve the project.
Curtesy: Padel Maidenhead
Renfrew
A proposal at Renfrew will see units on an industrial estate turned into an indoor padel facility, after Renfrewshire Council granted planning permission, subject to conditions. The site, which previously operated as retail space, will now be reclassified from Class 1A (Retail) to Class 11, covering leisure uses such as sports courts and gyms.
In its decision notice, the council said the scheme aligns with the local Development Plan and that no issues were raised which outweighed the presumption in favour of approving the application. However, strict conditions have been attached, most of them centred on noise control. Developers now have three years from the date of the decision to start work on the conversion.
Shoreham
A harbour wharf is being turned into a padel centre. Flude Property Consultants said that Club Padel had bought more than an acre of land at Fishermans Wharf, in Shoreham. Planning consent has been approved for an indoor padel club featuring six courts, changing rooms, parking and a high-end bar overlooking the courts. Works have commenced and the club is set to open in autumn 2026.
Milton Keynes
Willen Lake and UK PADEL have announced that a new padel centre will be opening later this year, comprising of 4 covered and 2 outdoor courts. The addition of padel courts further enhances Willen Lake as a destination that brings together sport, leisure and nature with walking trails, water sports, cafés and open green spaces already attracting families, couples and individuals throughout the year
Smash Padel secures investment for expansion
Smash Padel, which operates five venues including in Oxford and Bicester, plans to grow to 20 sites across the UK following a funding round led by Middleton Enterprises, an investment firm founded by entrepreneur Jeremy Middleton. The expansion will include the launch of new centres in underserved communities with three more locations expected to open before the end of the year. Smash Padel’s existing venues are in Oxford, Bicester, Whitstable, Mid Sussex, and Cardiff, with a Taunton site scheduled to open in summer 2026.
Image curtesy Smash Padel