Spring Forum
Our annual Spring Forum sponsored by Pinsent Masons takes place on Thursday April 23rd at 30 Crown Place, Earl Street EC2A 4ES. Coffee from 10.15 / Forum between 11.00 and 13.00 / Network lunch between 13.00 and 14.30
The event takes for the form of a roundtable discussion with all contributions welcomed. The key themes and their facilitators are:
Ray Algar, Managing Director, Oxygene Consulting on the long-term financial sustainability of padel if significant facility development produces a sharp reduction in court pricing
Brian Flasck, UK Manager Zenniz on how modern tech can help clubs streamline operations, generate revenue, and boost player engagement
Key Executives from the LTA on whether padel is impacting the sustainability of tennis and what the LTA is learning from the popularity of padel to support overall tennis growth
There are a few places left for this free event – if you wish to reserve a place contact phil@tiauk.org immediately
Grass court maintenance course
The Grounds Management Association (GMA) has introduced a new on-line training course: ‘Introduction to tennis grass court maintenance’.
The course has 3 modules all designed to give participants a new understanding or to build upon current knowledge in this specialist area. The modules incorporate: requirements of tennis grass courts and personnel / court and player requirements / introduction to Performance Quality Standards / maintenance activities / machinery and settings / safe use / storage and safe disposal / application and effects of incorrect use
Cost is £52.00 for GMA members and £74.00 for non-members (including VAT)
LTA One Team Bulletin
The LTA’s Spring 2026 edition of its One Team Bulletin is now available online.
If any TIA Industry Members supporting local tennis activity have a suitable story to post on the LTA’s Bulletin, let phil@tiauk.org know
AGM / Summer Social
Our AGM and Summer Social will be at The LTA’s National Tennis Centre on Thursday July 2nd. As usual the AGM will be followed by a networking lunch. The LTA has again kindly provided a number of ground tickets for Wimbledon to be allocated to those full members attending the AGM. If you plan to attend the AGM and would like to be allocated a ground pass for the afternoon, please contact phil@tiauk.org as soon as possible
Padel and Pickleball News
Nottingham
Plans to turn a former industrial unit into a padel centre have been given the go-ahead.
Nottingham City Council’s planning committee approved an application on Wednesday from Meadow Lane Services to redevelop a former metal fabrication site on Lenton Lane, next to Clifton Boulevard. According to planning documents, the centre will consist of eight padel tennis courts, a fitness studio and a cafe, along with 58 parking spaces.
Bury
JD Sports is to build a new sports pavilion with padel courts. The major sports fashion brand is set to get the greenlight on a brand new sports pavilion, featuring a gym and padel courts on its work campus in Bury. JD Sports Fashion Plc wants to create an exercise haven in the middle of Pilsworth Industrial Estate.
The scheme includes a canteen, cafe, and indoor gym, alongside outdoor features such as a multi-use pitch, two padel courts, and a running track. Plans submitted to Bury Council at the end of last year say they would bring ‘economic and social benefits’ to a currently disused plot of land at the junction of Hollins Brook Way and Pilsworth Road.
Cleethorpes
Padel courts are planned for the former Cleethorpes zoo. An application for five outdoor padel courts at the former Jungle Zoo site, off Kings Road, have been submitted to North East Lincolnshire Council. The plans include a clubhouse which will be built using shipping containers. It will house a pay station, changing rooms, toilets and storage facilities. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, four of the proposed courts would be covered by a canopy to allow use all year round. The proposal has been submitted on behalf of East Coast Padel, which operates a similar facility in Hull.
Melton
Plans to convert a workshop building into a sports and wellbeing hub have been given the go-ahead.
Melton Borough Council approved proposals for six padel courts, a pilates and yoga studio, a wellness clinic and coffee shop in the former Pera Innovation research and development workshop in Melton, Leicestershire.
Planning documents submitted on behalf of the applicant, Obstrat Limited, said the hub would “enhance the attractiveness, competitiveness and long-term resilience” of the Pera Business Park. The workshop, built in the 1960s, was most recently used as a recycling pilot plant, documents said. They added that the workshop was in “need of investment to maintain it”.