Scarborough Rugby Union Football Club has partnered with local firm Boyes Stores to develop a new sports facility focused on padel tennis and pickleball. The Barons Padel Tennis & Pickle Centre will transform a former warehouse site into a community hub with up to 15 heated courts. The project aims to boost grassroots sports and wellbeing in the area.
Scarborough Rugby Union Football Club and Boyes Stores have joined forces to create the Barons Padel Tennis & Pickle Centre at the soon-to-be-vacated W Boyes & Co. Ltd warehouse on Hopper Hill Road in Eastfield, Scarborough. This initiative repurposes the site into an accessible venue for two rapidly growing sports in the UK, promoting physical activity for people of all ages and abilities in an inclusive setting.
The development, supported by Boyes Stores, underscores a commitment to grassroots sport and community wellbeing. An initial assessment suggests the facility could accommodate up to 15 heated courts, combining padel for singles and doubles with pickleball options. This scale highlights the project's ambition to serve the local population effectively.
Graeme Young, chief executive of Scarborough RUFC, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership: “We are pleased to be able to lease this facility from Boyes Stores for community sporting use. This project highlights the positive role local businesses can play in supporting grassroots sport. Scarborough RUFC and Boyes Stores share a strong commitment to participation, accessibility, and community benefit here in Scarborough.”
Richard Boyes, managing director of Boyes Stores and marketing director of Scarborough RUFC, explained the rationale behind the move: “Having recently acquired the former Pindar printing site, we have decided to relocate all stocks currently sited at our Hopper Hill centre into our new ‘Pindar’ warehouse, with teams moving less than a mile to the new facility. After careful consideration and being a part of the surge in both Padel and Pickle tennis, it makes complete sense to assist Scarborough RUFC in providing a centre that elevates the County in the development of Padel and Pickle tennis. This location is in an area of fast residential and commercial growth, which will only benefit from such a community-based facility that is accessible to both its residents and people drawn into the area through this sporting centre, which will benefit existing businesses in the area too.”
The centre is set to open later in 2026, pending planning approval. More information on operations, schedules, and involvement opportunities will follow as the project progresses. This collaboration positions the site as a vital addition to Scarborough's sporting landscape.