Padium, a prominent London-based padel club, is expanding to Cardiff with its first venue outside the capital. The new facility in Cardiff Bay Retail Park will feature eight indoor courts, becoming the largest padel venue in Wales. Construction is underway on the site of a former Argos store, with an opening expected in the coming months.
The arrival of Padium in Cardiff addresses the rising demand for premium padel facilities in South Wales, where current options are limited to a few outdoor courts and two existing indoor venues: House of Sport with six courts and Game4Padel in nearby Penarth.
Houman Ashrafzadeh, founder of Padium, called the expansion a significant milestone. He stated, “The demand for high quality padel facilities in Wales is at an all-time high and we’re excited to introduce our premium offering to this vibrant sporting city.” Ashrafzadeh highlighted Cardiff Bay's ongoing transformation, which includes a new 15,000-capacity indoor arena, residential developments, office spaces, and additional leisure options, as an ideal setting for the club.
Spanning 35,000 square feet, the venue will replicate the high-end features of Padium's Canary Wharf location, which opened nearly two years ago with support from Spotify co-founder Martin Lorentzon. Amenities will include coaching services, a cafe and bar, a pro shop, co-working areas, a players' lounge, luxury changing rooms, and a spa with sauna. Marketing efforts are already in progress, though no exact opening date has been announced.
A Padium spokesman emphasized the club's role in filling a gap for indoor premium padel in Cardiff. “The city’s strong sporting culture, combined with the fast-growing popularity of padel makes Cardiff an ideal location for Padium’s expansion,” he said. This move comes amid a surge in padel interest across the UK, with two other new centers planned in the city: Smash Padel at Llandaff Bowling Green and a conversion at David Lloyd in Penylan.
Padel itself is a doubles racket sport blending elements of tennis and squash, played on an enclosed court using solid paddles and low-compression balls. Its accessibility and emphasis on strategy over power have fueled its growth, appealing to players of all ages and skill levels.
