Project Padel will open the United Kingdom's first purpose-built padel warehouse at Gosforth Business Park in Longbenton this December. The facility aims to meet growing demand for the sport in the region. Construction is set to begin this week following approval last year.
Padel, a racquet sport resembling tennis but played on an enclosed court where the ball can rebound off the walls, typically involves doubles matches. Originating in Mexico's Acapulco in 1969 and arriving in Europe by 1974, it now boasts over 30 million players worldwide, including 400,000 in the UK. By mid-2025, the country had more than 1,000 courts across 325 locations, with existing venues in the North East at Gateshead, Sunderland, Benton, South Shields, and Hexham.
The new warehouse at Gosforth Business Park represents a milestone as the UK's inaugural purpose-built padel facility. It will feature a hospitality-focused clubhouse, including a café, licensed bar, sports lounge, premium changing areas, and dedicated spaces for corporate events. North Tyneside Council's planning committee granted approval in March 2025, paving the way for construction to start this week. The site is expected to open in December 2026.
Sammy Arora, founder and CEO of Pure Padel, highlighted the project's significance: "There is huge demand for padel across Newcastle and the wider North East, with people travelling significant distances to play, and we’re proud to finally be delivering a facility that matches that appetite. We're also excited to support Newcastle’s growing business community by creating a venue that works just as well for corporate events and networking as it does for playing padel."
The sport has gained traction among figures linked to Newcastle United, with former players Shola Ameobi and Hatem Ben Arfa, as well as assistant manager Jason Tindall, among its regular participants in the area.