The first padel courts in Fareham opened Sunday at The Park Lane Recreation Ground, marking a milestone for the Hampshire town and expanding the UK’s fastest-growing racket sport. Mayor Susan Jones cut the ribbon on four floodlit courts built by Padel4All, a company that has rapidly expanded across southern England since 2022.
The facility is open daily from 8am to 10pm on weekdays and until 8pm weekends, with online booking available up to 14 days in advance for members and seven days for casual players. Court hire ranges from £12 for a 90-minute peak slot to £8 for off-peak times, with equipment included in certain membership packages.
Key Points
- ✅ First padel courts in Fareham, inaugurated May 10 by Mayor Susan Jones
- ⚡ Four floodlit courts open daily with booking windows up to 14 days in advance
- 💡 Membership tiers: free PadelPlay or £16/month PadelPlus for discounts and free racket hire
Padel, a hybrid of tennis and squash played on a smaller, enclosed court with solid walls, has surged in popularity in the UK, with 180 courts installed nationally in 2024 alone. Fareham’s project, costed at £1.2 million, includes two outdoor and two indoor courts, ensuring year-round play regardless of weather.
📋 By The Numbers
- 180 — Number of new padel courts installed across the UK in 2024
- £1.2 million — Total investment for Fareham’s padel facility
Local resident and padel beginner Mark Harris, 34, said the courts offered an accessible way to stay fit. "I tried tennis but found it intimidating," Harris said. "Padel’s smaller court and doubles format made it easy to pick up—plus, the lights mean I can play after work."
The facility will host beginner sessions every Tuesday at 7pm, led by Padel4All’s certified coaches. Equipment rentals—rackets, balls, and grips—are available on-site or online, with prices starting at £3 for a racket and £5 for a pack of balls.
| Membership | Cost | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| PadelPlay | Free | Book courts up to 7 days ahead, pay standard rates |
| PadelPlus | £16/month or £160/year | Book 14 days ahead, 20% off court fees, free racket hire |
Padel4All plans to open a second venue in Chandler’s Ford by October, featuring six indoor courts. Company CEO Daniel Reeves confirmed the project is on track despite material shortages, with hiring for 12 new coaches underway.
💡 Pro Tip
Book off-peak slots—weekday mornings between 8am and 11am or 2pm to 5pm—for the best rates and fewer crowds.
Residents can sign up for sessions or memberships at the on-site kiosk or via the Padel4All app, which also tracks court availability and provides coaching drills. The app’s latest update includes a social feature allowing players to challenge friends to matches and track rankings anonymously.
Why Padel Now?
- 📊 Hybrid sport blending tennis and squash, played on a 20m x 10m court with walls
- 🔍 60% of new UK players in 2024 were beginners, per Sports England data
- ⚠️ Demand outstrips supply; 85% of UK padel courts operate at 90%+ capacity
Fareham’s padel courts join a national trend, with 35 venues now operating in the UK, up from just five in 2020. The sport’s rise has prompted councils to repurpose underused tennis courts, with Hampshire County Council allocating £4.2 million for similar conversions across the region by 2026.