From the outside, it may look like a typical grain store, but inside, the transformation is striking. Brightly coloured carpets, glass and steel mesh walls, sofas, vending machines with sporting equipment, and a drinks station serving locally roasted coffee create a vibrant atmosphere, accompanied by music. This is the new face of farm diversification through padel.
The rise of padel
Padel has become a sporting phenomenon across Europe and Latin America and is now rapidly expanding in the UK. Spain remains the sport’s hub with around 20,000 courts, but the UK already has more than 1,100 and continues to grow. ture, and doubles format make it appealing to families and beginners.
Opportunities for farmers
Farmers are increasingly turning to padel as a way to diversify income streams. Norman Paske, through his consultancy PadelMagic UK, has helped install courts on farms and estates. Chief executive officer Adam Phelps explained: “Last year, we installed about 30 courts on farms and rural estates. This year it will probably be double that.”
Padel centres under the PadelX.Club brand have also been established, including one at Todenham Barn in the Cotswolds, which now has 600 registered players. “The farm’s livestock enterprise was becoming more extensive, so we were able to reimagine the buildings,” Adam said.
Costs and models
Installing two courts can cost around £75,000, with coverings doubling the expense. To ease the burden, companies like PadelMagic offer hybrid models where they build the courts, manage bookings, and take a share of fees. Court charges vary widely, with London venues charging up to £100 per hour, while farm-based sites average around £30. “As a result, we’re busy, and our model is based around making it affordable for everybody,” Adam commented.
Planning considerations
Planning is crucial for farm-based padel projects. Noise can be an issue near residential areas, but indoor courts mitigate this. Redundant grain stores are ideal due to their height. “You really need a height of 7m to the apex of the building,” Adam said. He added that many planners are unfamiliar with padel, making education an important part of the process.
Estate development
Padel can also contribute to broader estate planning. Florence Wolfe-Jones of Knight Frank’s Rural Consultancy team is working on a project in south-east England to redevelop a farmyard with padel courts. “One of the things that emerged from a strategic review was that our clients want it to be a living part of a thriving community, providing jobs and business opportunities for local people, not just a pretty place they wander round,” she said.
She emphasized that padel offered a purpose for restoring old buildings. “We could have spent a lot of money just repairing them, but we wanted a purpose to bring them back to life. Buildings are better when they’ve got an actual use,” Florence explained.
Case study: Podington Padel
On the Bromborough Estate in Bedfordshire, two courts were installed in a grain store earlier this year. Farm manager Andrew Mahon described the success: “We’ve been really busy with lots of people playing a couple of times a week and we’re booked out every evening. Families love it because we’ve made a commitment that we’ll always provide free rackets and balls,” he said.
Andrew also highlighted the social impact. “We get young guys who’ll play rather than go to the pub,” he said. The courts are booked online, with charges between £36 and £40 per hour. Local residents receive discounts, and community events are planned. Andrew has even trained as a coach. “I just wish I had time to play more. In the evenings, when I’m free, the courts are always busy,” he said.
Padel is proving to be more than just a sport—it is becoming a viable and profitable way for farms and estates to diversify, strengthen community ties, and breathe new life into rural spaces.
