How to open a padel facility in the UK — costs, process, and a clear step-by-step guide

Padel is booming in the UK. Below we have pulled together a practical, source-backed guide you can give to anyone considering opening a padel facility: realistic cost ranges, the full process from market research to opening, a sample 2-court budget and an actionable checklist of next steps. Key claims are sourced to UK/industry guidance.

Quick summary (the headlines)

Typical cost per outdoor court (basic): roughly £30k–£60k. Higher-spec or covered/indoor courts commonly push £55k–£85k+ per court.
'LTA Padel'

Indicative total for a small (2-court) commercial facility: £100k–£200k (site prep, two courts, lighting, drainage, fencing, small reception/parking). LTA gives an example total of £118,000 for 2 courts as a rough guide (site dependent).

Main process stages: market research → site & feasibility → planning & consents → design & contractor selection → construction & commissioning → operations & marketing. LTA guidance strongly recommends early engagement with local planning and considers noise/lighting issues.
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1) Full process — step by step (what you must do)

Market research & business model

Confirm local demand (players, competing courts, clubs, schools, gyms) and pricing sensitivity.

Choose a model: pay-and-play, membership/club, operator franchise, leisure-centre conversion, or commercial court hire with coaching/retail/café.

Create a simple financial model (capex, opex, revenue streams — court hire, coaching, memberships, events, F&B, retail).

Site selection & feasibility

Site types: greenfield, part of existing sports club/tennis club, rooftop, or conversion of indoor space.

Check land ownership, access, parking, utilities and proximity to housing/workplaces.

Obtain an initial ground appraisal (is the site flat, flood risk, tree roots, contamination, archaeological constraints).

Check if planning permission (or a change of use) is needed — many padel builds do need planning; councils often require noise assessments if neighbours are within ~30 m. Pre-application with the council is recommended.
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Technical design & spec

Court dimensions and structure follow industry norms (single padel court footprint ~20m × 10m plus clearance). Use LTA Padel guidance for construction spec.

Key components to specify:

Sub-base & concrete slab / ring beam (good foundations + drainage are crucial)

Glass & mesh walls / frames

Synthetic turf + shockpad

LED floodlighting

Fencing, access gates, player entrance, gates with booking control

Drainage & surfacing to manage rainfall (essential in UK climate)

Optional: canopy/roof, heating (for indoor), spectator seating, clubhouse/reception, toilets, changing rooms, café.

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Planning & consents

Submit planning application / pre-app as needed. Councils will ask about hours, noise, lighting and highways/parking. Provide noise attenuation measures if close to homes.
If converting an indoor space, consider building regs, asbestos surveys (if relevant), and fire safety.

Procure contractors & materials

Obtain turnkey quotes from specialist padel contractors (many UK installers offer full service), plus separate quotes for groundworks, drainage, electrical, and any building refurb.

Ask for itemised quotes (foundations, ring beam, surfacing, glass/membrane, lighting, drainage, installation, transport).

Use reputable suppliers — cheaper imports can save money short term but may increase maintenance.

Construction & commissioning

Typical build time per court in favourable conditions: a few weeks (but site prep and foundations can take longer). For multi-court projects allow 8–16 weeks overall depending on scope.

Commission lights, safety checks, and produce a maintenance schedule.

Operations setup

Register the business (limited company or sole trader), register for PAYE and VAT if turnover above threshold, set up accounts.

Get insurance: public liability, buildings/contents, employer’s liability if hiring staff.

Bookings & court management: pick fault-tolerant booking software (many specialists integrate with Playtomic, Nettla, Matchi, Padel Mates, etc)

Health & safety, safeguarding for coaching, and GDPR for member data.

Launch & growth

Soft launch with coaches and members, then bigger opening with offers.

Monetise via memberships, pay-and-play, coaching, events, corporate bookings, F&B and retail.

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2) Typical cost breakdown (what you’ll pay for)

Note: values vary by site, region (London vs. north of England), specification and whether courts are indoor/covered.

Main capital cost items (per court / facility):

Groundworks, ring beam & foundations: £15k–£40k per court (site dependent).
'LTA Padel'

Court structure (glass + mesh frames + steelwork): £8k–£20k per court.
'slattersportsconstruction.com'

Synthetic turf + shockpad: £4k–£10k per court.
'Portico Sport'

Lighting (LED): £3k–£8k per court depending on poles, lux requirement — running costs modest for LEDs but must be budgeted. LTA notes LED running cost guidance.
'Lawn Tennis Association'

Fencing, gates, security & access control: £2k–£8k.
'slattersportsconstruction.com'

Ancillary (drainage, landscaping, pathways, small clubhouse/reception): variable — typically £10k–£60k depending on scope.
'LTA Padel'

Indicative installed price ranges you’ll see in the UK market

Low/Basic outdoor court: ~£28k–£45k.
'Padel Tennis Guide'

Commercial outdoor court (standard): ~£45k–£70k.
'slattersportsconstruction.com'

High-spec / indoor / covered court: £70k–£100k+.
'Padel Tennis Guide'

LTA’s indicative facility table (helpful for small commercial developers): their examples show 1 court ≈ £62k, 2 courts ≈ £118k, 3 courts ≈ £172k, 4 courts ≈ £200k (this includes base, lights etc. as a rough guide). Use that as a conservative UK industry reference.
'LTA Padel'

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3) Key risks & how to mitigate them

Planning refusals / neighbour noise complaints — do pre-app with council, provide noise mitigation (sound-absorbing landscaping, restricted hours).
'Lawn Tennis Association'

High upfront groundworks costs — get multiple groundworks quotes and a ground investigation (reduce surprises).
'slattersportsconstruction.com'

Seasonality and utilisation shortfall — secure coaching partners, run leagues, offer memberships and corporate packages.
'Padelcreations'

Maintenance of turf and glass — budget for periodic turf replacement and glass/frame repairs. Use reputable installers with warranty.

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4) Practical checklist & timeline (first 6 months to open)

Months 0–1:

Market scan & simple financial model.

Review local demand.

Months 1–3:

Site shortlist and feasibility (ground survey, planning pre-app).

Contact 2–3 padel contractors to get ballpark quotes; ask for itemised capex.
Use The Padel Directory to find options.

Months 3–5:

Submit planning (if needed) — allow 8–12+ weeks for decisions in many councils. Arrange noise/lighting reports if requested.
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Months 4–8:

Groundworks & construction (could be longer if foundations, drainage or indoor refurbishment required).

Simultaneously set up business, insurance, booking software, hire staff/coaches.

Launch (month 8+ depending on planning & build):

Soft open, launch marketing, league sign-ups.

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5) Funding & business setup basics

Funding options: personal equity, bank loan, business loan, investor, venture debt, local grants (rare), or partnership with existing clubs/operators. Provide a detailed business plan and 3-yr cashflow when approaching banks.
'sorbusfinance.co.uk'

Company setup: register with Companies House (or sole trader). Register for PAYE for staff and VAT if turnover above threshold. (See gov.uk for formal steps.)

Insurance: public liability, employer’s liability, property/buildings insurance and business interruption.

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7) One-page checklist you can hand to someone

Do local market scan (competitor map + price points)

Choose a business model (pay & play / membership / coaching focus)

Shortlist sites and order ground investigation reports

Pre-app with local council (ask about noise & lighting constraints)

Get 3 quotes (turnkey padel installer, groundworks, electrics)

Budget for capex, 6–12 months opex reserves, and loan repayments

Apply for planning (if needed) — include noise/lighting/landscaping report

Finalise supplier & contract, schedule build & commissioning

Set up business entity, insurance, booking software and hire staff

Soft launch with coaches and memberships → full opening

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The Padel Directory can support and help you connect to reputable businesses within the UK Padel Industry!