Padel is the UK's fastest-growing racket sport, but until this year, most new players had nowhere to try top brands, learn from proper coaches, and watch competitive matches, all in one place. That changed on Saturday 19 September 2026, when The Padel Directory (TPD) launched PadelFest, a new touring padel festival, at Rocket Padel Bristol. More than 800 players and fans turned out for the debut event, which also hosted the UK's first LTA Grade 4 mixed doubles tournament.

What is PadelFest Bristol?

PadelFest Bristol is a one-day padel festival built for players of every level, from complete beginners to seasoned competitors. Run across 14 courts at Rocket Padel Bristol from 10am to 5pm, the festival combined free bookable coaching sessions, racket brand demos, exhibition matches, and an evening tournament.

It's the first stop in a UK-wide PadelFest roadshow from TPD, with Manchester and London set to follow.

The UK's first LTA Grade 4 mixed doubles tournament

The day closed with a UK first: an evening mixed doubles tournament delivered in partnership with the LTA, the first Grade 4 mixed doubles padel event held in this country. 40 pairs entered, with George Weller and Jasmine Dedakia taking the title.

The tournament marked a milestone for competitive padel in the UK, giving players a taste of officially graded competition alongside the festival's more casual, drop-in sessions.

A day of colour for Padel in the UK

Free coaching, racket testing, and sessions for every level

Players of every level, from first-timers to pros, booked free sessions throughout the day. Highlights included:

  • Coaching clinics from Smash Padel
  • Women's sessions from Empower Padel
  • Shot masterclasses
  • Racket and kit testing from 14 leading brands, including Bullpadel, Adidas, Nox, Head, Dunlop and Skechers

More than 330 sessions were booked on the day, and demand far outstripped supply: over 500 people joined a waiting list for a session that had sold out, a clear signal of appetite for accessible, high-quality padel coaching in the UK.

Beyond the courts: exhibitions, food, and entertainment

A live mic'd-up showcase court let spectators hear coaching in real time, followed by junior and pro exhibition matches. Outside the courts, attendees enjoyed food and drink vendors, a DJ, and giveaways throughout the day, giving PadelFest Bristol the feel of a full consumer festival rather than a typical club open day.

Built in-house: the TPD Events app

The festival ran on TPD's own events app, built in-house, which attendees used to book sessions, follow live challenge leaderboards, and receive real-time updates. It's the same technology TPD plans to bring to future PadelFest dates and to the UK Padel Convention.

What's next for PadelFest

PadelFest Bristol is the first stop in a planned UK-wide roadshow, with Manchester and London set to follow. As The Padel Directory Co-Founder George Modler put it: "Padel in the UK has grown faster than the ways for players to get close to it. Bristol showed us the appetite is there. Now we're taking it around the country."

Want to be first to hear about the next PadelFest date? Follow The Padel Directory for updates on upcoming events, ticket releases, and partnership opportunities.

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