Monday 13th September marked the opening of the first padel tennis courts in Wiltshire, courtesy of Padel4all who have built a three-court, canopy-covered centre at Basset Down.
The centre will provide full and extensive coaching programmes and community outreach initiatives to serve not just the Swindon community, but also the wider county. The newly appointed Centre Manager and Padel Coaches have already started engaging with local groups to provide inclusive opportunities for people to play this highly entertaining sport. In addition, the Padel4all schools programme was unveiled during the final term of the school year and has proven to be a big hit with over 200 school pupils already involved. The programme introduces the basics of the game, teaches specific padel technique and demonstrates more advanced tactics and matchplay, through a series of fun and challenging drills.
The sport of padel is often referred to as a mix of tennis and squash because it is played on an enclosed court which combines the net element of tennis with the walls of squash. It is played in doubles, making it a highly sociable sport, with tactics and guile/finesse more important than strength and power. Padel is also easy to learn which means it is enjoyable for beginners trying the sport for the first time. This makes padel a sport which can be enjoyed by all ages and abilities and a great way for families to exercise together, something Padel4all feel strongly about encouraging.
Padel4all have partnered with local and national organisations, featuring Wiltshire Tennis and Wiltshire & Swindon’s Active Partnership (WASP), to deliver various initiatives to get more people on court and trying the UK’s fastest growing racket sport.
Steve Boocock, CEO of WASP said: “We are always pleased to see new sports facilities being developed and being one of the first padel centres in the UK it offers a great opportunity for people in Wiltshire to try this easy to play, fun and sociable sport. A priority for us is that access to sport is available to all and that those involved in its delivery are aware of the barriers some people face. It’s clear that the padel centre understands these issues and will be creating opportunities that are genuinely inclusive.”
PadelPlus is the Padel4all membership aimed at those players wanting to play more often and take advantage of the many additional benefits and exclusive offers, including discounted court fees and 14-day priority booking period. People can purchase the membership online. Alternatively, the public are encouraged to use the Pay & Play option ‘PadelPlay‘ and sign up to some of the tasters sessions on offer.
The centre sits on the grounds of Basset Down which has seen significant renovation over the last 18 months to expand their facilities to include a 78-seater restaurant, extended bar and lounge area with fantastic views across the vale. Basset Down’s GM Rosie Nutland said: “We are really pleased that padel tennis is part of our offering here at Basset Down. The centre will be a welcome addition to our clubhouse extension and new facilities, and we look forward to working closely with the Padel4all team in making Basset Down a first-class venue for the local and wider community.”
To keep informed on all the news at the Padel4all centre at Basset Down head to padel4all.com.