£3.8M indoor padel tennis centre to open near Dunmail Park, Workington

Padel – often described as a cross between tennis and squash – is regarded as the fastest-growing sport in the world and is popular with celebrities, sports stars and royalty.

Now Cumbrians will be able to take part in the increasingly popular racket sport at a new state-of-the-art facility in Workington.

Bill Dixon outside the unit opposite Dunmail Park in Workington which is being transformed into an indoor padel tennis centre (Image: Newsquest)

Bill Dixon, whose family own Dixons department store in Whitehaven and Dunmail Park in Workington, is behind the new indoor padel centre which he hopes to open before Christmas.

Four padel courts have been transported from Spain and installed in an empty unit opposite Dunmail Park.

Mr Dixon said: “I had heard that this was a growing sport and was the second biggest sport in Spain. There are no courts in Cumbria and I realised that it was a long way from Workington to the nearest place to play padel.

Bill Dixon and Gavin Stephenson on one of the four newly installed padel tennis courts in Workington (Image: Newsquest)

“These courts are the highest specification and are super panoramic which give the best visibility if we were to stage competitions and put in seating. That would give spectators the best view for matches.

“The turf is competition turf manufactured by Mando. I’m very confident the courts will be unmatched.”

Gavin Stephenson, Cumbria county squash coach, who has recently completed a course in coaching padel tennis, said: “I think it’s great because it’s going to be indoors. So many people I play tennis with say, ‘what do we do in winter?’

Gavin Stephenson, Cumbria county squash coach, tries out the new padel tennis court (Image: Newsquest)

“Now it’s great that we’ve got these padel courts indoors. People will be able to play racket sports all the way through winter, which is great.

“Padel is the fastest growing sport in the world and to have this here in west Cumbria – what a treat.

“So many people are already talking about padel and have been for the last couple of years. I think there’s going to be a demand from the local tennis clubs, who have to put their tennis rackets away in the winter, and also from people who play squash, badminton and lots of other sports.

“With it being a doubles game, you’ve got the team aspect as well and families will be able to play. It’s easy to pick up the basics.”

Four 'super panoramic' padel tennis courts have been installed in a unit opposite Dunmail Park in Workington (Image: Newsquest)

The centre has been installed with innovative automation technology which controls access and lighting, saving resources.

Bookings are made via an app and can be arranged for groups or individuals, who will be matched with other players at a similar level. Coaching sessions are also booked on the app.

Victor Caballero Ariztegui, of Smart Padel Automation, the Spanish company behind the technology, recently visited Workington and believes the facility will be an asset to the community.

He said: “One of the main causes of this project is to bring the community together through leisure and sport.

“In Spain, padel has taken off rapidly in the past few decades. In the UK, many players are starting to get very good. The sport is more developed in bigger cities.

“It’s a community hub and that’s what we want to bring to Workington. A place where people can gather but also connect through this technology where you can build a community.

“Having more leisure for people is going to bring good things for Workington and put it on the map. It’s going to have a good impact on Workington and the surrounding areas.”

Bill Dixon says the padel tennis courts are 'the highest specification' (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Dixon said if demand for the padel courts was high, additional units could be converted to house up to nine courts.

The facility will initially have toilets and a changing room and there are plans to install showers and a bar in the future.

With roots in Mexico and Spain, padel was first recognised as a professional sport in the 1990s. It was designed to be a sport for all ages and is said to be more social than tennis.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, Andy Murray and David Beckham are among the A-listers to enjoy playing the sport.