UK Padel Report: What’s Next for Padel’s Growth?

As padel continues its rapid rise across the UK, the UK Padel Report — now available to purchase — offers data-driven insights into the sport’s growth, investment landscape, and long-term sustainability. Designed for clubs, investors, and governing bodies, the report explores the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of UK padel. With momentum building, understanding these trends is essential for strategic and sustainable decisions.

Ray Algar, founder of Oxygen Consulting, was recently interviewed by Padel Nation, the publisher of The Padel Book. During the conversation, he shared key insights from his forthcoming UK Padel Report, which is set to be published in March 2025.

• Why padel is growing rapidly in the UK
• Key Insights from the UK Padel Report on Player Motivation
• The challenges facing clubs, investors, and stakeholders
• How the industry can ensure sustainable and responsible growth
• Originally published in the Padel Book, this article highlights the key themes discussed in the interview and offers a strategic perspective on the evolution of UK padel.

Oxygen Consulting is known for providing insights and research to the global fitness and wellbeing industry. Where does your interest in padel stem from?

My professional focus is on the sports and exercise economy, working at the intersection of technology, societal trends, and social impact to improve public health and well-being. During 2023, I noticed that padel was gaining significant player and investment momentum in the UK, so I wanted to understand why it resonated. As a lifelong racket sports player, I was naturally drawn to this hybrid racquet sport. The Playtomic Global Report produced by Deloitte and now strategy& (PwC) does an excellent job of reviewing the global state of padel. Still, I saw the need for a report investigating UK padel that is written in a way that provides cultural context and explores how it will integrate into a broader sporting landscape.

Can you tell us when padel first arrived in the UK?

Although padel has gained significant interest recently, my research uncovered that the first public padel court in the UK was installed in 1998 at Rye Lawn Tennis Club in East Sussex, a club founded more than 100 years ago. I was looking at the planning application, which was approved in just 58 days. Interestingly, this court was constructed using concrete with slightly different dimensions for the return and side walls, reflecting the original specifications used when the sport first emerged in Mexico. It is fascinating to consider that padel arrived in the UK more than 26 years ago, which will surprise some readers who view it as a more recent post-pandemic phenomenon.

Why do you believe UK padel is now growing so fast?

I want to understand why Padel in the UK now has momentum. It would be easy to explain this as a COVID-19 post-pandemic phenomenon, but there was a 56% increase in padel courts in the year before the pandemic. The number of courts doubled to around 250 the year after we came out of national lockdown, though some of this growth can be attributed to delayed construction during the pandemic. Following lockdown ending, people were excited to return to exercise, and the fact that padel is a doubles social sport and can be played outdoors made it a good substitute for indoor options. The LTA’s loan scheme, providing interest-free finance of up to 60% for padel projects, is helping tennis and other not-for-profit sports organisations to meet growing padel player demand. According to the last LTA press announcement, £6 million has been invested into 75 new padel courts, helping these organisations to diversify and develop their playing audience. Finally, inspiration from European markets like Sweden and Spain raised awareness and confidence among investors that padel has a compelling business model with strong player demand. We also now have critical enabling technologies that help people find suitable opponents, organise matches and book courts. Ultimately, we are witnessing a complex mix of behavioural, economic, and technological drivers.

As part of your research for the UK Padel Report, you conducted a detailed player survey. What were some of the insights from this research?

I want to understand why people play padel and what motivates them to engage with the sport. To do this, I adapted the Motives for Physical Activity Measure, a validated research tool that, through 30 questions, identifies five key motives that drive individuals to engage in padel.

These motivations are enjoyment, fitness, competence, social and physical appearance. Selecting strong agreement with the statement: “Because I want to obtain new skills in padel” tells us that competence drives participation, whereas “Because playing padel helps me meet new people” falls on the social dimension. My findings reveal that the primary motivation was enjoyment, followed by competence or skill development and fitness — all three being intrinsic reasons. These intrinsic motivations rather than external rewards were the same for both men and women.

These motivations, consistent across both men and women, are significant because intrinsic rewards—such as joy and personal growth—are more likely to sustain long-term participation than exercise options perceived as chores. Furthermore, understanding switching behaviours is crucial. I explore this extensively in the report because it is important to determine whether padel is substituting or complementing other activities, such as tennis and gym memberships.

What are the key challenges holding back padel’s growth, and how can stakeholders address these barriers?

Padel is witnessing significant investor activity, drawing diverse individuals into the sport with varied motivations. This mirrored the explosion in low-cost gyms around 2010 when outside sector investors recognised an opportunity to monetise demand for affordable, 24-hour fitness. This produced mixed results, with high-profile failures and well-known successes such as The Gym Group and PureGym. In Padel, I see a similar narrative unfolding. Some opportunist investors view padel as a short-term monetising opportunity, while others adopt a longer-term perspective focused on inclusivity, affordability and social impact.  I believe it matters that we measure how diverse and representative the padel audience is rather than just paying attention to court occupancy. Alongside the pressing issue of court shortages, a challenge lies in how padel is positioned and communicated. It is sometimes framed as an exclusive, premium experience with high membership fees, which risks alienating community partners and potential players who may feel intimidated. To ensure sustainable growth, stakeholders must strike a balance by expanding access to courts while positioning padel as an inclusive and affordable inter-generational sport.

Your UK Padel Report will be published in April 2025. What should readers expect to learn, and why is it essential for the growth of padel in the UK?

Through my research, I take a reflective and objective view of how padel is evolving and its potential role in supporting physical activity and public health objectives in the UK. I feel responsible when signalling an opportunity to potential investors, as these decisions can be life-changing commitments. They should only be undertaken after rigorous due diligence and with the benefit of independent research. I hope my report clarifies how this sport will grow to solidify its place as an integral and long-term part of the UK sporting landscape. It aims to guide stakeholders in driving padel’s responsible and sustainable growth.

Exclusive UK Padel Report Sponsorship Opportunity

There is an opportunity for one sponsor to be exclusively associated with our forthcoming UK Padel Report. This is a unique chance to position yourself as a leading player in the growth of padel across the UK. Unlike traditional sponsorship models, this report does not contain advertising—instead, it offers a strategic opportunity to align your brand with data-driven insights and industry leadership.

Interested in Sponsoring the UK Padel Report?

Contact us to discuss this exclusive opportunity and how your brand can support the sustainable growth of padel in the UK.

About Ray Algar

Ray established Oxygen Consulting in 2004, offering strategic business insights, research, and advisory services to the global health, fitness, and well-being sectors. The UK Padel Report will be published in March 2025. He is collaborating with Espalier Ventures to invest in and operate affordable community padel centres that deliver social value through inclusivity, well-being, and public health.  For a confidential discussion regarding developing padel you can get in touch using the contact form.

Further Padel Insights

Read further UK padel insights.

Update on the UK Padel Report

The complete report is now available for purchase and immediate download at the following link.