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England Loses 200 Tennis Courts to Padel Boom
6 Sep
Summary
- England has lost 183 tennis courts since 2023.
- Padel courts have increased to over 2,200 nationwide.
- Padel participation rose to one million people by May 2026.
England has experienced a notable decrease in tennis courts, with 183 lost since 2023, bringing the total back to 2018 levels. This decline coincides with an exponential rise in padel courts, which have grown to over 2,200 nationwide. Padel's accessibility, blending tennis rules with squash features, makes it easier to learn.
Participation in padel has surged, reaching one million players by May 2026, an increase from previous years. While some tennis courts were directly replaced by padel facilities, the LTA states that most displaced courts were underutilised or in poor condition. They aim to diversify venue offerings and sustain both sports.
The padel boom is particularly strong in the north, with significant court construction in Sheffield, North Yorkshire, Leeds, and Cheshire East. Despite a middle-class reputation, padel courts are evenly spread across different neighbourhoods, unlike tennis courts which are more concentrated in less deprived areas.
