The growth in padel’s infrastructure in the UK shows no sign of slowing with over 1,825 courts and counting — but operators face a challenge their counterparts in warmer climates rarely encounter: making venues commercially viable in the British weather.
Industry research and operator estimates suggest outdoor courts can lose between 30% and 50% of annual playing time due to rain, wind, damp and cold temperatures, which can all affect court availability and player experience. With many courts uncovered or partially exposed, beating the weather is a major operational challenge.
As competition increases, the next phase of growth will be shaped by the quality of experience operators can deliver, and how well they design around the realities of the climate.
Three different venues illustrate how operators are responding.
Boosting courtside comfort and customer dwell time
At East Grinstead Padel in Sussex, Director of Padel Duncan Maclay believes successful clubs must offer more than a place to play.
The charity-run facility sits within East Grinstead Sports Club, a long-established community venue with its roots in hockey, dating back to 1897, which also offers tennis, squash, pickleball, badminton, netball, cricket and football.
After introducing four covered padel courts, the club has built a dedicated padel following operating close to full capacity during peak periods.
It maintains consistently strong bookings throughout the week, with more than 1,200 active members and a WhatsApp community of over 5,500 registered users.
However, East Grinstead recognised early on that long-term success would depend on more than court occupancy. A covered viewing area beside Court One had become a focal point for spectators, events and hospitality, but poor weather limited its use.
“It was perfect for summer, but in winter, the prevailing wind and rain would just blow straight through; people didn’t want to stay and watch,” Duncan explains.
Rather than enclosing the space entirely, the club installed Galebreaker’s roll-down Maxidoor mesh weather screen. The improvement has made the viewing area a more reliable part of the venue, reducing wind and driving rain while retaining visibility and airflow.
Duncan says the space is now used regularly for social, team and corporate functions. It gives guests a place to relax and socialise, keeping them courtside longer to support the food and drink on offer.
“It takes the edge off the weather, so people feel comfortable staying. It’s also allowed us to create a bit of privacy; we can make it feel like a semi-enclosed area for event bookings.”
Duncan is realistic about the market’s future and believes operators should forecast and price conservatively. Wrap-around experiences, he says, are central to the commercial model.
“Price for the dip, not the hype,” he advises. “The market will hit a peak and prices will fall.
“Investing in covered courts and choosing locations with strong catchment areas will ensure year-round bookings, but the best venues need proactive management and community engagement. The centres that succeed will be the ones offering something more than just the sport.”
Beating the elements at Cotswold Padel Club
While East Grinstead’s challenge centred on spectator comfort, in Northleach, Cotswold Padel Club faced a different question: how do you maintain consistent playing conditions when the weather starts to impact the game itself?
Located at Far Peak in the Cotswolds, the club is a busy pay-and-play facility operating seven days a week within a barn-style venue. Over the past year, more than 4,500 people have played at the club, with a WhatsApp community of over 1,000 members.
Occupancy rates sit between 70% and 100% with courts averaging 12 hours of use.
Although the covered structure protects players from rainfall, its open-sided design and concrete foundation left courts exposed to crosswinds, moisture and condensation.
For Padel Manager Kingsley Harris, the main challenge appeared when changes in temperature and humidity created dew points, causing moisture to form on the glass and court surfaces. Crosswinds also affected ball flight.
Kingsley describes these conditions as creating “a different game” altogether. Cold and damp affected ball speed and bounce, while the wet glass altered how rebounds behaved.
After exploring ways to reduce this exposure, the club installed clip-on Galebreaker Spanscreens around the lower perimeter of the building.
“It stops the wind and rain coming in, making the playability of the courts much better all year round,” says Harris. “We opted for a dark mesh fabric to retain ball visibility.”
Protecting farm diversifications at The Padel Shed
Near Bury St Edmunds, Andrew, Sarah and Henry Maddever of Hall Farm converted a former machinery shed into The Padel Shed.
The venue has only been open for a few months but is consistently busy from lunchtime through to 10pm, with slots often reserved just hours before play via the Padel Mates app.
It reflects a growing opportunity for farmers tapping into the padel boom, converting existing structures to strengthen their business resilience while making the sport accessible to rural communities.
For the Maddevers, the aim was to create a private, farm-based playing experience with fresh air, natural light and countryside views.
“We were looking at ways to diversify that could fit around the arable business, that were not a traditional farm shop or wedding venue,” says Andrew.
“Padel felt like a natural fit: we had the right building, we’re only three miles from town, and it gives people somewhere to play that isn’t a warehouse or a tennis club. The setting is part of the appeal.”
“We wanted to maintain good relationships with neighbours, so we did noise surveys, which came out fine, and the planning process was straightforward,” he adds.
The family went all-in on a high-spec fit-out, fully carpeting the space, with a lounge area, honesty bar and picnic benches.
The practical challenge was covering an 18m x 5m opening, originally designed for machinery access, without losing the open feel that makes the setting distinctive.
Wide-span multi-bay screens helped the family shield this expanse from wind and rain while retaining the view, ventilation and airflow, keeping the court dry and protected.
For Will Johnson, UK & Ireland Sales Manager at Galebreaker these examples illustrate the reasons venues have approached the manufacturer.
“Weather will always be one of the biggest considerations for padel operators.
“Every site is different, but the principles are the same: creating an environment where players can enjoy consistent experiences and spectators want to stay.
“This means designing for the weather from day one but retrofit solutions can improve playability and help venues run successfully throughout the year,” says Will.
*Market and weather-related venue data are drawn from LTA Padel’s May 2026 participation update, The 2026 UK Padel Report, and LTA Padel’s winter playing guidance. Weather-related playtime loss reflects operator estimates shared by clubs.
