Merseyside is set to get its first covered padel courts with Soul Padel announcing a four-court facility at Queens Park in St Helens as part of the area’s regeneration.
With new padel clubs popping up in Greater Manchester almost by the week, the sport’s growth at the other end of the East Lancs Road has been slightly slower. So Soul Padel’s state-of-the-art facility with four canopy-covered courts and a modern clubhouse will be warmly welcomed by the Scouse rackets community when it opens in early spring 2025.
“We are thrilled to bring padel to St Helens and be part of the town’s ongoing regeneration efforts,” said Mark Hewlett, Founder of Soul Padel. “This site will be the only covered padel club in Merseyside, and we’re excited to welcome players from across the region and beyond.”
The project highlights St Helens’ ongoing commitment to economic regeneration and investment in community recreation. With the leisure centre just a stone’s throw away, the new facility will integrate closely with the town centre and offer a fun, social, and physically engaging experience.
Cllr Kate Groucutt, St Helens Borough Council Cabinet Member for Business, Culture and Leisure, commented: “We are delighted to see a business like Soul Padel choosing to invest here in St Helens Borough. As a borough, we see higher participation rates in team sports than anywhere else in the country. With a strong sporting heritage, it is great to see new opportunities to encourage more people to get active, particularly with Soul Padel’s mission to make this growing sport more accessible and affordable coming to our borough.
“Padel is rapidly becoming one of the fastest-growing sports in the Northwest due to its ease to play, so it’s a fabulous opportunity to see new facilities being developed in the area around Queens Park, which will further support the wider aims of our Active Lives Strategy to encourage people to move more and support the redevelopment of brownfield land.”
Soul Padel will look to build close ties with local educational institutions, including Liverpool’s three universities, Edge Hill University, and St Helens’ Sixth Form College. The goal is to make the sport accessible to students and young people across the region.
Padel’s inclusive nature aligns with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) objective of sustainable development to enhance local sports provisions. The proposed padel tennis courts will contribute positively to the local area by helping to create an inclusive community with a strong sense of place while promoting healthy lifestyles in St Helens.
“We’re proud to be part of the community here in St Helens, and we’re excited to welcome players from all over Merseyside and beyond,” said Hewlett. “We aim to make sure everyone feels part of the club, with affordable pricing and a wide range of coaching programmes.”
