WORK has started on a new padel club at Birchwood Community Hub, with three fully covered courts set to bring permanent facilities for the rapidly growing sport to east Warrington.
Soul Padel has started construction of its fifth UK club at the Benson Road community hub, with the new facility expected to open towards the end of 2026.
The development will see three padel courts built beneath a purpose-designed canopy, allowing players to use the facilities throughout the year regardless of the weather.
A new clubhouse will also be created, featuring shower and toilet facilities, refreshments and on-site parking.
The project is being developed by Soul Padel in partnership with Warrington Borough Council and LiveWire, with the organisations aiming to encourage more people across the borough to take part in the sport.
It will also create 10 new local jobs.
Soul Padel says the Birchwood development will fill a gap in provision, with no permanent padel facilities currently available in east Warrington.
The club will offer a mixture of coaching, social sessions and competitive play when it opens, alongside programmes aimed at encouraging people who may not traditionally have considered taking up racket sports.
These will include Soul Sisters, which encourages more women to play padel, and Soul Timers, aimed at people aged 50 and over through coaching, social play and competition.
There will also be junior coaching, regular sessions and holiday camps.
Soul Padel is also planning to bring its What’s That Racket?® schools programme to Warrington.
The initiative introduces children to padel and provides local schools with free access to the courts, with the aim of removing some of the barriers that can prevent young people from taking part in sport.
Through its Play it Forward® programme, Soul Padel will also work with local community groups and charities to develop activities around their specific needs.
Players will additionally be able to join Soul Mates, the company’s loyalty scheme, which rewards members for playing and allows rewards to be used for benefits such as free court time or donated to community initiatives.
Mark Hewlett, CEO and founder of Soul Padel, said Warrington had been on the company’s radar for some time.
He said the development was about more than simply adding more courts.
“It’s about finding the right locations where we believe we can build a lasting community around them.
“Birchwood is exactly that kind of location. Being part of an established community hub, and working in partnership with Warrington Borough Council and LiveWire, gives us the opportunity to introduce more people to padel and make the sport part of the wider sporting and social life of the area.”
He added that the aim was to make the sport accessible regardless of age, background or previous experience.
“We want to create clubs that become part of their communities, places where people can be active, spend time with others and meet, play and connect.”
Fifth Soul Padel club
The Warrington development will become Soul Padel’s fifth UK club, following existing facilities at Stockport, St Helens, Loughborough University and Braehead.
The company says the new club will strengthen its presence across the North West, where it already has communities in Stockport and St Helens.
Construction began earlier this month, with the Warrington facility expected to open to players in late 2026, subject to completion of the works.
Padel is a racket sport played mainly in doubles on an enclosed court and has experienced significant growth in the UK in recent years.
For Birchwood, the new facility will add another sporting option to an established community hub, while Soul Padel says its range of programmes will be designed to encourage participation across different ages and abilities.
