UK PADEL has celebrated the opening of its new, six-court club at Willen Lake, Milton Keynes.
Around 400 players took to the courts at Willen Lake over the opening weekend, with beginners and experienced players enjoying the new facilities. The club features four covered doubles courts and two outdoor singles courts, all accessible for adaptive padel, and will offer coaching, social sessions and competitions throughout the year. UK PADEL also welcomed The Parks Trust team for an introductory session, recognising the partnership behind the new venue at one of Milton Keynes’ most popular leisure destinations.
Robert Wood, Executive Director of The Parks Trust, said:
“We’re delighted to welcome UK PADEL to Willen Lake. Padel is a brilliant way for people to get active and meet new people, and we’re already seeing the courts become a real part of the local community.
“UK PADEL is a fantastic addition to Willen Lake, giving visitors even more ways to enjoy their time here. Whether you’re joining us for a game, grabbing something to eat, attending an event, or enjoying a walk around the lake, there’s plenty to make a day of it.”
Five years is a lifetime in padel
In November 2021, UK PADEL founders Nick Baker and Neil Percival opened their first courts at Holmer Green Sports Association, establishing one of Buckinghamshire’s earliest padel clubs and the county’s first public-access venue still operating today.
A new chapter at Willen Lake
Developed in partnership with The Parks Trust, UK PADEL Milton Keynes has been delivered with support from specialist contractors including Lauralu, Applewood Landscapes and The Padel Lab, who have worked on the covered facilities, groundworks and courts.
The new venue joins UK PADEL’s existing clubs at Holmer Green, Stoke Poges and Princes Risborough, alongside its five-court facility at SeaSpace in Newquay, Cornwall.
Nick Baker, CEO of UK PADEL, said:
“Five years ago, we were introducing people to a sport that very few had even heard of. Today, we’re opening a fantastic new club in Milton Keynes and celebrating five years of a brilliant community at Holmer Green.
“Padel in the UK has changed enormously in that time, but our ethos remains the same, it’s about getting people active, making friends and enjoying sport together. That’s what we’re building at every UK PADEL club.”
UK PADEL continues to expand its club network and deliver national competitions and events, supporting the growth of padel from introductory sessions through to competitive play.
