Westfield has agreed a 10-year lease deal with Game4Padel, the company behind a UK-wide network of playing facilities for padel, the tennis/squash hybrid game that already has six million players in Spain and is rapidly gaining popularity across the UK, continental Europe and the rest of the world.
Game4Padel, which counts Sir Andy Murray among its investors, plans to build three permanent padel courts – two covered and one open show court – at Westfield London. Subject to planning, the courts could be open in time for Christmas this year.
The deal also includes Game4Padel installing two additional ‘pop-up’ padel courts, one to coincide with the launch of padel in The Atrium, and one next summer at Westfield Square, the outdoor event space which is surrounded by restaurants and leisure outlets.
Padel is a form of tennis that is fun, easy to play, and sociable given that it is played with four players in a glass-enclosed court about one-third of the size of a tennis court. The rules are broadly similar to tennis – although players serve underarm, making it easier to play – and the walls are used as part of the game. It can be played in groups of mixed ages and abilities, as tactics and subtlety are as important as power.
The company is also in advanced discussions with more than 30 other sites – two of which are major retail centres in other large British cities – which it anticipates will add more than 50 additional courts to its existing five venues.
Michael Gradon, co-founder and chief executive of Game4Padel, said: “We see huge potential for padel facilities in premium UK leisure and retail developments so to have signed this deal with Europe’s biggest and best shopping destination is a real boost.
“The explosive growth of padel around the world gives us great confidence in its prospects here in the UK. It is an incredibly fun and addictive game that is easy for beginners to pick-up quickly, so the more people who start to see facilities like this one opening all around the country, the faster it will grow and the more people will have the chance to experience the physical and mental health benefits associated with this kind of activity.”
Kate Orwin, Leasing Director UK, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield said: “Westfield London is constantly transforming through introducing new concepts and we are thrilled to bring the exciting sport of padel to our visitors and to those who live and work in our local communities. The pop-up experiences will be a fantastic advertisement for the permanent courts which launch later this year and we look forward to welcoming Game4Padel to the centre.”
