Padel club to serve up £1.2 million courts expansion

A padel club backed by cricket star Joe Root has netted £1.2 million support to serve up expansion plans.

Play Padel is set to open a second Sheffield site.

Bosses say the base will include eight indoor courts and create more than ten jobs.

The venture, which will neighbour Sheffield’s Meadowhall Shopping Centre, is earmarked to open in October and will operate alongside the business’ existing courts at Abbeydale Tennis Club.

Play Padel was founded by five childhood friends – entrepreneurs Alex Fleming, Chris Milland and Harry Bliss, alongside decorated England batter Root and former Rotherham United goalkeeper Cameron Dawson – and has attracted players including Olympic gold medallist Jessica Ennis Hill.

The firm’s expansion has been supported by a loan from NPIF II – Mercia Debt Finance, which is managed by Mercia as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II, and the South Yorkshire Debt Fund, which is managed by FW Capital for South Yorkshire Pensions Authority.  

Alex, Play Padel chief executive, said: “Padel is a great way to stay active and socialise, and we can’t wait to open the Meadowhall club and start a new community in North Sheffield.”

Ian Whitworth, of Mercia Business Loans, added: “This funding package will enable Play Padel to start expanding to other sites and create a welcome new facility in the Meadowhall area, which is underserved in terms of sports provision.”

The £660 million Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II covers the North of England and provides loans from £25,000 to £2 million and equity investment up to £5 million to small and medium-sized businesses.

The South Yorkshire Debt Fund supports growing businesses across Barnsley, Sheffield, Doncaster and Rotherham with loans of up to £2 million.

Andrew Stone, assistant director – investment strategy at South Yorkshire Pensions Authority, added: “It’s great to see our investment helping local businesses like Play Padel grow, while generating the returns we need to pay our pensioners.”

Castle Square Corporate Finance provided debt advisory support to Play Padel during the dual-funding process.

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