Padel venue serves up winning start

A Northumberland indoor padel venue has welcomed more than 3000 visitors in its first month, with hundreds of newcomers taking to the fast-growing sport.

Padelsphere, based in Blyth, has enjoyed a strong start since opening its doors, with around 70 per cent of players trying padel for the first time.

Founded by husband-and-wife team Akshay and Lorna Ohari, the venue was designed to offer more than just courts, combining sporting facilities with a café serving Ringtons coffee, a bar, saunas, live sports screenings and social spaces.

Akshay said: “The thing that still gets us every day is the reaction when people walk through the door.

“That first ‘wow’. We’ve lost count of the number of people telling us it’s one of the nicest padel venues they’ve played at, not just in the North East.”

The venue has attracted visitors from as far afield as Brazil and the Netherlands, while weekly social sessions and private events have helped establish a growing community of players.

Akshay added: “People tell us they wanted to try padel but couldn’t face travelling to Newcastle or Durham, so they’d been waiting for us to open.

“Padel is one of the most accessible sports in the world and most people are enjoying a proper rally within minutes, which is why beginners keep coming back.”

Alongside its sporting offer, Padelsphere has positioned itself as a social destination, attracting visitors looking to meet friends, watch live sport or use its leisure facilities.

Akshay added: “We wanted to create a destination rather than just a court.

“People are coming to watch live sport, meet friends, enjoy a coffee, use the saunas or simply spend time in the space.

“You genuinely don't have to play padel to visit.”

The business is now looking to build on its early momentum through partnerships with schools, sports clubs and local organisations, with plans to introduce more young people to padel.

It has also received support from Business Northumberland, including marketing assistance and opportunities to develop relationships with other local businesses.

Akshay added: “Business Northumberland have been brilliant.

“We’ve also seen local businesses coming in for staff games and events, and we’d love to continue growing those relationships.”

The venue has created three new jobs and is recruiting a dedicated padel coach to support increasing demand and develop its coaching programme.

Councillor Richard Wearmouth, cabinet member for business, growth and regeneration at Northumberland County Council, added: “It’s fantastic to see the success Padelsphere has achieved in such a short space of time.

“Welcoming more than 3000 visitors demonstrates both the demand for innovative leisure facilities in Northumberland and the quality of experience the team have created.

“The business is already looking to create new jobs as it grows, which is a great reflection of its success and positive contribution to the local economy.

“We’re delighted to have supported Padelsphere and look forward to seeing its continued growth.”

Looking ahead, Padelsphere is preparing to introduce private coaching, ladies-only evenings, padel and Pilates sessions and a members’ league, alongside further events later this year.

It has also launched a glow-in-the-dark padel experience, believed to be the first of its kind in the North East.

Akshay added: “A dream we spent two years building has been brought to life by a community that welcomed it faster than we ever imagined. This is only the start.”

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