Padel pops up at Marble Arch!
Padel has landed in London’s West End for the first time with one of the city’s most iconic landmarks playing host to a court this summer.
Pop-up Padel at Marble Arch opened today (July 31st) and runs through to August 26th, with the courts open from 7am-8pm every day. More information and booking details here.
The initiative is being delivered by Marble Arch London BID partnering with sponsors Portman Marylebone and working with the Central London Alliance, which delivered Padel in the City of London last year.
As well as promoting an active lifestyle, Pop-up Padel at Marble Arch aims to showcase the inclusive nature of padel, which thanks to the size of its courts, allows people to play sport in a wider variety of urban settings.
Marble Arch London BID is giving Westminster City Save cardholders access to special offers and is also working with All Out Padel, England’s first LGBTQ+ padel club, to encourage its members to try out the court at Marble Arch.
Kay Buxton, Chief Executive, Marble Arch London BID, said: “We are delighted to…provide a wonderful space for people to try out this great new sport. With sponsors Portman Marylebone and partners Central London Alliance we have been able to bring padel to the West End for the first time and make it accessible to the community with special discounts and sessions for local residents and youth groups.”
Oliver Fenn-Smith, Chief Executive, The Portman Estate, said: “Padel is an inclusive and fast-growing game, so this pop-up court is an excellent addition to the neighbourhood; it will bring people together, provide vibrancy to Oxford Street and Marylebone this summer and offer an exciting new experience for residents, visitors and workers in the area.”
Nadia Perrier, Director of Central London Alliance CIC, added: “Our mission is to support the recovery of London’s business, hospitality, cultural, tourism and retail sectors including through innovative events and activities which encourage more people to travel into London for work and leisure. It has therefore been great to work in collaboration with both Marble Arch London BID and Portman Marylebone to install Padel Affair’s fantastic pop-up padel court in London’s West End. Padel has been taking the country, and particularly London, by storm so as the only padel court in the West End we expect Pop-up Padel at Marble Arch to draw in visitors from far and wide.”
Lance Shacknofsky, Founder of All Out Padel, said: “What’s special about this sport is that the doubles format facilitates a bonding with both your partner and your opponents, and that continues even after the match is played. In an age where people in the LGBT+ community can feel lonely or isolated because of the closure of gay venues or the trappings of the online world, it’s refreshing to see a sport that is bringing together people in our community and beyond in a very positive way.”
To find out more about Pop-up Padel at Marble Arch and to book a time slot click here. 🎾
