Club de Padel reveals Sheffield plans
Club de Padel, the Manchester-based padel operator which rose to prominence with the opening of the city’s first padel club in 2023, has announced plans to bring its lifestyle-driven sports and wellness brand to Sheffield in 2025.
The city’s first dedicated indoor padel club will feature five panoramic padel courts alongside a shop, coffee & juice bar and additional social & wellness space.
CdP is working with Capital&Centric, known for delivering standout neighbourhoods and bringing historic buildings back to life. It has plans to deliver 550 new homes at the former Cannon Brewery site, as well as work and cultural spaces. An urban park and public square with shops, cafés and spaces for pop-up events are also in the mix.
David Blake, co-founder of Club de Padel, said: “We’re really excited to bring Club de Padel to Sheffield and have the chance to breathe new life into this incredible space alongside the team at Capital&Centric. We’ve had some fantastic times in this city over the years, as both kids and adults, so we can’t wait to bring Club de Padel here and to introduce as many people as possible to this amazing sport which is exploding across the UK.”
Following the success of its debut location in Manchester’s New Jackson district, Club de Padel has quickly emerged as one of the UK’s most popular padel clubs, hosting nearly 20,000 padel matches in its first year. The club has been featured by the BBC, Financial Times, and TimeOut, and has gained international attention through its merchandise collaboration with streetwear brand UN:IK, with products sold as far as New York, Los Angeles, Dubai, and Melbourne.
Matt McKinlay, co-founder of Club de Padel, said: “When we first opened in Manchester we were the first club in the city, so we had to grow a padel community from scratch. The combination of Playtomic and community Whatsapp groups has allowed us to create a space where everyone, from complete beginners to seasoned players, feels welcome. We’ve seen really genuine friendships form around the club and some great players emerge, which is something we’re really proud of.”
Tom Wilmot, joint managing director of Capital&Centric, said: “For us, this is about bringing life to a forgotten, unloved space and creating a community before we’ve even started building work, while boosting Sheffield’s standing as the outdoor, active city.
“Opening a padel club in this post industrial setting will create an immersive and engaging experience unlike anywhere else, so we’re super excited to be bringing Club de Padel to Cannon Brewery.
“Padel is rapidly growing in popularity, so we’ve got the opportunity to do something really special here, kickstarting the regeneration of Neepsend.”
Engaged community
Committed to introducing as many new players to the sport as possible, Club de Padel will offer accessible coaching sessions, host free introductory classes, and create welcoming spaces where players of all skill levels can connect, learn and enjoy the sport.
Club de Padel co-founder James Wigglesworth said: “We’ve tried to lower the barriers to entry at every point to ensure we are building a diverse and highly engaged community. We include rackets and balls in our court pricing so there are no hidden costs, and we will be working closely with our coaching team and local schools and charities to provide opportunities for all to get involved. We feel that padel in the UK is just getting started and it’s great to be able to contribute to its continued growth in the North of England.”
Capital&Centric is working with South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and Sheffield City Council to bring Cannon Brewery forward. The combined authority awarded a £11.67 million grant to kick-start the regeneration earlier this year.
The developer is set to start on site in spring 2025 with demolition works. More detailed plans for phase one – which includes 270 homes and 20,000 sq ft of commercial space for independent food outlets, leisure and workspace – due in the summer. A planning application has been submitted for the padel courts on land that is to be developed in the second phase of the project. 🎾
