INFRASTRUCTURE SHAPING THE INDUSTRY
The Padel Effect: Emerging Competitive Investment
Padel continues to emerge as a visible area of investment within the UK tness and leisure market, although provision within traditional gym environments remains relatively limited. Current supply across gym facilities is still modest, but a growing development pipeline signals increasing operator interest. Existing provision is weighted towards outdoor courts, re ecting earlier, lower- cost deployment. However, planned developments show a clear shift toward indoor formats, including outdoor covered courts. This indicates a more considered approach to long-term investment, with covered provision offering greater year-round usability and more consistent revenue potential. At site level, padel is typically delivered at a relatively small scale. Most facilities operate between two and four courts, with very few large-format sites. This highlights a cautious rollout strategy, where padel is positioned as a complementary offer rather than a primary destination. While specialist padel operators continue to drive much of the overall market expansion, leisure providers are beginning to establish a presence. As adoption increases, padel is likely to play a growing role in shaping participation, programming and competitive investment across the wider leisure landscape. Most gym facilities operate just 2–4 padel courts, reflecting a cautious, low-density rollout strategy.
PADEL COURT PROVISION IN GYM FACILITIES
TOTAL
OUTDOOR
TOTAL
OUTDOOR
INDOOR
INDOOR
Planned
Operational
PADEL COURT DENSITY IN GYM FACILITIES
court
court
- courts
+ courts
99
STATE OF THE UK FITNESS INDUSTRY REPORT 2026
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