Business Spotlight: Padel Social House
Edward Dowdall, CEO of Padel Social House, tells us about his vision for the club and how this exciting new venue will offer something for everyone on the estate
Padel is the UK’s fastest-growing sport and from March 2026, Brackmills will be home to the largest Padel facility in the Midlands. We spoke to Edward Dowdall, CEO of Padel Social House, about his vision for the club, why he chose Brackmills as its home, and how this exciting new venue will offer something for everyone on the estate and beyond.
A sport on the rise
Last year the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) governing body announced a major milestone for padel in the UK, with 1,000 courts now available across 325 venues nationwide. The growth has been remarkable – from just 68 courts in 2019 when the LTA took on governance of the sport, to 1,000 by July 2025. While cities like Manchester, London, Leeds and Bristol have emerged as early hotspots, the Midlands has been waiting for its moment. Padel Social House is set to change that, proudly claiming its position as the ‘Home of Midlands Padel’.
From vision to reality
For Edward, the journey to opening Padel Social House has been two years in the making. With a background in both Telecoms tech, and sports broadcasting tech at Gravity Media, working across London and the Middle East, and 15 years as an avid squash player competing in the Oxfordshire leagues, he was already immersed in racket sports. But it was during his time in Qatar – a country leading the way in professional padel – that he became truly inspired by the sport’s potential.
After attending the inaugural Padel World Summit event in Malaga, Spain in 2024, Edward saw just how far the UK was lagging behind Europe, the Middle East and South America in embracing padel. He was determined to help change that. After identifying the Brackmills site in early summer 2025, planning and change of use was applied for in August and approved in November. With keys in hand in January 2026, Edward and the team had a best-in-class delivery programme to get the club ready and fully compliant for public opening launch in March, with a fun programme of events in-the-works.
A world-class facility
Opening in March 2026, Padel Social House will feature 11 doubles courts, one singles court and a competition, elite-grade court with run-off area complete with a Players Lounge on the mezzanine level and pro-grade halo lighting on the competition court. The facility will also include Reception café serving hot and cold food and drinks including matcha, a large event space available for hire, and changing rooms with showers plus a private Physio clinic.
Something for everyone
Community and a sense of belonging are at the heart of the Padel Social House ethos and Padel, broadly. The club will run regular programme sessions including Padel and Prams for parents to enjoy coached sessions while their children are supervised by trained, safeguarding-registered staff. There will be over-60s sessions/leagues, a Brackmills-specific league, and regular clinics for players of all abilities. A Friday night event is already booked in for late April, featuring 46 players with a DJ and after-play party. Themed events and watch parties will screen Formula One, Wimbledon, football World Cup matches and more.
A new ‘third space’ for Brackmills
For Brackmills-based businesses and their staff, Padel Social House represents an exciting new addition to the estate – not just for leisure and sport, but as a genuine ‘third space’. Away from the workplace, you will be able to grab a coffee and a bite to eat, watch some padel, play a game, or simply enjoy the café. The club hopes to offer something for everyone…to relax, exercise, socialise and create meaningful friendships on and off court.
For businesses on the estate, Padel Social House will be offering sponsorship opportunities on the glass courts as well as the chance to be associated with themed events and tournaments. Sponsorship packages will also include discounts in the club shop, café and courts.
A dynamic new destination
The message is clear: Padel Social House is a fantastic, dynamic, family-friendly new space coming to Brackmills that will offer something for all. Edward and the team will be hosting our next Health, Safety and Wellbeing Forum in April, so do register your place to come along and find out more.
