Planning is underway for an exciting addition to Lakeside Shopping Centre, the super-regional shopping centre in Essex, as leading urban padel club and lifestyle brand, Club de Padel, confirm that they are in the early stages of developing their first club in the South of England.
Featuring eight indoor and four outdoor courts, located on the edge of the eponymous lake, Club de Padel joins the existing offering as soon as Summer 2027. This marks a timely addition to one of the UK’s most iconic shopping destinations, and the brand’s first move outside of their native Northern England, after opening Manchester’s first club in 2023 and Sheffield in 2025.
Club de Padel Lakeside will be rooted in hospitality and feature a beautiful glass-and- timber clad clubhouse, an outdoor terrace overlooking the lake, a club shop offering equipment and Club de Padel merchandise, and a cafe-bar, creating a social destination for players and spectators alike.
An industry-leading coaching programme developed and refined by LTA-qualified coaches delivers a six stage pathway approach – from tasters for complete beginners to advanced drills for competition level players – as well as dedicated sessions for juniors, families and women-only groups.
Club de Padel Lakeside is expected to open by Summer 2027
Club de Padel, will create a club which responds to the environment;
“We can’t wait to work with the backdrop of the lake” said Co-founder James Wigglesworth ”In Sheffield we found a dilapidated brewery warehouse and brought it back to life by working with local street artists to create new artwork and preserve existing pieces. We will apply the same theory in Lakeside to a different effect; working with natural finishes and premium materials to create a lakeside retreat for all to enjoy.”
The arrival of Club de Padel forms part of Lakeside’s exciting evolution, bringing together the biggest and best retail brands with a growing mix of dining, leisure and unique lakeside experiences. This summer alone the centre has welcomed incredible brands such as Space NK, White Company, Oliver Bonas, Hollister and Urban Outfitters, giving visitors even more reasons to spend the day at the centre. Club de Padel’s spectacular setting beside Lakeside’s iconic 20-acre lake will add a standout new way for visitors to enjoy an unparalleled retail experience.
Club de Padel has quickly established itself as one of the most exciting names in the sport, combining padel with fashion, lifestyle and the wider sporting community. Earlier this year, the brand partnered with M&S to launch an extensive childrenswear collection, available in more than 50 stores and online globally. This followed their bestselling adult streetwear collection with Manchester label UN:IK, which has sold tens of thousands of pieces internationally (in every continent but Antartica).
Plans for the Lakeside club arrive as padel continues its rapid growth across Britain. New figures released by the LTA show that there are now 1,000,000 adults and juniors playing padel across the country – up from 15,000 players in 2019**. The sport’s popularity is largely thanks to its fun, accessible and highly social format.
Nancy Foster, Centre Director at Lakeside Shopping Centre, said: “This spectacular 12-court destination will bring a completely new energy to the centre – giving visitors somewhere to get on court, catch up with friends and make a full day of it. It is exactly the kind of bold, memorable experience we want to introduce as Lakeside continues to evolve. We know how much padel has exploded in popularity recently, so have no doubt that our visitors are going to be very excited for this addition to the centre.”
James continues to say; “Opening our first club in the South of England at Lakeside would be a huge milestone for Club de Padel. Its scale and incredible waterside setting give us a unique opportunity to create a welcoming destination where beginners, regular players and friends can come together on and off the court. Lakeside’s unrivaled connectivity into London and the wider South East helps us to continue to deepen our commitment to accessibility – ensuring our clubs are equally accessed by rail, road, foot and bicycle.”
The new venue is planned to open at Lakeside in summer 2027, following a multi-million pound investment by Club de Padel – creating an exciting new destination for exercise, play and socialising.
