What a racket: exciting link-up brings new padel and tennis courts to Wigan

And at long last Wigan’s Mesnes Park is also to get some new tennis courts.

A link-up between the council and social sports innovators Soul Padel will see six new covered padel courts open at Robin Park Leisure Centre later this year.

The partnership will also trigger a transformation of the local tennis offer, with four brand new courts at Mesnes Park in Wigan town centre opening this summer and a new Head of Racquets role leading promotion of the game in schools and the wider community.

The borough’s first padel courts – at Cotton Works, Wigan Pier – have proved hugely popular since they opened last year, even during the winter months, so there is clearly a great appetite for the sport.

Coun Chris Ready, Wigan Council’s cabinet portfolio holder for communities and neighbourhoods, said: “We’re really excited to announce a new long-term partnership with Soul Padel to bring this exciting, fast-growing phenomenon to Robin Park.

“Padel is a great sport for being active and socialising with friends and family, so it’s no surprise more and more people are taking it up all the time.

“As well as being founded by a Wiganer, our new partners at Soul Padel are really big on community and connection so it really is a great fit with our Be Well brand and all the activities that we already offer at Robin Park and across the borough.

“It’s also great news for tennis, allowing us to invest in quality, accessible and affordable facilities for local people to enjoy while expanding activities for children, families and adults alike. It really is a win-win all-round!”

Combining elements of tennis and squash and played on a small, glass-walled court, padel has experienced major growth in recent years with more than 860,000 players in the UK alone and over 35 million worldwide.

Founded in December 2023 by former St Peter's RC High School and Winstanley College student Mark Hewlett, Soul Padel already has venues in St Helens, Stockport, Loughborough and Glasgow, with new ones in London, Preston, Warrington, Lancaster and elsewhere in the UK also coming soon.

The new courts at Robin Park Leisure Centre are expected to be open in the Autumn.

Mark Hewlett, founder and CEO of Soul Padel, said: “I consider myself a very proud pie-eating Wiganer through and through, so to be able to open my business in my hometown is a massive milestone for me personally and Soul Padel more broadly.

“It's been a pleasure to work in partnership with Wigan Council as we aim to deliver a truly accessible, affordable, community-centred Soul Padel club at Robin Park.

“Padel has a way of pulling people in. Whether you’re competitive, social, or just giving it a go for the first time, you step on court and you’re straight into the action.

“We’re also looking forward to introducing programmes like ‘Soul Sisters’, ‘Soul Timers’ and ‘What’s That Racket?’, so that more women, kids and over 50s across the community have a way into the game.

“For us, this is about more than just courts; it’s about building a place where people can meet, play and connect, and we can’t wait to get started in Wigan.”

Meanwhile, work on four new high-quality community tennis courts at Mesnes Park is set to begin in May – with completion due in early July to capitalise on Wimbledon fever.

They represent a £175,000 investment in the sport, in collaboration with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).

Between 2005 and 2013, Mesnes Park underwent a huge renovation project which included restoring the fountain and waterfall and renovating the pavilion and bandstand, thanks to a £6.5m Heritage Lottery grant.

But there wasn’t enough money to update the tennis courts nor the crazy golf and bowling greens and so that section of the park has continued to look rather neglected.

However news of new courts there will be welcomed by many tennis enthusiasts.

Just like the existing community courts at Pennington Hall Park in Leigh, the courts will be available to book via the LTA’s online Clubspark platform.

Sam Foakes, LTA Head of Delivery for the North and Midlands West, said: “The new park tennis and padel facilities in Wigan will benefit the local area significantly. With British tennis and padel participation both at record levels, it’s vital that communities across the country have the chance to get on court, and that accessible, community-focused facilities complement both sports.

“This is why the LTA has worked with Wigan Council and Soul Padel to ensure local people can enjoy the benefits both sports bring, as we continue with our vision to open up tennis and padel.”

Be Well’s new Head of Racquets will also help facilitate tennis activities in local schools and community venues, as well as developing the current offer at Robin Park – which includes casual play, coaching for both juniors and adults, and competitions and events.

Padel – pronounced par-dell, not paddle – was invented in 1969 by a Mexican man who was annoying his neighbours by his stray tennis balls flying into their gardens.

Courts are walled and are 20m x 10m for a doubles court and 20m by 6m for a singles court.

The sport has proved particularly popular because it is slower than tennis and relatively easy to pick up.

For more information on tennis with Be Well visit bewellwigan.org/tennis