Pictured Above: Phil Basford, Founder and Chief Executive of Berkshire Padel, left, and Councillor Joshua Reynolds, Cabinet Member for Communities and Leisure, outside the sports pavilion at Braywick Park.
Padel tennis coming to Royal Borough to give sports pavilion at Braywick Park new lease of life
A company with big plans to transform an empty sports pavilion into a centre of excellence for padel tennis, one of the world’s fastest growing new sports, has been welcomed to the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead.
Cabinet has approved leasing the sports pavilion at Braywick Park, Maidenhead to Berkshire Padel with terms agreed to take a new 20-year lease on the former Sportsable building.
Berkshire Padel will invest significant capital into refurbishing and improving the building and constructing internal and external padel tennis courts to deliver a new sporting facility for the borough.
The company is working closely with the Lawn Tennis Association to expand the sport and the centre, as envisioned, will be capable of hosting national and international tournaments.
Phil Basford, Founder and Chief Executive of Berkshire Padel, said: "We are delighted the Cabinet has given their approval and backing for the project.
“If planning permission is granted, the facility will provide an outstanding venue for the local community as well as hosting events for the top Padel players from around the world. It's an exciting prospect."
Councillor Joshua Reynolds, Cabinet Member for Communities and Leisure, said: “It was fantastic to meet Phil at the pavilion and hear more about Berkshire Padel’s exciting plans to bring this sport to Braywick Park and our borough more widely.
“Padel tennis is one of the fastest growing sports in the world, and I’m really excited about the prospect of having this centre of excellence for the benefit of all our residents. This facility will be a great addition to the fantastic sports facilities that we have around the borough, and I cannot wait to see it take shape.”
The building is currently in poor condition and requires significant investment to bring it back into use. The letting is conditional on Berkshire Padel obtaining planning permission for the works proposed, and on the approval of a Public Open Space disposal to lease a small external area that will used for the outside courts.
The council-owned building has been left empty since being returned by the trustees of Sportsable, in summer 2021, when the charity was wound up.
You can register your interest for regular updates on Berkshire Padel’s website at www.BerkshirePadel.com and follow the organisation on Instagram.