Yahoo News From Deansgate Square to Cheetham - the sport sweeping through Manchester
A 'rapidly expanding sport' which has an exclusive location in Manchester city centre is eyeing its next move — to Cheetham.
Padel, a racquet sport billed as 'a mix between tennis and squash', already has a high-profile location in town, namely Club de Padel on Deansgate Square — where the city's highest rents and tallest buildings reside. But Pure Padel wants to open up a new spot for the game in Cheetham.
The company is eyeing a vacant warehouse, currently used for car parking, on Dutton Street to set-up shop. It hopes to offer pay and play opportunities, as well as coaching from staff that have ‘undergone specialised training in Spain, which is the birthplace of the sport’, a planning statement said.
“The proposed development would respond to the increased demand for padel for visitors to Manchester city centre alongside the wider public,” it added.
“Padel offers significant health and well-being benefits by attracting people who might not otherwise participate in a sport or indeed who might not otherwise participate in any form of exercise. As found on other sites operated by Pure Padel, it is understood that padel courts are above 90 percent utilisation, with bookings taken two weeks in advance. The proposed development is expected to match this and provide significant sports provision for the borough.”
If given planning permission by Manchester council, it will have six padel courts, a kiosk for equipment, and some car parking for 18 vehicles.
You can view and comment on the plans online here, or by searching ‘139686/FO/2024’ on Manchester City Council’s planning portal.
