Marble Arch London BID has added a pop-up padel court to the site of one of London’s most iconic monuments. Pop-up Padel at Marble Arch is open now and runs to Monday August 26 from 7am–8pm each day.
Marble Arch London BID has partnered with sponsors Portman Marylebone to bring the temporary court to London’s West End for the first time.
Padel has become one of the UK’s fastest-growing sports in recent years, thanks to its fun and easy-to-learn rules, its highly sociable nature and its accessibility to mixed ages and abilities. Played on an enclosed court about a third of the size of a tennis court with back walls for the ball to bounce off, the game is designed for four players and most matches feature two pairs of players.
Working with the Central London Alliance, which delivered Padel in the City of London last year, the padel court at Marble Arch can be hired seven days a week in one-hour time slots, with bats and balls included.
Pop-up Padel at Marble Arch aims to encourage locals and Londoners alike to try out the sport, whether that is during their lunch breaks, after work or on the weekend.
As well as promoting an active lifestyle, Pop-up Padel at Marble Arch aims to showcase the inclusive nature of padel which, thanks to the size of its courts, allows people to play sport in a wider variety of urban settings. Marble Arch London BID is giving Westminster City Save cardholders access to special offers and is also working with All Out Padel, England’s first LGBTQ+ padel club, to encourage its members to try out the court at Marble Arch.
Kay Buxton, chief executive, Marble Arch London BID, said: “We are delighted to launch Pop-up Padel at Marble Arch and provide a wonderful space for people to try out this great new sport. With sponsors Portman Marylebone and partners Central London Alliance we have been able to bring padel to the West End for the first time and make it accessible to the community with special discounts and sessions for local residents and youth groups.”
Oliver Fenn-Smith, Chief Executive, The Portman Estate, added: “This partnership with Marble Arch London BID and the Central London Alliance will bring padel to the West End for the first time as we make the most of a summer of sport. Padel is an inclusive and fast-growing game, so this pop-up court is an excellent addition to the neighbourhood; it will bring people together, provide vibrancy to Oxford Street and Marylebone this summer and offer an exciting new experience for residents, visitors and workers in the area.”
Nadia Perrier, director of Central London Alliance CIC, added: “Our mission is to support the recovery of London’s business, hospitality, cultural, tourism and retail sectors including through innovative events and activities which encourage more people to travel into London for work and leisure. It has therefore been great to work in collaboration with both Marble Arch London BID and Portman Marylebone to install Padel Affair’s fantastic pop-up padel court in London’s West End. Padel has been taking the country, and particularly London, by storm so as the only padel court in the West End we expect Pop-up Padel at Marble Arch to draw in visitors from far and wide.”
