PICKLEBALL FINDS ITS FOOTING

Padel isn’t the only racket sport that is growing rapidly. Pickleball is experiencing a phenomenal boom, with the number of clubs in England nearly doubling in 2025

While padel is grabbing most headlines as the “fastest growing sport in the world”, there is another racket sport quietly making huge inroads across the UK landscape. Pickleball’s rapid ascent means it’s no longer a niche sport – it is firmly establishing itself as part of the furniture on the UK’s leisure and racket sports market. Once seen as a curiosity imported from the United States, the sport is now making a case for being a scalable, accessible and commercially attractive proposition for operators across the country. The headline growth figures are striking. According to the national governing body, Pickleball England, the number of affiliated clubs nearly doubled during 2025, rising by 98.75% with 396 new clubs added. The total now stands at more than 800 clubs nationwide – an expansion that underlines both grassroots demand and the increasing capacity of facilities to accommodate the sport.

Taking part

Participation is following a similarly steep trajectory. Estimates suggest tens of thousands of people are now playing regularly in England, with broader UK participation continuing to climb year-on-year. Earlier data from Sport England indicated more than 27,000 people had played pickleball at least once across 270+ venues, and that base has grown significantly since.

Crucially, the sport’s appeal lies in its accessibility. It attracts players across all age groups, from children to those in their 80s, with its low barriers to entry and inherently social format driving repeat participation. This inclusivity is translating into strong retention rates – an important metric for operators seeking sustainable revenue streams.

From an operational perspective, pickleball’s growth mirrors the trajectory seen in padel, albeit at an earlier stage of maturity. The sport’s compact court size and flexible programming make it well suited to multi-use leisure environments, enabling operators to maximise yield per square metre. Existing tennis and badminton facilities are increasingly being reconfigured to incorporate pickleball courts, reflecting both demand and favourable economics.

Going private

Commercial health club operators – as well as public leisure centres – are increasingly capitalising on this shift. The integration of pickleball into programming offers a dual benefit: attracting new demographics while re-engaging lapsed users. Its relatively low physical intensity compared to tennis broadens its appeal, particularly among older adults and beginners, while still offering competitive pathways for more advanced players.

The community dimension is equally significant. Much of pickleball’s growth in England has been driven organically through local clubs, schools and community initiatives. This grassroots momentum is fostering strong social networks around facilities – an asset that enhances customer loyalty and supports ancillary spend across food, beverage and membership products.

Looking ahead, the commercial upside is considerable. Market projections suggest the UK pickleball sector could exceed £100m in value by the end of the decade if current growth trends continue. For operators, this represents not just a participation boom, but an opportunity to embed a high-frequency, community-driven activity within their offer.

The challenge now lies in infrastructure and governance keeping pace with demand. With club numbers accelerating and participation widening, investment in courts, coaching and competition pathways will be critical to sustaining momentum.

For the UK’s leisure sector, however, the direction of travel is clear. Pickleball is no longer an emerging trend – it is fast becoming a core component of the modern racket sports ecosystem.