Inside York's booming Padel Farm as Britain's fastest-growing sport takes off
Our reporter Maxine joins the women's group at York's Padel Farm to try the UK's fastest growing sport
As York's Padel Farm rides the boom in Britain's fastest-growing sport, reporter MAXINE GORDON gives it a go
Once upon a time, and not all that long ago, the only sound inside this vast barn on the outskirts of York was potatoes thudding on to the floor.
Today, that noise has been replaced by the rhythmic pop of padel balls, the crack of racquets and the echo of shots rebounding off glass walls.
Welcome to The Padel Farm, a former agricultural site on the outskirts of York that has become one of the area's fastest-growing sporting destinations.
Just 18 months ago, the venue, between Strensall and at Sutton-on-the-Forest, opened with two indoor padel courts in converted farm buildings. Today, that vision has expanded dramatically.
The site now features four indoor doubles courts, an outdoor showcase court and, two indoor singles courts complete with a viewing alley.
About to open are a range of state-of-the-art fitness and wellness facilities including a spin studio, yoga and Pilates spaces, a strength and conditioning gym, sauna, cold-plunge recovery area, rooftop hot tubs, cafe, outdoor bar and wellness services. Plans are also being explored for a crèche, allowing parents to play while their children are cared for on-site.
For head coach and director Andy Deeley, though, the project has always been about more than buildings and facilities.
"We are building a strong community through lots of different sessions which bring people together," he says.
And it all began with site owner Callum Stark making the bold decision to turn his potato barn into covered padel courts.
The interior of Padel Farm. Image: Pic supplied
Padel, according to latest figures, is enjoying its moment, with the number of players reaching 860,000 in 2025, doubling from the year before. Expect that figure to be even higher for this year.
The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), which took over governance of padel in 2020, describes it as one of Britain's fastest-growing sports. There were 1,553 padel courts in the UK by the end of 2025, compared with just 69 courts at the start of the pandemic.
And we are witnessing that growth first hand in York – and not just at The Padel Farm.
Last month, the City of York Council approved plans to convert a James Street building into eight padel courts.
The city already has seven facilities, with the LTA estimating demand is such that York could sustain at least 16.
VIDEO: Take a look inside The Padel Farm, York
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So why is it booming?
Back at The Padel Farm, Andy has a simple answer: "It's a really accessible sport; one for all different levels and different ages."
From tennis player to padel evangelist
Andy comes from a tennis background and has been playing padel for around eight years.
Back then, many people in Britain had never heard of the sport. Today, courts are opening across the country at a remarkable rate.
The appeal is easy to see.
Unlike tennis, which can take years to master, padel is designed to be beginner-friendly. Played on an enclosed court about a third smaller than a tennis court, it combines elements of tennis and squash, with players able to use the surrounding glass walls as part of the game.
"It has been a perfect storm with celebrities playing and growing demand," says Andy.
Inside York's Padel Farm
"People are really loving the sport. It's becoming more credible and professional and the LTA has taken on padel.
"It is more accessible, easier to play and pick up. You can pick up a padel racket and play within an hour.
"Tennis is really hard unless you've played as a kid or a junior.
"Padel is very social and it brings people together."
Technology has helped fuel the explosion too. The Playtomic app allows players to find matches, meet people of a similar standard, arrange coaching and join social sessions.
Andy's quick guide on how to play padel
Taking to the court
I signed up for The Padel Farm's Monday evening women's social session.
Running from 6.30pm to 8pm, the session offers 12 places and was fully booked.
Some players were regulars. Others, like me, were relative newcomers.
Although I've played club tennis for years, my padel experience extends to only a handful of games.
Our reporter Maxine joins the women's group at York's Padel Farm to try the UK's fastest growing sport
At first glance, the sports appear similar.
They share the same scoring system and involve rackets, balls and a net.
But step on court and the differences become obvious.
The most striking feature is the glass enclosure.
A ball can bounce off the court, hit the glass wall and still remain in play.
Suddenly, points that appear won can come hurtling back.
Power, I quickly learned, isn't always your friend.
Maxine, right, has a go at The Padel Farm
Hit too hard and the ball may rebound off the back wall before you've had time to celebrate. Instead, placement, slice, touch and tactical awareness often matter more than brute force.
For squash players, some of the angles may feel familiar.
For tennis players, it's an entirely new challenge.
The good news is that the smaller court means less ground to cover, making rallies easier and more enjoyable for beginners.
Our evening was divided into three half-hour rounds, allowing everyone to mix and play with different partners and opponents.
There was plenty of laughter, encouragement and good-natured competitiveness.
People wanted to win, but nobody was taking themselves too seriously.
You can see why people get hooked and the sport is booming.
'It brings the buzz back'
Among those enjoying the session was Caroline Dawkins, who has previously played padel with her adult children.
This was her first women's social evening.
Caroline Dawkins has been playing padel with her grown-up children but this is her first time at the women's session.
"I loved it," she said.
"It's a great chance to get used to playing against different people. When you play with the same people all the time you get to know their game.
"Everybody has been lovely and friendly and I'm going to come back next week."
For Jayne Leckenby, 66, padel has rekindled her competitive spirit.
A former tennis and hockey player, she has been playing padel for about a year.
Jayne Leckenby, 66, used to play tennis and hockey and has been playing padel for about a year.
"I gave up tennis because I would get nervous playing matches," she said.
"It is lovely to be competitive again. It gives you adrenaline and a great feeling.
"It makes you feel happy. It brings the buzz back."
Teacher Caroline Helfferich, who leads PE at Crayke School, only started playing recently but has quickly become hooked.
Teacher Caroline Helfferich, 50, has only been playing since August but has caught the bug and tries to play two or three times a week.
"It's just addictive and great fun," she said.
"And when the bar, café and gym comes, I think I'll be spending my life here when I'm not working."
She is also helping introduce the sport to younger generations after coaches from The Padel Farm visited her school.
Get into padel
*The Padel Farm runs free introductory sessions for beginners, including regular weekend opportunities to try the sport for the first time. Find out more at:*thepadelfarm.org
Inspiring the next generation
Developing young players is a central part of Andy's ambitions.
The Padel Farm already runs a junior academy and regularly introduces children to the sport.
York Padel Farm owner Callum Stark (left) with director and head coach Andy Deeley (Image: Supplied)
"It's really important to get kids playing," he says.
"Hopefully we will get children enjoying it and then maybe parents will play too and we can build on from there."
Given the sport's trajectory, that strategy looks likely to pay dividends.
What began inside a converted potato barn is rapidly becoming one of York's most exciting sporting success stories.
And if current growth trends continue, padel's rise may only just be beginning.