New padel courts are being proposed across Oxfordshire as the sport’s rapid national growth brings plans for covered facilities in Grove, Bicester, North Hinksey and Abingdon.
Applications for four courts at Grove Business Park and six at Bicester Avenue Garden Centre are awaiting decisions, while Smash Padel Oxford has announced permission for an expansion. At Tilsley Park in Abingdon, an opening previously advertised for this autumn has been pushed back to early 2027.
The developments come as the Lawn Tennis Association reported on 20 October that 1.5 million adults and juniors were playing padel across Britain, with 2,445 courts at 682 venues. Its latest figures compare with 860,000 players at the end of 2025 and 400,000 at the end of 2024.
Those figures show the scale of the national rise. In Oxfordshire, the mix of new applications and expansion at an established club points to operators investing in more places to play, particularly courts with shelter from the weather.
Lewis, from Padel Holidays, said:
“Padel gives people a reason to get together as well as a game to learn. You don’t need a tennis background to try it, and playing doubles makes the social side part of the experience from the start.
“As more courts open, more people have the chance to give it a go. The next step is making it easy for them to return, with beginner coaching, social sessions and help finding players at a similar level.”
Four covered courts proposed in Grove
The Grove proposal would bring four covered padel courts to land beside TFD Health & Fitness at the entrance to Grove Business Park, off Downsview Road.
The application seeks permission for a temporary five-year use, with court enclosures and lighting, a reception kiosk, outdoor seating, fencing and associated access and landscaping works.
Vale of White Horse District Council validated the application on 1 October. Consultation opened on 16 October and is due to close on 13 November 2026.
Residents can view the documents and comment through the council’s planning register, reference P26/V4464/FUL. No decision has been made, so the proposal does not yet establish an opening date.
Six-court plan at Bicester Avenue
A separate application by Padeltastic Limited proposes six courts at Bicester Avenue Garden Centre on Oxford Road, in Chesterton.
All six would have canopies. The plans also include lighting and wooden cladding for a storage container and changing-room building.
The application was validated in June and remains listed as under consultation on Cherwell District Council’s register, with no decision recorded. The application, reference 26/01346/F, is therefore still a proposal rather than a confirmed new venue.
Smash Oxford plans to double its courts
At Oxford Lawn Tennis Club in North Hinksey, Smash Padel Oxford already operates three floodlit outdoor courts.
The operator says it has planning permission for three additional canopy-covered courts, which would double the number at the venue. It expects them to be ready towards the end of 2026.
That expansion would give players a covered option alongside the existing outdoor courts. The operator has not advertised a specific opening day for the additions.
Abingdon opening moves to early 2027
At Tilsley Park, the wait for new facilities will be longer. Abingdon Sports and Leisure says unforeseen planning challenges have delayed its padel project.
In its latest progress update, it says construction is expected to finish by Christmas 2026, with customers welcomed in early 2027. A precise opening date has yet to be confirmed.
The revised timetable replaces the autumn 2026 opening previously advertised. People who have registered their interest are due to be contacted once the opening date is confirmed.
What is padel, and how can you try it?
Padel is a doubles racket sport played on an enclosed court. It uses an underarm serve and tennis-style scoring, but the surrounding walls are part of the game: after the ball bounces, players can let it rebound off the glass before returning it.
The LTA’s beginners’ rules guide explains the serving, scoring and rebounds for anyone trying it for the first time.
Players do not have to wait for the proposed facilities to open. Smash Oxford offers pay-and-play bookings without membership through the Nettla app, along with free introductory sessions and adult and junior coaching. Rackets can be hired for £3 an hour.
For other options, the LTA court finder lets players search for nearby venues. When comparing sessions, check whether the booking price covers the whole court or one player, whether equipment is included and whether the court is covered.
Map: where to play padel in Oxfordshire
Explore 11 existing venues across the county, from public pay-and-play courts to clubs and hotels with restricted access. Blue pins show public booking options; purple pins mark members’ or hotel facilities and hire by enquiry. Orange pins show the three proposed or developing sites covered above, which are not yet open. Smash Oxford’s planned expansion is noted on its existing venue pin.
Open the Oxfordshire padel map in full screen. Select a pin for access details and the operator’s website. Locations and access were checked on 27 October 2026; pins identify venues or development sites rather than individual court entrances. Private domestic courts are excluded.
