A new five-star padel complex could be coming to Nottingham in 2026 if plans get the green light from the city’s council
Plans have been submitted to create the new venue adjacent to the Showcase Cinema, on the land at Dusk Till Dawn’s car park on Redfield Way.
The centre will be the first in the UK for Padelplex, a brand new padel community launched by Nottingham hotelier Richard Johal and founder of the city’s coffee house chain 200 Degrees, Rob Darby. They will be joined by former England and Notts cricketer James Taylor, the brand’s ambassador.
The centre would have five covered outdoor padel courts alongside a hospitality pavilion featuring a reception area, snack bar, indoor seating, changing facilities and is expected to cost more than £1m. It should create up to eight jobs initially.
The team behind the leisure complex say they have been inspired by the space in the market for a top quality padel offering with customer service at its heart.
Padelplex founder Richard Johal, who has managed a number of hotels including the St James Hotel in Nottingham said: “We are so excited to have submitted our plans for the very first Padelplex centre in the UK – which of course had to be in Nottingham as all of our founders are from here and we’re so proud of our city’s sporting energy and accolades.
“Padel is rapidly rising in popularity and against this backdrop we saw an opportunity to develop a high-quality, premium offering with an eye on the ‘added extras’ of a top quality venue, but at the same price point to play.
“As keen padel players ourselves, we know exactly what our customers – be it students or grandparents and everyone in between – will expect when they visit us for a game.”
Rob Darby, co-founder of Padelplex alongside Richard, added: “The key was to figure out where our padel offering fits and we were all set on the vision of a customer-first experience where people feel welcomed and come back time and again to have fun, enjoy this simple and accessible sport with friends and family and escape the busy world for an hour or so in a space that feels like a community.”
Retired England cricketer James Taylor, who played for Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, will be an ambassador for the business, encouraging people to try padel and experience the fun of the sport for themselves, no matter their skill level.
The former right-handed batsman who is also a selector for the England team said: “I’ve been looking for a new project for a while now, to channel my passion for fitness and sport within my own local community. Padel is quick, its simple and most importantly it is accessible to all. If you want to exert yourself, you can but if you want to just have fun its perfect too.”
A decision on the application will be made by Nottingham City Council, and the founders hope they will be open for their first visitors in the Summer of 2026.