Stanley Park will soon be home to a four-court padel facility after Blackpool Council approved Soul Padel to lease land next to the Blackpool Sports Centre on West Park Drive. Subject to planning permission, the development will include a clubhouse, toilets, and changing facilities, with the lease income ringfenced for reinvestment in the park.
The scheme is expected to create up to 12 jobs, including an apprentice, up to three coaches, and a seven‑day‑a‑week clubhouse reception. Councillor Jo Farrell, Cabinet Member for Communities and Wellbeing, said the lease would generate extra funds to spend on the park, especially in such a momentous year. Stanley Park is marking its centenary in 2026, having opened in 1926.
Mark Hewlett, CEO and Founder of Soul Padel, said the ambition is to build a place where people can meet, play, and connect, making the racket sport accessible regardless of age or experience. Sessions will cater to all age groups, with women‑only, senior, junior, and free school programmes alongside holiday club sessions. More than 10,000 people have used the town’s sports facilities in the past year, enjoying three gyms, pools, and outdoor tracks and pitches.
Soul Padel already operates four venues across England and Scotland, in Stockport, Glasgow, St Helens, and Braehead. During the park’s centenary year, Blackpool Council is investing £500,000 in additional maintenance, boosted by £50,000 raised by the Friends of Stanley Park. The Grade II‑listed park spans roughly 390 acres and draws over two million visitors each year.
The new courts are expected to open in spring 2027, once planning permission is secured.
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