Soul Padel gives Stockport a permanent home for the game

Padel has become one of the fastest-growing sports in Britain, and Greater Manchester has embraced it with real enthusiasm. In Stockport, Soul Padel has been at the forefront, as the town's first padel club.

The club first started operating in the summer of 2024, introducing local players to the racket sport that combines elements of tennis and squash, played in doubles on an enclosed court where the walls are part of the game.

Demand followed quickly. On 7 June 2025 Soul Padel opened its permanent site beside the Decathlon store on George's Road, adding four new covered courts, protected by a canopy, to the two it already had.

Covered courts make a real difference in the North West, where the weather can be unpredictable. They allow players to keep booking sessions throughout the year, and help the club welcome newcomers who want to try the sport without worrying about the rain.

Off court there is a small clubhouse where players can relax before and after games, with rackets available to hire and an on-site café serving coffee, cold drinks and snacks. The club is a registered LTA venue.

Community is at the centre of what Soul Padel does. Weekly socials include Soul Sisters, a women-only meet-up, and Soul Timers, while its What's That Racket? youth programme has offered free sessions to hundreds of local schoolchildren.

Local press coverage noted that the club was already making an impact in Stockport, serving up a sport that is easy to pick up and sociable to play. Padel is often described as a game for everyone, and that inclusive feel has been part of its appeal.

Soul Padel is part of a wider picture. Greater Manchester has seen a rapid rise in padel venues, with a 2026 guide counting 38 clubs and 145 courts across the area, and being first gives Soul Padel a special place in Stockport's sporting story.

Court bookings and session details are available through Soul Padel's online channels and the Playtomic booking app. Newcomers are a big part of the padel community, so it is well worth giving the sport a try.