Where to Play Padel in the East Midlands 

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If you’re looking to play padel in the East Midlands, you’ve now got more choice than ever. A few years ago, there were only scattered courts hidden in tennis clubs, but now the region has everything from large indoor hubs in city centres to single community courts in villages. The mix is what makes it interesting. Some places feel like social arenas with cafés and lounges, others are tucked into historic estates where the setting is as memorable as the game. Together they show how quickly padel is taking root — and how easy it is to find somewhere to play, no matter your level or style.or style.

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Jump to specific section:

• Playing indoors
• Playing outdoors
• Getting started
• The social side
• Costs & access
• Standout settings
• After the game

Playing Indoors

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If you’re searching for East Midlands padel courts that guarantee play all year round, the indoor venues are the best starting point.

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If you want to guarantee a game whatever the weather, the indoor venues are where most players begin. In Nottingham, Advantage Padel has turned a warehouse on Daleside Road into a six-court centre with a social heart. Four doubles courts sit alongside two singles — rare in the region — and all of them wrap around a central hub where the buzz never dies down. With a bar, bistro, and pro shop on site, the move from court to café is seamless, and booking through Padel Mates keeps things simple.

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Further north, World Padel Academy Mansfield offers a different feel. Its four covered courts sit beneath a 10-metre canopy that gives the openness of playing outdoors without the rain. The clubhouse brings players together with seating, a shop, and a programme of coaching, tournaments, and even corporate packages. It feels structured, but welcoming.

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For sheer scale, We Are Padel Derby takes the crown. Eleven indoor courts stretch across a bright warehouse, the high ceilings and glass giving it an open, festival-like feel. The site runs from early morning until late evening, and with a café and lounge inside, people often stay long after their matches. Weekly americanos and group coaching add rhythm, making it one of the most reliable hubs for year-round play.

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Playing Outdoors

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Outdoor padel has a different character — less controlled, more open to the elements, but often with added charm. Nottingham Padel Centre, next to Meadow Lane stadium, has four panoramic courts that open from 7am. Access is by coded gate, parking is free nearby, and the club fills its calendar with leagues, socials, and even corporate days. Across town in leafy West Bridgford, David Lloyd has tucked two outdoor courts into the corner of its health club. They’re reserved for members and booked through the David Lloyd app, but those who are members can enjoy the calm setting and the ability to move straight from the court to the gym, spa, or pool.

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Heading south, Market Harborough Padel Club has built a community around its two glass-walled courts. It’s membership-based, but ladders and social sessions make it easy to find games once you’ve joined. The adjoining clubhouse café and bar create a natural gathering spot, keeping players around long after their matches. In Lincolnshire, Doddington Hall has carved four courts into historic parkland. Two are traditional, two panoramic, all are floodlit, and the combination of scenery and evening lights makes it one of the most atmospheric venues in the region.

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Other towns offer smaller but useful options. Corby Tennis Centre runs three floodlit padel courts alongside its tennis programme, complete with racket hire. Church Broughton Tennis & Padel Club keeps it simple with a single floodlit glass-walled court, bookable through ClubSpark by members and non-members alike. This is Padel Dronfield brings three floodlit courts to a football academy site, supported by a snack bar and free parking. And in Loughborough, Soul Padel has created a student-friendly space on campus with two courts, free racket hire, and a café nearby. The club thrives on themed mixers and a welcoming approach.

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Getting Started

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For beginners, the choice can feel daunting, but several clubs make the first step easy. Advantage Padel combines structured coaching with informal mix-ins, giving players a way to learn and meet others at the same time. Nottingham Padel Centre keeps things simple with pay-as-you-go bookings and open intro sessions. Soul Padel leans into its student crowd with themed mixers, relaxed events, and free racket hire. We Are Padel Derby provides group coaching and americanos that are designed to ease people in, while Market Harborough has fostered a small but supportive community where members quickly feel part of the fold.

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The Social Side

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The social scene is where padel often comes alive. Nottingham Padel Centre is known for its busy schedule of leagues and social sessions, while Market Harborough keeps its players engaged through ladders and regular club play. Soul Padel does things differently, focusing on themed mixers that blur ability levels and make fun the main point. At We Are Padel Derby, americanos and organised events are part of the weekly calendar. And at Advantage Padel, the social side blends seamlessly with the bar and bistro, where the post-game conversations carry on late into the evening.

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Costs and Access

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The financial side of padel in the East Midlands falls into three broad categories. The first is pay-and-play, where you simply book and turn up. Nottingham Padel Centre, Doddington Hall, This is Padel Dronfield, and Corby Tennis Centre all follow this model, charging per court — for example £20–£28 at Nottingham Padel Centre; £20–£28 per hour at Doddington; and £20 (members)/£30 (non‑members) at Corby — which typically works out at around £5–£7.50 per person with four players.

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Soul Padel is £28 for a 60‑minute session (£7 per hour per person), and with free racket hire, it often feels like better value. ‍We Are Padel Derby is £15 per person for a 90‑minute indoor session, but offers the certainty of indoor play and plenty of availability. Then there are the membership-only clubs. At David Lloyd West Bridgford, padel is just one part of a broader premium package. To play there you’ll need a Platinum membership (pricing isn’t published and varies by club) but it gives full access to health‑club facilities. Market Harborough is more straightforward, with adult memberships at about £38.50 a month including court use. It’s smaller in scale but rooted in community.

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Finally, some clubs straddle both worlds. Advantage Padel has offered founding memberships while still allowing casual bookings, giving players the option to commit or stay flexible. Across the region, parking is rarely a problem — rural venues like Doddington, Corby, and Church Broughton offer it for free, while city-based clubs like Advantage and Nottingham Padel Centre are also well connected by public transport.

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Standout Settings

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Each venue leaves its mark in a different way. In Nottingham, Advantage Padel stands out for its atmosphere: the glass courts and central hub make it feel alive, with matches visible from every angle. Doddington Hall offers the opposite — courts surrounded by historic parkland, where an evening game feels timeless. We Are Padel Derby impresses by scale alone, its eleven indoor courts giving the impression of a permanent padel festival. And Soul Padel carves its niche through character, leaning into playful mixers and student-led energy that make it as much a social outing as a sporting one.

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After the Game

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What happens after you finish playing often shapes the memory of the day. At Advantage Padel, the design of the centre almost pulls you straight into the bar and bistro, where post-match conversations flow as easily as the drinks. In Market Harborough, the experience is more traditional, with players drifting into the clubhouse café to chat, watch, and relax in a tight-knit community. Doddington Hall has its own rhythm — once the lights go off, the tea rooms of the estate become the natural next stop, blending padel with a sense of history. We Are Padel Derby takes a modern approach with its bright café and lounge, encouraging players to linger, watch americanos, or simply enjoy a coffee. And Soul Padel keeps things loose, with students and locals spilling into university cafés after mixers, carrying the same energy off court. For David Lloyd West Bridgford members, padel often blends into spa visits, pool sessions, or time in the bar, folding sport into a wider lifestyle.

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Summary

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If you’ve been wondering where to play padel in Nottingham, Derby, or Lincoln, this guide brings it all together. From the buzz of Advantage Padel in Nottingham to the sheer scale of We Are Padel Derby, through to the historic charm of Doddington Hall and the community feel at Market Harborough, the choice of East Midlands padel courts is broader than ever. Students flock to Soul Padel for its mixers, while those looking for premium leisure find it at David Lloyd. Whether you’re dipping your toe in, chasing competition, or simply searching for a sociable hit, the East Midlands now has a court to suit.