09 Sep 2026
Sophie Unitt heads onto Harpenden’s new padel courts for a trial session…
Padel Pass has opened two new padel courts at Rothamsted Park, bringing the increasingly popular sport to the very heart of Harpenden.
The opening marks Padel Pass’s expansion from its existing venues in Luton and at Harpenden Rugby Club, giving local residents the opportunity to take part in one of the UK’s fastest-growing sports.
The new venue is designed to provide a convenient local facility for experienced players and those trying padel for the first time.
The courts officially opened last month, with Padel Pass co-founder Alex March describing the first few weeks after opening as “full of new faces” making use of the free introductory 45-minute sessions, which give those unfamiliar with the sport the opportunity to try it for the first time.
According to Alex, the entry point for padel is quite low, meaning most players can pick up the basics by the end of the introductory session.
From my own experience, three friends and I attended one of the introductory sessions with little prior knowledge or experience of padel. The session involved rallies and games, while Alex taught us the rules of padel, alongside the appropriate serving and hitting techniques.
We quickly became invested, with the friendly competition between us adding to our enjoyment and encouraging us to become more engaged with each game. Since the session, we have been keen to book regular court games as padel has provided a fun, casual and unique way to spend time together while staying active.
The founders of Padel Pass, as Harpenden locals themselves, say their connection to the area, combined with the town’s “big racket sports community”, highlighted a real need for padel in
the town.
Working in partnership with the town council, Rothamsted Park was selected as the location to allow the venue to be used by as many people as possible. Alex said the aspiration for the courts has been to establish a space where the community can come together, in a welcoming environment with friendly coaches.
As I discovered from my own experience, padel gives players the opportunity to reap the physical benefit of staying active, and the mental benefit of socialising and connecting with others. The social aspect of the sport is supported by Padel Pass’s social mix-ins, which are designed to help players meet new people.
These sessions are primarily aimed at beginners and involve eight to 10 players taking part in games facilitated by coaches. The venue also offers eight-week courses, one-to-one coaching and group coaching, giving players different opportunities to develop skills at their own pace.
Alex describes the ceiling for mastery in padel as very high, meaning players can continue developing their abilities and progress to more advanced gameplay. Introductory sessions, coaching, mix-ins and regular court sessions can all be booked through the Padel Pass website. The website also gives players the opportunity to join Padel Pass WhatsApp groups, helping them connect with others of a similar ability.
Players only need trainers and basic sportswear, while court hire ranges from £8 per hour during off-peak hours to £10.50 at peak times, with racket hire an additional £3 and ball hire available.
Padel has grown increasingly popular in recent years, a trend Alex attributes to the accessibility of the sport. As it is easy to get started, Alex argues that padel can become quite addictive, as players are able to enjoy the sport from the outset while continually developing their technique.
My first experience of padel reflected this, as the introductory session highlighted how accessible the sport is for beginners and gave me the confidence to consider playing more regularly.
Despite its growth in popularity, padel has recently faced scrutiny over its cost and accessibility.
Padel Pass’s free introductory sessions, alongside the option to hire rackets and courts without committing to a membership, are intended to reduce some of these barriers and make the sport accessible to new players.
The noise generated by padel courts has also attracted scrutiny. Alex explained that noise surveys are carried out for every new venue, alongside consideration of the needs of neighbouring communities.
Alex added: “We are always trying to be considerate and respectful of neighbours”, highlighting the company’s efforts to minimise disruption by considering court opening hours.
This forms part of Padel Pass’s wider focus on ensuring its venues are appropriate for the communities in which they operate.
Padel Pass’s community-centred approach aims to make the new venue a positive addition to the local area, bringing together experienced players and newcomers while giving residents a new way to stay both active and social.
