• Aston University to bring one of the fastest-growing sports in the world to central Birmingham
• The sport blends elements of tennis and squash and is played on an enclosed court with glass walls
• The Padel Loft Aston will consist of three brand-new courts on campus.

Aston University is to bring one of the fastest-growing sports in the world to the heart of Birmingham.

Opening in May 2026, The Padel Loft Aston will consist of three brand-new courts on the University’s campus. They will provide students, staff and the public with access to what will be the city’s most centrally located facility.

The sport blends elements of tennis and squash and is played on an enclosed court with glass walls. Originating in Mexico and hugely popular across Spain and southern Europe, it has recently seen growth globally and is now rapidly expanding across the UK. According to the sport’s national governing body, LTA Padel, in 2025 participation more than trebled, alongside a major spike in public awareness and interest.

Located in the centre of the University campus and just a 10-minute walk from Birmingham New Street Station the facility will also serve the wider local community. The new centre will be run by the company The Padel Loft.

Aston University’s Chief Operating Officer Richard Billingham said:

“We are delighted to partner with The Padel Loft to bring this exciting and rapidly growing sport to Aston University. It will provide opportunities for our students and staff and the public to stay active and connect through sport. It will be an important part of campus life and is a visible statement of our commitment to the creation of the Birmingham Innovation Precinct, part of the wider Birmingham Knowledge Quarter, as a place in the heart of the city that brings together people to work, play and live.

“One of our 2030 strategy aims is to be recognised as the best place to work and collaborate, bound together by our shared values and commitment to the greater good. This new facility will help us realise our role integrated within the city centre. With its accessible and social nature, the facility will become a popular destination for both our university community and the wider Birmingham public.”

Vova Semenyaka, co-founder of The Padel Loft Aston, said:

“We founded The Padel Loft with a clear mission: to work with universities to make padel more accessible and affordable for students while also creating welcoming facilities for the wider community. Aston University is the perfect partner for this vision. Its central location and forward-thinking approach to student experience make it an ideal home for Birmingham’s most central padel facility.

“Padel is an incredibly social and inclusive sport that is easy to learn but difficult to put down once you start playing. We’re excited to introduce it to thousands of students and local residents who may be discovering the sport for the first time.

“Whether you’ve never picked up a racket before or already play regularly, the facility aims to make padel more accessible than ever for people living, working or studying in central Birmingham.”

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