Nestled within rural Hampshire lies Barnsgrove, the brainchild of Jo and James Butler and arguably the area’s most lush recreational space. With strong links to its agricultural roots and community-oriented dynamic, Barnsgrove presents itself as a modern-day country club with a chic twist. Aiming to build strong interpersonal ties whilst incorporating the opulence of London destinations, Barnsgrove’s space offers first-rate padel and wellness provisions in one of the UK’s most picturesque destinations. Whether you’re sipping a cocktail at Palmers bar or hosting clients for a friendly knock-up game, Barnsgrove is determined to provide the ‘community experience’ at the highest of qualities.
A Country Club Reimagined – Barnsgrove’s Quest for Rural Recreation
With ties in property and decoration, founder Jo Butler is keen to stress Barnsgrove’s unique outlook for providing recreation in a rural setting. She describes Barnsgrove as a culmination of the lessons learnt in each industry, with those teachings brought into the farming business to make the club what it is today. Through her agricultural upbringing in East Anglia, the club’s connection to the natural world is a keystone of this project. Still, Jo also described wanting the club to be “elevated in a countryside setting”, a vision for the club’s aesthetics that was sought in the planning process. An ode to the finest of life, Barnsgrove’s commitment to excellence permeates even the smallest of details. From member-oriented educational sessions and workshops to the “Barnsgrove Black Book” designed to connect members further through business advertisements, the club is determined to provide an unparalleled everyday experience.
Why Padel, Why Now?
With its rapid recent growth and wide potential demographic, Barnsgrove has capitalized on providing one of the world’s most exciting and socially driven sports. Jo Butler mentions the practical benefits of padel to members looking for recreation, as its “short play duration allows those with busy schedules or children” to fit recreational activity into their day. Barnsgrove’s emphasis on creating a culture ‘for locals’ is perfectly captured through padel, as the club’s group is widened by guests being able to invite friends and family for a game.
With its rapid recent growth and wide potential demographic, Barnsgrove has capitalized on providing one of the world’s most exciting and socially-driven sports
There is also a corporate aspect to padel’s role at Barnsgrove. Padel is one of those rare activities that is sociable, sporty, and easy to get to grips with, allowing it to be accessible to a wide demographic. It’s levelling and can be enjoyed with friends and family, and in a corporate context – great for team-building and strengthening business relationships. Barnsgrove members are already given plenty of opportunities to meet, interact and form invaluable alliances. Palace Padel provides members a venue to entertain their clients and give them a different life experience. The club’s use of Playtomic for match scheduling allows for flexible organisation and allows those wishing to expand social circles to find matches easily.
Provide For One, Provide For All
Barnsgrove’s pledge to cater to the wider community is a core pillar of its trailblazing ethos, and the club’s wide member group perfectly represents this vision. The introduction of ‘desk memberships’ has proved invaluable to small businesses seeking workspace, whilst clients’ ability to hire Barnsgrove’s meeting rooms, working with the events manager on exact requirements including AV, menus and more demonstrates how the club is keen to support all kinds of businesses. These provisions underline Barnsgrove’s role in enriching the surrounding area instead of merely accompanying it.
Barnsgrove’s pledge to cater for the wider community is a core pillar of its trailblazing ethos
Looking to the Future – Barnsgrove’s Quest for Further Connectivity
As Barnsgrove continues to widen its bubble of invested locals, the club’s continued search for padel perfection lies in structured match play and competition. The implementation of a Barnsgrove League is on the horizon, where members will be able to go head-to-head, as well as the start of an ‘improvers’ padel course post-Easter for budding players. Additionally, those on tighter schedules can enjoy daily ‘Open Play’ sessions, which are more social and are an opportunity to use the Pro Padel racquets the club offers.
Ultimately, Barnsgrove appears the perfect fit for those seeking a cohesive community with an emphasis on padel. The club’s desire to create a chic environment for fitness, wellness, and recreation is a stunning blend of rural beauty and decorative opulence, giving it the tag of one of Southeast England’s hottest wellness spots.
