Is there an underused basketball court in your neighborhood, or perhaps a sprawling football pitch that rarely sees action? What sport could transform these spaces into vibrant community hubs? For Mark Hewlett, there’s only now answer: Padel
Soul Padel, the creation of Mark Hewlett and Paul Lloyd, is on a mission to do two things: to bring this exciting sport out of industrial zones and warehouses and into the heart of local communities, and, in Hewlett’s own words, “to give padel soul”.
Their ambitious journey last year began with a collaboration with French retail giant Decathlon; a partnership which has led to them already setting up padel courts outside stores in Stockport and Glasgow. This is just the beginning, however, because in the coming months, Soul’s permanent clubs will sprouting up next to Decathlon locations across the UK. The strategy is simple yet powerful—turning underused spaces into accessible padel courts that are both affordable and convenient, drawing people together through sport.
Feeding the Soul
Mark’s connection to padel runs deep, rooted in years spent playing in Portugal, where padel courts served as vibrant community centers. Inspired by these experiences, he envisioned Soul Padel as more than just a business—he saw it as a movement. “The clubs in Portugal were about community, health, and feeding the soul. That’s what Soul Padel is all about—capturing the spirit of togetherness,” Hewlett explains.
Padel’s future in the UK lies in embedding it within local communities, making it a sport that’s not just played, but lived.
Cage 91 Co. is powered by Taktika Equity
Born in the sport-crazed northwest of England (think Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, cricket and more), Soul Padel is on a mission to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome, reflecting its core values: Meet, Play, Connect. The goal is to make padel more than just a game played on repurposed tennis courts – in fact, in many ways, Hewlett views his brand as the antidote to tennis – it’s about establishing it as a distinct sport with its own culture, found in everyday places where people naturally gather, whatever their background.
In the wake of the pandemic, the narrative in the UK and other nations has been of a growing awareness of the importance of both physical and mental health. Hewlett believes that padel, with its blend of physical activity and intimate social interaction, is perfectly poised to become the next big health movement in the UK, offering innumerable benefits to those that pick up a racket.
Hundreds of Courts in the Pipeline
Looking ahead, Soul Padel has set an ambitious target: 250 courts across the UK over the next five years. These courts will be strategically placed to ensure they’re accessible, with most of them being either undercover or indoors to accommodate the UK’s ever-present unpredictable weather. This bold expansion plan involves a meticulous property strategy, assembling the right team, and partnering with experts to handle everything from ground preparation to court construction. With the groundwork laid, Hewlett believes, Soul Padel is ready to drive its vision forward.
As his company’s expansion unfolds, Hewlett is steadfast in his commitment to set Soul Padel apart from the pack of other operators entering the market, by making padel accessible to everyone, and shedding the image of exclusive, members-only clubs that has besieged tennis for decades. By breaking down barriers related to cost, intimidation, and skill level, Hewlett and his team are fully focussed on creating a welcoming environment where anyone can pick up a racket and join in, making sure padel this not just talked about as a sport for all, but actually is a sport for all. For Hewlett, it’s clear actions speak louder than words.
