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First public use Padel courts in Taunton to open

PADEL is a sport many people in Taunton will know but will be unable to play in town - well, now that is set to change. Taunton's first-ever public use Padel courts are set to open, with the development of six panoramic padel courts being built on the Queen's College campus. READ MORE: Queen's College bids farewell to fourteen staff members Advertisement READ MORE: Queen's College to become South West hub for PaceLab The Taunton college has teamed up with Smash Padel to produce these courts, which will be open to the public all year round. Fully covered with canopies and playable in all weather conditions, these new facilities will elevate the school's already impressive sports facilities and also expand community access to the fastest-growing sport in the world. Taunton's first-ever Padel courts are set to open. (Image: Queen's College) Planned areas to go with the new Padel courts at Taunton's Queen's College. (Image: Queen's College) Advertisement What is Padel? Unfamiliar with Padel? The sport is a racket sport that combines elements of tennis and squash, typically played in doubles on an enclosed court with walls. The walls are often made of glass and metallic mesh, and players can use them to bounce the ball, similar to squash. Kim Dawkins, Bursar at Queen's College, commented:'This is an exciting development for Taunton. With no padel courts currently available in the area and a huge demand for the sport, these new facilities will make a real impact. "The six covered courts, operated by Smash Padel, will be open to the general public, ensuring that our local community can enjoy this fast-growing sport.' Advertisement Smash Padel is known for delivering a comprehensive padel program for players of all ages and abilities. The group have made significant strides in growing junior participation through its bespoke junior pathways and Performance Academy, which draws young talent from across the UK. Tom Bell, Director of Sport at Queen's College, added: 'Smash Padel align perfectly with our values of keeping sport accessible for all and providing high-quality coaching to nurture talent at a grassroots level. "Whether pupils are experienced players or picking up a racket for the first time, they will benefit enormously from having these courts on site. We're already looking forward to integrating padel into our sports offering at Queen's.' Advertisement Smash Padel's commitment to grassroots growth was recently recognised by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), who honoured them with a Service Excellence Award for their outstanding work in community engagement and junior development. With a team of passionate, professional coaches, Smash are creating vibrant padel communities that promote health and wellbeing, connection and lots of fun. Carson Russell, Chief Operating Officer at Smash Padel, said: 'From inclusivity and coaching excellence to long-term development and community building, Queen's College shares many of the values that define Smash Padel. This partnership creates the perfect environment for a meaningful and lasting collaboration.' An official opening date is yet to be revealed for the new public-use padel courts in Taunton. For updates on construction progress and timeline, please visit the Smash Padel website at