Padel is coming to Taunton, with construction now underway on six brand-new, covered Smash Padel courts, bringing one of the UK’s fastest-growing sports to the area.
The new venue, located at Queen’s College Taunton, will be open to the public all year round and is set to open in summer 2026. Designed to be welcoming and accessible for players of all ages and abilities, the courts will offer a new destination for local residents, families and visitors to discover and enjoy padel.
This week marked an exciting milestone for the project, with representatives from Smash Padel, Queen’s College Taunton and local government coming together on site as the court structure begins to take shape.
Padel is a fast-paced and highly social racket sport that has grown rapidly across the UK in recent years thanks to its accessibility and appeal to both new and experienced players. Once open, Smash Padel Taunton will offer pay-and-play court bookings, coaching sessions and community-focused activities, helping to make the sport accessible to the widest possible audience.
Welcoming the arrival of padel in the county town, local councillor Cllr Connor Sollé said:
“After years of seeing the gap for padel in the county, there was no better place to bring it to life than Taunton. It’s finally where it’s meant to be, making the county town shine once again. I’m incredibly proud to be part of this journey. This is exactly why I do what I do. I hope everyone can enjoy this brilliant sport in all its positives.”
Rupert Taylor, CEO of Smash Padel, said the new site reflects the company’s commitment to growing the sport across the UK:
“We’re incredibly excited to be bringing padel to Taunton. This site will give the local community a fantastic new place to play sport, stay active and try something new. While the courts are located at Queen’s College Taunton, they’re designed first and foremost to be open to everyone, all year round.”
Kim Dawkins, Bursar at Queen’s College Taunton, highlighted the wider impact of the development:
“This is an exciting development for Taunton. With no covered 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.”
Smash Padel is a UK-based padel operator focused on investing in the UK’s best coaching to create welcoming, accessible venues for players of all abilities. Its Bicester club was previously named Lawn Tennis Association Club of the Year, recognising its strong junior programmes and grassroots engagement, as the company continues to build vibrant local padel communities across the country.
Once complete, Smash Padel Taunton will form part of the company’s growing UK network, supporting grassroots participation and helping introduce new players to the sport in a friendly, community-focused environment.
For updates on our Taunton venue and opening details, click here