Smash Padel, the UK padel operator whose junior performance programme has produced half of GB’s current junior national squad, has secured a £1.25m investment, led by Middleton Enterprises, a UK-based investment firm founded by British serial entrepreneur Jeremy Middleton. The funding will support Smash Padel’s ambitious expansion from five to twenty sites across the UK, cementing the country’s fastest- growing racket sport at the heart of British sporting life.
Founded by Simon Champ and led by CEO Rupert Taylor, Smash Padel has built a distinctive model in the UK padel market – one centred on coaching-led venues staffed by trained professionals who actively drive participation at every level, from first-time players to elite juniors. Unlike self-service or unstaffed sports facilities, every Smash Padel centre operates with a full on-site team, creating genuinely accessible sporting hubs that benefit the wider community and encourage long-term engagement with the sport.
The business currently operates five profitable sites across the UK – in Bicester, Oxford, Whitstable, Mid Sussex and Cardiff – with a new location launching in Taunton in Summer 2026 and a further three sites planned before year end. The expansion strategy is focused on disciplined site selection in underserved communities across the UK.
“We took the time to assess and understand the full landscape of UK padel operators before committing capital,” said Julian Liban, Investment Manager at Middleton Enterprises. “What sets Smash Padel apart is their rigorous approach to site selection – they are not simply opening doors wherever they can find space. They have a community model that genuinely grows the sport rather than just monetising existing players and this will provide defensibility as more competition enters the market. Smash Padel has the clearest strategy and, in our view, the strongest platform for long-term success. This is a business with real sporting credentials run by deeply experienced operators, and we are proud to back them.”
Simon Champ, Co-Founder of Smash Padel, commented: “Middleton Enterprises has a proven track record of supporting businesses like ours as we scale and expand into new locations. They bring more than just funding – they have deep expertise in physical site roll-outs from across their portfolio, and they have acted as a true strategic partner throughout this process. We’re excited to build on what we’ve started and to take the sport to more communities across the UK.”
With players from its junior performance programme representing 50% of the Great Britain squad (U14/U16), Smash Padel is uniquely positioned to support both grassroots participation and elite player development through a single, scalable model.