Smash Padel has secured planning approval for a new club in Bathampton, featuring five panoramic courts under canopy covers on a site with rich local history, once part of the former Bathampton junction railway station.

The design makes careful use of the land. Repurposed shipping containers will form the pavilion and facilities, allowing the new courts to sit comfortably within the site’s working past. The canopies will be metal‑clad rather than our usual design, providing a further nod to the site’s railway heritage and helping the club feel part of Bathampton’s story, not separate from it.

When Smash Padel Bathampton opens, players will be able to start with a free intro session and build skills through our popular coaching programmes, including our junior pathway which is designed to help younger players grow in the sport. This is the same community‑focused model used across Smash’s other clubs.

Our Bathampton plans are shaped with the area’s heritage and landscape in mind, and we’re pleased that the Bath & North East Somerset Council has recognised this in their decision.

The application received 190 letters of support, highlighting the need for accessible sports facilities in the Bath area and recognising the value of bringing a currently unused site back into community use. Supporters noted that the location is well screened and away from residential properties, making it suitable for sport without creating noise issues. Many also welcomed the health and wellbeing benefits and the opportunity for young people, especially with a primary school nearby, to be inspired to play sport.

Padel is now recognised as the UK’s fastest‑growing racket sport, with thousands of new players taking it up each month. Supporters felt Bath has lacked a venue that reflects this growth, and that Bathampton offers a practical, well‑designed site to meet rising demand across the city and wider region.

Smash Padel CEO, Rupert Taylor, said: “Bathampton is a brilliant fit for Smash. It’s a site with history and personality, and we’ve worked hard to design a club that respects its surroundings. As a resident, I know Bath is a city that cares deeply about its heritage and its green spaces. That’s why our plans were shaped with sensitivity from the start, and why this approval means so much. We’re excited to begin work and to welcome players from 4 years old and upwards  when we open.”

James Calvert-Jones, Bath resident and the owner of the site, added “Bringing padel to Bath has been a long‑standing ambition for our family, especially as my son Freddie is a keen player who has trained with Smash Padel and benefited hugely from their coaching pathway. It was essential to choose an operator who would maximise community benefit, support juniors properly and design a site that complements Bathampton’s rural charm. Smash were the obvious choice: their record in developing young players is exceptional, their coaching standards and inclusivity are second to none, and their sensitivity to local character meant the Bathampton site could be created in a way that feels natural and respectful. This project is about giving Bath a welcoming, community‑focused club that helps people of all ages enjoy this brilliant sport and I am looking forward to being able to share this special sport with the rest of Bath.”

Bathampton will be Smash Padel’s seventh UK location, joining clubs in Bicester, Cardiff, Mid Sussex, Oxford, Taunton and Whitstable. Each site aims to build welcoming, accessible venues that help players improve and enjoy the sport.

More information can be found by visiting smashpadel.co/bathampton.