
Padel has been in the UK for almost a quarter of a century now, and this is the place where we think it all began for UK Padel. Not only is it unique for that reason, the original Padel court at Rye is also one of a kind on these shores in that it is a block construction and made not from re-enforced glass but concrete and render, and a project of passion for members John Farmer and Freddie Menzies who had fallen for the game when on holiday in Spain.
Is the playing experience different? Yes, but is it worse, absolutely not so much so that it is perhaps slightly surprising that this template for court construction didn’t catch on anywhere else in the UK as these block courts are popular on the continent, and may be an idea to bring up in urban regeneration plans. Whilst it might not be a question of economics ( we got the quotes and bricks and mortar are the same price as 12mil glass) and taste, we do admit the viewing aspect for intrigued passers by is not as good as on the glass courts.
Rye Lawn Tennis club was 100 years old in 2022 and just to make sure it is moving with the times, they have constructed a brand new glass portico court which opened for play in April 2022.
The Padel courts are set amongst a staggeringly good grass court complex, often the ones that perhaps succumb to Padel developments. But not here, all forms of tennis look set to co-exist happily for another 100 years. We don’t write this in jest, the UK has many protected games that are seasonal like lawn tennis, like lawn green bowls, but increasingly our sporting and leisure habits are less seasonal and as our impatience to wait grows, so will the number of multisport games like Padel.
Often voted the best seaside town in Sussex, quaint doesn’t quite do the Rye Tennis and Padel club justice, as this is a beast of a club in possibly one of the best settings in the UK. And of course if you can find a member, or crack the nod from the secretary at Rye Golf Club, then you can be sure of one of the best golf/ Padel days available in the UK.

Padel has been in the UK for almost a quarter of a century now, and this is the place where we think it all began for UK Padel. Not only is it unique for that reason, the original Padel court at Rye is also one of a kind on these shores in that it is a block construction and made not from re-enforced glass but concrete and render, and a project of passion for members John Farmer and Freddie Menzies who had fallen for the game when on holiday in Spain.
Is the playing experience different? Yes, but is it worse, absolutely not so much so that it is perhaps slightly surprising that this template for court construction didn’t catch on anywhere else in the UK as these block courts are popular on the continent, and may be an idea to bring up in urban regeneration plans. Whilst it might not be a question of economics ( we got the quotes and bricks and mortar are the same price as 12mil glass) and taste, we do admit the viewing aspect for intrigued passers by is not as good as on the glass courts.
Rye Lawn Tennis club was 100 years old in 2022 and just to make sure it is moving with the times, they have constructed a brand new glass portico court which opened for play in April 2022.
The Padel courts are set amongst a staggeringly good grass court complex, often the ones that perhaps succumb to Padel developments. But not here, all forms of tennis look set to co-exist happily for another 100 years. We don’t write this in jest, the UK has many protected games that are seasonal like lawn tennis, like lawn green bowls, but increasingly our sporting and leisure habits are less seasonal and as our impatience to wait grows, so will the number of multisport games like Padel.
Often voted the best seaside town in Sussex, quaint doesn’t quite do the Rye Tennis and Padel club justice, as this is a beast of a club in possibly one of the best settings in the UK. And of course if you can find a member, or crack the nod from the secretary at Rye Golf Club, then you can be sure of one of the best golf/ Padel days available in the UK.
RULES











