Smash Padel
Founders:
Simon Champ
Established:
2023
Investment:
2026
BACKGROUND
Smash Padel operates a fast-growing chain of padel centres across the UK, offering affordable, fully staffed courts in a community-focused environment. Founded in 2023, the business has quickly built five sites in Bicester, Oxford, Whitstable, Mid Sussex and Cardiff, a new site in Taunton launching in Summer 2026, and has a strong pipeline of further locations. Smash Padel has produced half of the GB Junior Team.
The team is led by Founder Simon Champ and CEO Rupert Taylor, supported by an experienced board with deep backgrounds in finance, sport and multi-site leisure operations.
Why we invested in Smash Padel?
Padel is the UK’s fastest-growing racket sport, yet the UK remains under-supplied – around one court per 86,000 people, against roughly one per 3,000 in mature markets such as Spain. We saw a huge opportunity in a still-fragmented market with few operators yet at scale. What set Smash Padel apart was the discipline of the model: profitable operating sites generating strong margins, low break-even occupancy, mature returns on capital above 50%, and a staff-led, coaching-first approach that builds community rather than simply renting out courts.
Moving Forward…
Middleton’s investment will accelerate their rollout from five sites towards a national network, executing on a well-developed pipeline. With first-mover advantage in many of its target towns and a model designed to thrive even in more competitive conditions, the opportunity ahead is significant.