Play Padel

We want everyone to feel comfortable, even those who haven’t played sports since PE at school. People mix in, play together and stay on for a drink afterwards – there is a real community feel. We can’t wait to open the Meadowhall club and start a new community in North Sheffield.

Alex Fleming, Chief Executive, Play Padel

Play Padel, backed by cricket legend Joe Root MBE, secured funding of £1.2m to open a second site in Sheffield.

Alongside other funders, Play Padel has secured the funding from the South Yorkshire Debt Fund, which is managed by FW Capital on behalf of South Yorkshirea Pensions Authority.

Play Padel was founded by five childhood friends who all live locally and are keen padel players – entrepreneurs Alex Fleming, Chris Millard and Harry Bliss along with Cameron Dawson, the former Rotherham United goalkeeper, and Joe Root, the former England cricket captain and second highest run scorer of all time. 

The company, which opened Sheffield’s first indoor padel courts in 2025 at Abbeydale Tennis Club, secured a site adjacent to Meadowhall Shopping Centre for its next venue. The loan will help to fund the fit-out and provide additional working capital. 

The new club will have eight indoor courts, twice as many as the current site, and is expected to create around 12 jobs when it opens in October. The site also includes an equipment shop while its café bar has become a popular for corporate networking events.