Chichester Racquets & Fitness Club

Chichester Racquets & Fitness Club, in Oaklands Park on the edge of the city, brought padel to West Sussex with two floodlit courts laid on artificial grass. The courts opened in 2020 and sit within a busy racquets-and-fitness club that also has a gym, studio classes, changing rooms and a bar and café. Coaching and taster sessions help newcomers get started, and bookings run through the club’s ClubSpark system. With floodlighting and an all-weather surface, the courts stay playable through the evening and across the seasons.

New to padel? What you need for your first session

Most UK padel venues hire rackets by the hour, so you do not need to buy anything before your first game. Check this club’s booking page for hire availability and prices.

Once you have played a few times and want your own kit, this is the order we would buy in.

• Court shoes first. Clubs hire rackets, they do not hire shoes, and running trainers slide on padel courts. This is the single purchase that most improves your first month. See our best padel shoes for UK players.
• Then a racket. Once your technique has settled you will know whether you want control or power. Start with our best beginner padel rackets, or read how to choose your first padel racket.
• Balls last. Most clubs provide balls for casual sessions. When you start playing regularly, see our best padel balls for UK courts.

🛒 Shop padel kit on Amazon UK →

Never played before? Read the rules of padel and how padel differs from tennis before you turn up.

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