Galgorm Castle

The Galgorm Collection added padel to its Ballymena estate in October 2025, investing roughly three hundred thousand pounds in courts that sit alongside the resort’s championship golf course and spa. What launched as two covered courts has since grown to four on Playtomic’s live listing, all bookable on a pay-and-play basis with no membership required, and the operator had already flagged plans to expand further. Court hire has previously run twenty-four to thirty-two pounds an hour. Free parking, a restaurant and a snack bar are on site at 200 Galgorm Road. It’s roughly a 30-minute drive from Belfast, bringing padel to Ballymena for the first time.

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.

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

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