Ignite Padel, the North West’s premier padel operator, has officially announced a major expansion of its flagship Speke facility, set to make it the largest single padel site in the United Kingdom. This summer, the venue will more than double in size, growing from 27,500 square feet to a massive 56,000 square feet.
The ambitious expansion underscores the meteoric rise of padel—the world’s fastest-growing racket sport—and solidifies Liverpool’s position at the absolute heart of the UK’s sporting boom.
Ignite Padel’s rapid trajectory across the region has set a blistering pace since its inception. The Liverpool-based company opened its first site in West Derby (Queens Drive) in April 2025, featuring six floodlit outdoor courts. This was quickly followed by a Cheshire Oaks venue in Ellesmere Port in September 2025 (five indoor and two outdoor courts). Their third site opened in Speke in December 2025, initially launching with six indoor courts and four outdoor covered courts.
Now, following an unprecedented surge in local demand and a strategic commitment to hosting elite-level competition, Ignite Padel is scaling up the Speke venue. The upcoming expansion will increase the existing 10-court capacity to 17 courts, officially crowning it as the UK’s largest padel destination and positioning it to host prestigious international tournaments in partnership with the International Padel Federation (FIP).
A World-Class Community and Tournament Hub
The upgraded Speke facility is designed to be much more than just a place to play padel; it will function as a 24-hour community sports hub and an elite training facility. Alongside the court expansion, players and spectators can look forward to:
- Elite Viewing Gallery: Engineered specifically for high-stakes tournament matchplay.
- Premium Healthy Eatery: A well-known healthy eating restaurant partner to open onsite.
- Enhanced Parking: 100 additional parking spaces, significantly boosting the current 30-space capacity.
- State-of-the-Art Wellness Centre: Operated by Ignite Padel, featuring a 20-capacity sauna, 20-capacity steam room, and a 6-capacity ice bath to aid post-match recovery.
Chris Watson, Partner at Ignite Padel, commented:
“Our vision for Speke has always been about pushing the boundaries of what a padel club can be. We want Ignite Padel to be at the very heart of the communities we serve. By expanding Speke into the biggest site in the UK, we aren’t just meeting the massive local demand for courts—we are creating a world-class venue capable of bringing international, elite-level FIP tournaments right here to Liverpool, while maintaining a welcoming, vibrant hub for local families and players.”
Tom Buck, General Manager at Ignite Padel, added:
“In just over a year we will have created 30 courts across Liverpool and Cheshire. The journey has been amazing and all of us at Ignite Padel are very proud to be part of this fantastic sport. This expansion will also see us reach 60 members of staff in total, adding another 15 jobs to the local economy. Furthermore, we are proud that all of our contractors—from electrical to building—are always local firms from the Liverpool area.”
The expansion of the Speke site is due to be completed in August 2026.
For more information, visit: Ignite Padel – Liverpool’s Premier Padel Destination