Plans have been submitted to create a new padel tennis venue adjacent to the Showcase Cinema.
The centre will be the first in the UK for Padelplex, a brand-new padel community launched by Nottingham hotelier Richard Johal and founder of 200 Degrees Rob Darby, alongside ambassador for the brand, former England and Notts cricketer James Taylor.
The proposed site is on the land at Dusk Till Dawn’s car park on Redfield Way.
Richard Johal, who has managed a number of hotels including the St James Hotel in Nottingham and worked in hospitality for all of his career, with particular expertise in business growth and brand development, said: “We are so excited to have submitted our plans for the very first Padelplex centre in the UK – which of course had to be in Nottingham, as all of our founders are from here and we’re so proud of our city’s sporting energy and accolades.”
The development would comprise five covered outdoor padel courts alongside a hospitality pavilion featuring a reception area, snack bar, and indoor seating and changing facilities, and is expected to cost more than £1 million.
Rob Darby, co-founder of Padelplex alongside Richard, added: “Having entered a very busy marketplace with 200 Degrees and growing, then exiting the business, I’ve learnt a lot about how to thrive on a rapidly expanding playing field. The key was to figure out where our padel offering fits, and we were all set on the vision of a customer-first experience where people feel welcomed and come back time and again to have fun, enjoy this simple and accessible sport with friends and family, and escape the busy world for an hour or so in a space that feels like a community.”
Retired England cricketer James Taylor, who played for Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, will be an ambassador for the business, encouraging people to try padel and experience the fun of the sport for themselves, no matter their skill level.
The former right-handed batsman, who is also a selector for the England team, said: “I’ve been looking for a new project for a while now, to channel my passion for fitness and sport within my own local community. Padel is quick, it’s simple, and most importantly, it is accessible to all. If you want to exert yourself, you can, but if you want to just have fun, it’s perfect too.
A decision on the application will be made by Nottingham City Council, and the founders hope they will be open for their first visitors in the summer of 2026.
