The Bandeja Magazine Issue 1

News
Game4Padel
secures Cornish
location
Andy Murray-backed Game4Padel
is bringing padel to Newquay
having gained planning
permission for two covered courts.
Cornwall Council granted plans to convert one
tennis court into two padel courts at Heron
Tennis Centre. Building work was expected to
begin immediately with a view to opening this
summer.
Heron Tennis Centre director Jon Askey
said: “We are really excited about bringing
padel to Cornwall. We have seen how
quickly the game is growing across the
country and believe it will be extremely
popular in Newquay.”
The plans had the full backing of Newquay
Town Council, with councillors stating the
scheme would ‘see the town benefit from the
introduction of this widely inclusive sport’.
Support
Town residents also threw their support
behind the application. One wrote: “Having
played padel tennis numerous times it is a
sport which can be thoroughly enjoyed by
a complete novice but at the same time
is very skilful for advanced players. I hope
to be able to play locally rather than waiting
until my next holiday in Europe.”
Game4Padel co-founder and CEO, Michael
Gradon, said: “In the past year there has
been unprecedented demand for new padel
courts around the country. We already have
27 venues operating or in development and
planning and plan to have at least 50 padel
venues open by the end of 2022.”
Game4Padel venues due to open this year
include London Westfield shopping centre;
Broxbourne Sports Club, Hertfordshire; Draycott
Sports Club, Stoke on Trent; Liverpool Cricket
Club and Dundee Forthill.
Jon Askey, Heron Tennis Centre Director;
Terry Askey, Heron Tennis Centre founder
and Michael Gradon, CEO of Game4Padel.
Varsity Padel
The seeds of a national varsity padel league
have been sown following the UK’s first Padel
University Challenge between Edinburgh and
Stirling universities.
Hosted by Thistle Padel Club in
Edinburgh, the match saw three teams
from each university battle it out.
Edinburgh emerged victorious with an
8-1 win after some very close matches.
Edinburgh Uni team captain Ali Gordon
and teammate/match organiser
Sam McKinney, said: “It was a great
experience. There were lots of close,
high-level matches across the day.
We all really enjoyed it. Huge thanks
to the Stirling guys for coming across
to Edinburgh and to Game4Padel for
sponsoring the event and hosting
us at Thistle Padel Club. Looking
forward to a rematch!”
Game4Padel is on the look-out for
universities and colleges to join its Padel
University Challenge with the hope that it
will lead to a national varsity league.
Fit. and Healthy
A new report - Safe and Essential -
from ukactive has revealed extremely
low rates of COVID-19 among people
using fitness and leisure facilities during
the pandemic. Data gathered from
thousands of ukactive members across
To register interest e-mail
info@game4padel.com
the UK showed that of 241,154,977 visits
to facilities from July 25th, 2020, to
February 27th, 2022, just 2,605 cases
of COVID-19 were reported among
visitors - an overall rate of 1.08 cases
per 100,000 visits.
12 thebandeja.com