In recent years, padel has experienced an exponential growth in popularity which, to an outsider’s perspective, should mean that it is becoming more and more accessible. However, in speaking to the University of Edinburgh Padel Club’s (UOEPC) President Caspar Cubitt, it becomes apparent that it is not so simple. He acknowledges that the growth of a sport is always a good thing, but at the same time he is concerned that the rising demand for padel is actually limiting the club’s future growth.
For a club which has only been operating since 2024, a jump from 40 members initially to just under 200 members this year is a significant achievement, but Caspar ruefully admits that it could be so much higher: “We put people off joining beyond that because we couldn’t provide anymore. For our tasters, we had 20 slots that sold out in half an hour but we kept getting responses and it went upwards of 300 responses.”
Even with the prospect of officially joining the Edinburgh Sports Union in the upcoming year, there is still no guarantee that UOEPC will be able to accommodate all of the potential padel players. A large reason for this is the lack of training facilities. Currently, the club hosts all their sessions near Portobello Beach — a long commute for people who may only want to play recreationally. There are no dedicated university courts at the moment, as that would require a significant investment. According to Caspar, the general response from the university has been “we want to [help], we don’t have the money.”
To circumvent this, Caspar has begun finding other ways to get courts built: “I’ve been finding companies to pitch to the university that they’ll take the upfront cost and the university doesn’t have to pay. What that means is that they’ll get a cut essentially.”
Even then, the timeframe of getting courts is still years in advance — Caspar predicts that padel in Edinburgh needs development within the next year to meet demand. In fact, it is not just UOEPC that is experiencing this boom, but padel players are increasing across the city in general. As a consequence of this, padel providers are prioritising corporate interest as that is what will bring them money.
“There’s no real appeal to accommodate students. We may bring in demand, but they’ve already got demand, so they can be selective,” adds Caspar. “Students are being slightly forgotten about in the boom of padel.”
The financial barrier is another source of frustration for the club — at the moment, a membership costs £60 annually, but the fee only subsidises training, which means members still have to pay a small bit out of pocket for every session. This is in addition to the potential bus fares going to Portobello for members not covered by a Young Scot Card. Whilst the club is doing their best at maintaining cheap rates for members and have managed to spend a remarkable £10,000 subsidising courts, there is still the view that fees for members will add up.
There is also a worry that the distance of Portobello, limited training slots, and additional expenses are making the club and the sport seem exclusive, which is something that Caspar desperately wants to avoid: “Anything that makes us, the club or the sport, seem exclusive damages the reputation of our sport and we don’t want to put people off […] Because it’s such an easy sport to pick-up, it should be easy access for everyone, so the fact that the barrier is financial and geographical is enraging.”
Caspar is therefore trying to raise the profile of the sport and the club, as well as make the general public aware that padel should be an accessible sport. There are currently, though, many barriers in the way that are outside of the club’s control: “Our demand is growing massively and not being able to meet it will damage the reputation of our club. I don’t want us to ever be cemented as the club that can’t give you padel or that is only for those who can afford it. The damage after two years is hard to repair and I’m trying to stop that as much as possible.”
However, this should not dissuade people from seeking out padel — Caspar emphasises the welcoming community for players of all abilities as the club continues to explore possible options in expanding accessibility.
Image courtesy of UOEPC.