£600,000 project to bring four covered courts and year-round play to the University of Salford campus
Salford, UK
Soul Padel has unveiled its latest university partnership, bringing the ‘Soul Padel on Campus’ programme to the University of Salford. This major development, which is subject to planning consent, includes a £600,000 investment into four brand-new covered courts, set to be built directly on campus under a 15-year lease agreement, ensuring long-term access for both students and the local community.
Padel is thriving in Greater Manchester, and the Salford site will reinforce the region as a national hub. Located just across the city from Soul Padel Stockport, home of the group’s first-ever club and the site of four new permanent courts, the Salford venue will further enhance year-round access to padel across the region.
Following the successful launch of courts at Loughborough University earlier this year, the expansion to Salford marks another step forward in Soul Padel’s mission to integrate the sport into university life across the UK. As with other Soul Padel on Campus sites, the new facility will create student employment opportunities, support academic research, and enable campus-based public art initiatives, helping to make padel an integral part of university culture.
“This partnership with the University of Salford ticks every box,” said Mark Hewlett, Founder and CEO of Soul Padel. “We’re creating something lasting; more than just a facility, it’s a hub for wellbeing, social connection, and opportunity. We’re proud to be supporting the next generation in moving more, playing more, and connecting more, both on campus and beyond.”
The new padel courts will form part of the University’s broader Campus Connectivity Plan (CCP), which aims to upgrade buildings, grounds, and services for students, colleagues and the local community. The CCP is part of the wider Crescent Salford Masterplan in which the University is a member along with Salford City Council and English Cities Fund. The private sector partnership will see the biggest regeneration of this area of the city ever undertaken.
Chief Infrastructure Officer at the University of Salford Mark Wantling says: “We are undertaking a major regeneration of our campus to improve it for everybody, and upgrading our sporting offer is part of that. These are the University’s first Padel courts, and we are really excited to be providing a facility that we know will be really popular not only with students but with staff and local residents too.”
With more university sites in active development, Soul Padel on Campus is quickly becoming a go-to model for forward-thinking institutions. In addition to its health and
community benefits, the programme offers a sustainable new commercial revenue stream for universities, delivering long-term value from underused space while contributing positively to campus life.
To learn more about bringing Soul Padel on Campus to your institution, request the digital prospectus by contacting Mark Hewlett.
About Soul Padel
Soul Padel is dedicated to making padel a sport for everyone. Focused on accessibility, inclusivity, and community, Soul Padel creates spaces where people of all ages and abilities can meet, play, and connect. Through innovative programmes like Soul Padel on Campus and partnerships with leading organisations including Decathlon and Applied Nutrition, Soul Padel is helping to grow the sport across the UK and beyond. With a strong belief in the power of padel to support physical and mental health, including addressing challenges like childhood obesity, Soul Padel is committed to building healthier, more connected communities through the joy of padel.
Media Contact:
Mark Hewlett
Email: mark@soulpadel.co.uk
Phone: 07961310078
Website: soulpadel.co.uk
