What are believed to be the UK’s first floating padel courts open on Liverpool waterfront offering yet another venue for devotees of one of the world’s fastest-growing sports. Tony McDonough reports
Two floating padel courts and a club house have opened at Princes Dock in Liverpool Waters.
Vibora Liverpool Waters claims its two padel courts are the first in the UK to be floating on water. The facility has opened today (Saturday, September 26) and owners say they have already been “inundated” with enquiries and membership requests.
It will welcome players seven days a week from 7am until 10pm. A third floating padel court is already planned to follow later this year to meet the growing demand, marking the next phase in Vibora Liverpool Waters’ development.
This opening follows significant interest in Vibora Liverpool Waters since plans for the destination were first announced, with just 75 exclusive founding memberships released ahead of launch.
Founding membership gives its first members the opportunity to be among the first to experience the courts, alongside priority booking and exclusive membership benefits.
Now welcoming the wider public, Vibora Liverpool Waters has been designed for everyone from complete beginners picking up a padel racquet for the first time to experienced players looking for somewhere completely different to play.
Courts are priced at £55 for a 60-minute booking, with all bookings made through Playtomic. Sitting alongside the courts, the club house forms the social heart of the destination, giving players and visitors somewhere to meet and spend time before and after stepping onto court.
Individual memberships are available alongside dedicated corporate memberships, with Vibora Liverpool Waters offering businesses a new way to bring teams together through sport, wellbeing and social experiences. It is also available for corporate events and private event space hire.
READ MORE: Eight new routes announced for Liverpool Airport
READ MORE: Former Liverpool Echo print hall to become padel club
Gareth Evans, co-founder of Vibora Liverpool Waters, said: “Opening Vibora Liverpool Waters and finally welcoming people onto the courts is an incredibly proud moment for us.
“From the very beginning, we wanted to create something that was about much more than padel. We wanted to build a destination and a community that people genuinely want to be part of.
“Liverpool’s waterfront is such a special setting and we wanted Vibora Liverpool Waters to give people a completely new way to experience padel. The response has been brilliant and it’s shown us just how much appetite there is for padel in the city.”