At just 24, Sammy Arora is the Founder and CEO of Pure Padel, the UK’s fastest-scaling padel operator.

Since opening the first club in 2023, Arora has turned a passion for the sport into a national movement. Pure Padel now operates across Manchester, Leeds, Darlington, Stockport, and Alderley Park, delivering over 2,600 games a week to a growing community of more than 20,000 players, with all his clubs powered by the UK’s and world’s pre-eminent racket sport booking and matchmaking app, Playtomic. With new sites under construction in Nottingham, Birmingham, Glasgow, York, and Lightwater, Pure Padel is on track to run nine clubs by early 2026, with a bold target of 30 by the time Arora turns 30.

Known for its premium courts, modern hospitality, and welcoming, inclusive culture, Pure Padel isn’t just changing how people play it’s redefining how the UK thinks about sport, community, and connection.

We sat down with Arora to discuss his journey, the philosophy behind Pure Padel, and what it takes to build one of Britain’s most exciting sports brands.

What first drew you to padel?

It actually started in 2018, when I was lucky enough to play a game of padel with Jürgen Klopp at Melwood. It was just for fun, but I was hooked  it was fast, social, and completely different from anything I’d played before.

Then, while I was living in Milan, I didn’t really know anyone. I joined a local padel group chat with a bunch of Italians, and that’s how I made my best friends there. That’s when I started to see what a really good padel club looked like  the sense of community, the quality of the courts, the ease of booking.

When I came back to the UK, I realised there were no padel clubs up north. I ended up writing my university dissertation on the sport and, while still at uni in 2023, launched the first Pure Padel site at Alderley Edge. It started as a small tennis site conversion — but we learned fast.

What makes a great padel club?

It’s all about how it feels the moment you walk in. The best clubs feel like a third space not home, not work, but somewhere you belong.

You should be greeted by name. You should feel like people know you. There should be good music we love an Ibiza beach tune  and an energy that makes you want to stay longer, chat, and play one more match.

Padel is a social sport, so the club has to feel social. That’s what we’ve built at Pure Padel.

How does Pure Padel differ from other operators?

A lot of big operators focus purely on building courts. We focus on building communities.

For example, Manchester has more courts and clubs than many regions, but we’ve still invested heavily there — because we invest in people, not just locations. Our clubs are destinations where people actually want to spend time.

We’ve built a culture that’s premium but not exclusive — open to everyone, with great hospitality and energy. We don’t do memberships. We’re a pay-to-play model, which keeps the sport flexible, accessible, and affordable.

And for those who play regularly, we still have perks and benefits — but without closing the door on newcomers.

You’ve said you want Pure Padel to become “the David Lloyd of padel.” What’s the roadmap to that?

Our target is “30 by 30” — 30 clubs by the time I turn 30. We’re on track.

Right now, we have five operational clubs and four more under construction. We’ll hit 10 in the next year. From there, it’s about scaling responsibly — great sites, great people, and maintaining the quality that defines us.

Padel is growing fast in the UK — but what challenges does the sport face?

The big one is weather. A lot of operators are building outdoor courts because they’re cheaper and faster to open, but that leads to saturation and drives down prices.

Indoor courts are more expensive to build and maintain — with higher rents and council rates — but they’re essential for quality and long-term growth. We’ve invested over £1.1 million on one club just to have 6 covered courts, ensuring players can enjoy the same experience year-round.

Planning permission is another hurdle, that same club took over two years to secure a single site. But we’re committed to doing things properly.

What about coaching and player development?

That’s a huge part of our focus right now. The demand for padel coaching is massive especially among women, beginners, and improvers  but the supply just isn’t there yet.

We’re looking for coaches who aren’t just great players, but great teachers. The best coaches are the ones who can build confidence, teach the basics, and make players feel comfortable. Being a great coach is about being friendly, patient, and inspiring, not just having a killer backhand.

Padel is often seen as a middle-class sport. Do you see that changing?

Definitely. As the sport grows, those class barriers are breaking down.

At Pure Padel, you’ll see students, families, corporate groups, and retirees all sharing the same courts. That mix is what makes the sport special — and it’s why we’re committed to keeping it affordable and inclusive.

We want to make padel the most accessible social sport in Britain — a place where everyone feels at home.

And finally, what’s next for Pure Padel — and for you?

We’re just getting started. We’ve got major sites opening in Nottingham, Glasgow, Birmingham, and Lightwater, and we’re building strong local teams in each city.

Our vision is clear: Padel for everyone.

If we can keep growing the way we are — sustainably, inclusively, and with real community at the heart — I genuinely believe Pure Padel can become one of the UK’s most loved sports brands.