Advertorial: New padel venue serves up fresh sporting buzz in Tameside

A brand-new sporting hotspot has arrived in Tameside, and it’s already creating a buzz.

Glass Padel, located in Stalybridge, is bringing one of the UK’s fastest-growing sports to the local community combining fitness, fun and a strong social element under one roof.

After officially opening its doors with a launch event on Saturday 28 March, the venue at Unit 1, Stalybridge Industrial Park introduces residents to the fast-paced world of padel - a sport that blends elements of tennis and squash and is rapidly gaining popularity nationwide.

Behind the venture is co-owner Ashley Swallow, who says the idea for Glass Padel came from both personal passion and a clear gap in the market.

“I’d been playing padel for the last year and I was hooked. I was playing four or five times a week. What we noticed was it was quite hard to get a court when you wanted one, so there was a real supply and demand issue. On top of that, it’s a fun business and something we can bring to the community, so we thought we’d give it a go.”

For those completely new to the sport, Glass Padel is aiming to make the experience as welcoming and accessible as possible.

“People can expect a really warm welcome,” Ashley said. “We just want to put people at ease. If you want to come and learn with your friends, that’s absolutely fine, there’s no judgement here. But if you’d like a bit of help, we’ve got intro classes running all week.”

To encourage newcomers, the venue is offering free introductory sessions for first-time players, helping them pick up the basics before heading out onto the court independently.

Bookings will be managed through the Playtomic app.

The venue itself has been a true labour of love, with Ashley and his team completing much of the transformation work themselves after receiving the keys in January.

“We’ve done everything, from painting the walls and girders to fitting out the courts.

“It was quite dusty and distressed when we got it, so the main thing was cleaning it up and creating a great environment.”

As for pricing, sessions are designed to be affordable, particularly when shared.

“Off-peak, it works out at around £9.50 per person if there’s four of you,” Ashley said. “We’ve got rackets to rent and balls available too, so it’s really accessible.”

Looking ahead, Glass Padel has big ambitions - not just as a venue, but as a community hub.

“We want to run tournaments, kids’ sessions and even work with schools,” Ashley said. “We’re also looking at expanding with more courts in the future, but we want to see what our customers want first.”

Alongside the sport, visitors can enjoy barista-style coffee, soft drinks and nutritious food options, with plans to introduce an alcohol licence in the future.

Ultimately, the goal is simple: to create a space where people can stay active, meet new people and enjoy something new.